Donald M. Woodard

Managing Partner
Carter + Woodard
Atlanta, Georgia
@donaldmwoodard | Donald M. Woodard (Linkedin)

What were some of your professional highlights of 2023?

• He advises LSU basketball players Angel Reese and Flau’jae Johnson, 2 of the most important figures in the Name, Image and Likeness era. He has negotiated millions of dollars of endorsement and sponsorship deals on their behalf including the first Sneaker and lifestyle deal for Angel at Reebok under the new leadership of basketball operations, Shaquille O’Neal and Allen Iverson. He also negotiated the multi-million-dollar record deal renegotiation for Flau’jae with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation.

• He advises Julian “Ju Ju” Lewis, the #1 football player in the class of 2026 and the first high school football player to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated Magazine in October where Woodard was quoted extensively. As a true 15-year-old Freshman Quarterback last year, he led his team to an undefeated season in the highest level 7A football in Georgia where the team lost the championship game, but he threw for over 500 yards and 5 TDs. After receiving offers from over 40 universities, during his sophomore season, he committed to play college football at USC.

• Woodard was instrumental in pushing the GHSA to revise its guidelines to allow high school student-athletes to profit off their NIL. The policy was changed in October, and he advised Ju Ju Lewis in connection with deals valued at almost seven figures in the first week.

• He advises many other student-athletes in all matters related to NIL, including Notre Dame Tight End, Holden Staes, Alabama running back Justice Haynes, Ohio state commit and highly ranked Langston Hughes Quarterback, Air Noland.

• Woodard Advised superstar recording artist Summer Walker in connection with her (i) Multi-million dollar renegotiation with Warner Chappell Music; (ii) release of Clear 2: Soft Life EP; (iii) live touring deals for her fan favorite The Clear Series – One Night Only and (iv) highly anticipated multi-city multi-million dollar US and International tour with Live Nation.

• Advised Warner Records recording artist NLE Choppa in connection with (i) multi-million-dollar music publishing renegotiation with Sony Music Publishing; (iI) commercial and brand partnership deal with Powerade, and (iii) release of highly anticipated album Cottonwood 2.

• Represented OutKast’s Big Boi in a new television series, “RV There Yet,” which follows him as he and his team renovates custom RVs for celebrities.

• Negotiated highly competitive recording deals for social media sensations Makenzie Thomas at Warner Records and Australian R&B/Pop recording group H3Rizon with Epic Records.

What was your favorite show/film/podcast of 2023?

WorkLife podcast with Adam Grant

What is your theme word or phrase for 2024?

Lead with integrity, close with impact.