Ira Rainess, one of the top sports and entertainment attorneys in the country, leads the Sports & Entertainment law practice at Silverman, Thompson, Slutkin & White. Mr. Rainess has a wealth of experience gained through representing some of the greatest athletes in sports history including Cal Ripken, Jr. and Ray Lewis. A recognized authority in the field, Mr. Rainess teaches Sports Law at the University of Baltimore School of Law, where he serves as an adjunct professor. He is also the founder of Rainmaker Sports & Entertainment LLC, a sports and entertainment management and marketing firm, which is independent of Silverman, Thompson, Slutkin & White.

Mr. Rainess’ sports management career began in 1990 when he tutored under famed sports agent Ron Shapiro. During his tenure at Shapiro, Robinson, and Associates, Mr. Rainess established a relationship with baseball legend Cal Ripken Jr. for whom he managed his marketing, business development, contractual and legal matters. During Cal’s recording breaking streak, Mr. Rainess, 28 at the time, handled all marketing, licensing, endorsement, and public relations matters related with the breaking of Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games streak. Through Mr. Rainess’ counsel, Cal was able to maximize his marketability and profitability during the streak.

In 2001, Mr. Rainess negotiated the largest signing bonus ever for a high school baseball pitcher. His client, Gavin Floyd, signed a $4.2 million signing bonus with the Philadelphia Phillies after being taken fourth overall in the 2001 MLB draft.

Mr. Rainess is credited with resurrecting the image of his current client Ravens Linebacker Ray Lewis, after he was wrongfully criminally charged in Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Rainess was able to create a public relations and marketing comeback for the All-Pro, negotiating deals with EA Sports, Reebok, NFL Proline, as well as the opening of Ray Lewis’ new restaurant, “Ray Lewis’ Full Moon BBQ”.

Mr. Rainess is skilled in handling all aspects of an athlete’s career- both on and off the field. His unparallel knowledge of the business of sports allows his clients to focus on playing their sport, helping to ensure that they encounter no distractions. Mr. Rainess is recognized as one of only a handful of agents who can successfully negotiate the blockbuster contracts and the lucrative endorsement deals that form the bulk of an athlete’s income.

Labeled by the press as a “marketing genius”, Mr. Rainess presently represents dozens of professional baseball players, many of whom were first round draft picks, He has provided counsel to R&B star Mario and even helped Jason Alexander, the man who was married to Britney Spears for 55 hours, garner marketing opportunities from his brief time in the spotlight.�