Donald Woodard is a nationally recognized transactional lawyer representing talent and companies in the entertainment and sports industries. Woodard’s impressive legal career has been spent primarily practicing law with AMLAW 100 law firms. He served as Deputy General Counsel at USA Track & Field, Inc. until his departure in January 2021 to start Carter + Woodard, the first Black-owned boutique entertainment and sports law firm based in Atlanta, GA. There he counsels a diverse group of clients including superstar recording artists such as Summer Walker, NLE Choppa, Big Boi of the legendary hip hop group OutKast, and Jacquees. Woodard advises the several athletes including LSU Women’s basketball player and SEC Freshman of the Year, Flau’jae, record breaking projected #1 quarterback in the class of 2026, Julian “ju Ju” Lewis and Alabama Running Back Justice Haynes in all matters involving Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) opportunities. He also advises the Georgia High School Association in connection with setting NIL policy for high school athletes in the State of Georgia. He is a trusted advisor to corporate clients such as Rev Racing, a NASCAR-supported development racing team for female and minority drivers and Central City Productions (television producers of the Stellar Awards, Black Music Honors, Black History Honors and other family friendly programming). An influential dealmaker, Woodard specializes in negotiating and structuring complex commercial transactions for businesses, serving as outside general counsel to private companies, and advising individuals in all facets of their careers in the entertainment and sports industries.

Woodard is among an elite group of lawyers selected as a Georgia Super Lawyer and Top Music Lawyer by Billboard Magazine. He has also been recognized in the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “40 Under 40 Rising Stars” and the 100 Most Influential People in Entertainment by Rolling Out Magazine. He was the first African-American federal judicial clerk on the Northern District of Georgia’s Bankruptcy Court.

Woodard is a frequent speaker on the lecture circuit. He is a former member of the Board of the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association and Board of Governors for the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (the Grammys). Donald previously served as Chairman of the Black Women Film Network, the first man to ever serve in such a capacity.