Natanel A. Wainer

OVERVIEW

Natu represents clients in state and federal courts, primarily focusing his practice on litigating high-stakes contractual disputes, intellectual property, and general business litigation cases on behalf of clients in North and South America, Europe, and the Caribbean, across a wide variety of industries, including real estate, consumer products, technology, and sports, media and entertainment. He prides himself on a strong work ethic and his ability to communicate with clients effectively to reach their goals. He has experience in all phases of pre-trial practice, including initial case assessments, coordinating fact and expert discovery and drafting pre-trial and dispositive motions. Natu also has trial experience, having been a member of various trial teams that achieved successful results for clients.

Natu has experience representing Fortune 500 companies in complex multidistrict litigation, class actions, and sophisticated commercial cases, routinely leading on case strategy, witness preparation depositions, and dispositive motion practice. Natu has first-chaired arbitration proceedings, and routinely acted as lead counsel in highly-contentious commercial disputes and advised clients on strategic risk mitigation.

Natu also has extensive experience in sports, media and entertainment law. He has worked with some of the biggest artists, athletes and organizations, advising them in connection with a variety of transactional matters, including licensing arrangements, promotional and advertising agreements, merchandising agreements, sponsorship agreements, esports tournament agreements, and name, image & likeness (“NIL”) deals. Natu has also assisted in revising sports betting legislation for various states to properly encompass the esports field, as well as prepared and oversaw the fulfilment of sponsorship contracts with major sporting organizations and events such as the Orange Bowl, Miami Heat and Summer Olympics.

Natu earned his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where he was managing editor for the Florida Law Review and chair of public relations for the Florida Moot Court Team. While in law school, Natu was a research assistant to Professor Clay Calvert, where he assisted in drafting and editing law review articles regarding the First Amendment and media law. He also worked as a judicial intern for the Honorable Alan O. Forst of the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal. 

Natu is fluent in Spanish, and holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and Argentina.

Education

• J.D., cum laude, University of Florida Levin College of Law
  • • Governor’s Scholarship
    • Florida Law Review, Managing Editors
    • Florida Moot Court Team, Chair of Public Relations
    • Esports Law Society, President
    • Pro Bono Certificate of Outstanding Achievement
    • Judicial Intern to the Honorable Alan O. Forst, Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal
• B.A., Communications, Florida International University
  • • Dean’s List

Publications

• A Call of Duty for the Legalization and Regulation of Esports Betting, Fl. Ent. & Sports L. Rev. (Dec. 2023).

Litigation Experience:

• Defended personal injury and wrongful death smoking-and-health cases, including as lead associate, at various trials nationwide.
• Defended Fortune 100 social media platform in State Attorney General and personal injury plaintiff multidistrict litigation alleging consumer fraud and product defects.
• Defended Fortune 100 companies in personal injury and wrongful death asbestos and talc actions across multiple jurisdictions in Florida.
• Secured various favorable results on behalf of one of the largest self-storage rental companies in arbitrations and state court cases in cases alleging breach of contract and equitable remedies.
• Successfully represented various commercial landlords by securing evictions, obtaining possession of the property, and recovering outstanding fees from defaulting tenants.
• Secured early dismissal for local business defending class action claims pursuant to the Florida Telephone Solicitation Act.
  

Sports, Media & Entertainment Litigation Experience:

• Defended the Reggaeton industry, including Daddy Yankee, Karol G, Ozuna, Anitta, and Diplo (among 93 total defendants) in the sprawling “Dem Bow” copyright infringement action in which Reggae duo Steely & Clevie claim that 1,800 songs infringe their drum pattern.
• Assisted in the defense of top Brazilian female artist in connection with a claim against her for copyright infringement regarding one of her hit songs.

Sports, Media & Entertainment Transactional Experience:

• Assisted in the representation of various concert promoters and production companies.
• Assisted in the representation of various touring exhibitions, including The Lionel Messi Experience and CoComelon.
• Assisted in the preparation of first of its kind licensing agreement between American company and UAE company for the rights to present a virtual reality touring exhibition based on The Lionel Messi Experience.
• Represented various esports athletes in sponsorship agreements.