Sports & Entertainment Licensing and Consulting
Encore Sports & Entertainment is a brand development, licensing, and consulting company based in Del Mar, California, covering individual and corporate representation.
For more information regarding our athlete and corporate client lists, please complete our online form.
Encore Sports & Entertainment
As an industry leader in sports marketing, licensing and brand development, Encore employs a team approach to client services and contract negotiation. Encore has negotiated the richest endorsement contracts for players at multiple positions in the NFL, NBA, MLB and more.
In 2004, following his tenure managing the Upper Deck Company’s legal and licensing department during its most successful years in operation, Chris Stuart broke away to form Encore. The firm philosophy departs from a more typical large-scale corporation, toward a boutique practice that devotes large-scale resources toward its clients in an individualized and personal fashion, while employing the same skill set that negotiated landmark marketing agreements for legends such as Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, LeBron James and many more.
Our Team
Today, Encore has a team of skilled professionals collectively possessing an expertise in law, negotiation, marketing, philanthropy, and social media that is committed to representing professional athletes and corporations at the absolute highest level.
CEO / President
Chris Stuart is President and Chief Executive Officer of Encore Sports & Entertainment, an athlete and corporate representation company that he co-founded in 2004. In the extremely competitive sports industry, Mr. Stuart has developed a solid reputation and established his business by partnering with an elite and selective client base. Encore represents a variety of athletes and corporations including Drew Brees, CC Sabathia, Carl Crawford, Matt Kemp, Legacy Sports Group, Brand Affinity Technologies, SAGE Trading Cards, the Topps Company, Mickey Mantle IP Holdings and Ted Williams Family Enterprises.
Prior to launching Encore Sports & Entertainment, Mr. Stuart was Senior Director of Licensing and Acquisitions for the Upper Deck Company where he was responsible for handling all negotiations with athletes, leagues, unions and strategic partners. While at Upper Deck, he recruited and negotiated exclusive agreements with athletes such as Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, David Beckham, Peyton Manning and Derek Jeter.
Mr. Stuart launched his career in sports with the San Diego Chargers in their player personnel and marketing departments. While interning for the San Diego Charger organization, Mr. Stuart received his Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego School of Law. He has been a member of the California State Bar since 1996.
A native of Phoenix, Arizona, Mr. Stuart graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in Business Administration.
Director of Licensing
Mr. Dunigan has more than 15 years of licensing and marketing experience in the sports and high tech industries.
Before coming to Encore, he served as the Licensing Manager at The Upper Deck Company, managing athlete accounts such as Tiger Woods and LeBron James, among others, and was a company liaison with the major sports leagues (MLB, NFL, NBA) and corresponding players associations.
Prior to Upper Deck, Mr. Dunigan served in marketing roles with Oracle and the San Diego Chargers. Mr. Dunigan is a graduate of California State University, Chico.
Associate
Prior to accepting the full-time associate position with Encore Sports in 2021, Mr. Stuart had interned with the company from 2017-2020. Mr. Stuart was an NCAA Division 1 athlete at Arizona State University apart of their Men’s Ice Hockey Team.
A native of Phoenix, Arizona, Mr. Stuart graduated with honors from Arizona State University with a degree in Business Finance.
Associate
Mr. Edwards started interning with Encore Sports in 2016 and was hired to a full-time associate position in 2021 after graduating from the University of Southern California with a degree in Business Administration and an emphasis in Finance.
Mr. Edwards is a native of San Diego, California.