Today we’d like to introduce you to Joe Curtis.
Joe, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was born in Miami, FL, to immigrant parents. For as long as I can remember I have always been into entertainment; so much so that when I was five years old, I would sing and refer to myself as “el artista,” Spanish for “the Artist.” In 7th grade I had back surgery and I was never really able to play sports at an organized level, but my life has always revolved around sports. It’s what I do and watch in my free time, and it is what I talk about 90% of the time.
In college, my English professor asked my class to write a paper on what we wanted to do for our career. At that time, Drew Rosenhaus had just recently done his famous Terrell Owens press conference where he answered just about every question with…” next question.” I wanted to be an agent, but my desire to be creative and have a business made me feel that marketing was what I should study. That would later change, and I found myself in law school.
During law school I still had the desire to be involved in sports and entertainment, and I again thought about pursuing a life practicing sports law. However, I was worried that practicing sports law would ruin my love for the game(s) – I did not want sports to go from entertainment to just being work. After graduating law school and passing the Bar exam, I joined Seltzer Mayberg, LLC a law firm in Miami, FL, where I primarily practiced as a criminal defense attorney.
After practicing for a few years, I found myself sitting in the stands at a UFC event in Fort Lauderdale thinking about life. I felt the energy of the crowd as the next fighter came out and I thought to myself: “this is my passion… sports, entertainment, the energy of the crowd.” A couple months later I pitched the idea of starting the Sports & Entertainment division of my law firm, and my firm has supported me in launching Seltzer Mayberg Sports & Entertainment, or SMSE.
Seltzer Mayberg gave me my shot out of law school; they gave me an opportunity to prove myself. I am very grateful that my path led me to this firm, and I am excited to not only build SMSE, but also to continue assist in establishing Seltzer Mayberg as one of the premier law firms in Florida.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Being that SMSE was launched in January 2020, there have been some understandable challenges. COVID-19 and the lockdown/quarantine that came with it, greatly hindered the momentum that was building. This, however, was a blessing in disguise because as the world slowed down, I was afforded the ability to be more precise in how to build the foundation of SMSE.
Please tell us about Seltzer Mayberg Sports & Entertainment (SMSE).
I am the Managing Attorney of SMSE, the sports and entertainment law division of Seltzer Mayberg, LLC. Each person is always one choice, one decision away from realizing what they have always known about themselves: that they are special. SMSE focuses on getting to know our prospective clients and continue to build genuine relationships with our current clients. Each client is special, and we appreciate what it is that makes them special, what makes them unique. In seeing and appreciating this and we are able to show our clients that we see their value – that is what sets us apart from most firms. Truly knowing our clients, for the person they are, is what allows us to help our clients build the dream they have had their whole lives.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Luck is part of life. But everything that happens to you is the best thing that could have happened to you at that moment in your life.
Contact Info:
- Address: 10750 NW 6th Ct, Miami, FL 33168
- Website: www.SeltzerMayberg.com
- Phone: 305-444-1565
- Email: joe@smfirm.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SMSportsEnt/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SMSportsEnt
- Twitter: https://www.Twitter.com/SMSportsEnt_
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