TAMPA, Fla. — On March 25, Cooley Law School’s Sports & Entertainment Law Society will host an event, “The Law Behind the Lights: Where Sports, Entertainment and Law Intersect,” at the Cooley Event Center on its Tampa campus.
Event will feature Jimmy DuBose, a former NFL running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the late 1970s, and Shawuki Hilton, Esq., Cooley Law School alumnus and founding attorney of The Hilton Law Firm.
DuBose, an alumnus of the University of Florida Gators, was the first UF running back to rush for a 1,000 yards in a single season. He was named SEC Player of the Year in 1975, and selected to the Associated Press All-American team, and the Tampa Tribune All-Century Team in 1999. Additionally, DuBose was inducted into UF’s Hall of Fame in 1978 and the Sarasota High School Hall of Fame in 2018. He played four years for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and became the first player in franchise history to rush for a hundred yards before getting injured and retiring from the NFL. Outside of football, DuBose worked in education for 22 years as a teacher, football coach, dean, and assistant principal in Hillsborough, Orange, and Pasco counties. He is currently the treasurer of the local chapter of the NFL Players Association leadership, where he has served in various capacities for over 20 years.
Hilton, who practices sports law, represents professional athletes within the Canadian Football League. Before graduating cum laude from Cooley, Hilton served as the justice of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity International, vice president of entertainment of the Sports and Entertainment Law Society, and associate editor of the Cooley Journal of Practical and Clinical Law. He has served a diverse client base on matters related to business law, contract law, consumer protection, estate planning, intellectual property, and real estate.
Additionally, Everkesia Taylor of I Am Poetry, will perform at the event. Born and raised in Tampa, Florida, Everkesia is the author of six poetry books and the creative force behind the I Am Poetry apparel line. Through I Am Poetry, she curates immersive experiences – from open mic shows to large-scale festivals.
The event is free and open to the public.
Refreshments will be provided.
WHAT: The Law Behind the Lights: Where Sports, Entertainment and Law Intersect
WHEN: Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 4-6 p.m.
WHERE: Cooley Law School, Events Center - first floor, 12906 Tampa Oaks Blvd., Tampa, FL 33637
REGISTRATION: Online