As a J.D./LL.M. joint degree student in the University of Miami School of Law's Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law (EASL) program, Janaye Dowers has consistently looked for ways to explore how cutting-edge technology intersects traditional legal frameworks. Her forward-thinking approach recently earned her a major milestone: her forthcoming article, "Frictionless Fans, Fragmented Law: A Hybrid Approach to Regulating Stadium Biometrics," will be published in Volume 81 of the University of Miami Law Review.
For the piece, Dowers was awarded the Soia Mentschikoff Award for Excellence in Scholarly Writing, a prestigious honor presented annually to the Junior Staff Editor who authors the best student article or casenote.
The Legal High Stakes of Stadium Tech
Dowers’ interest in facial recognition and stadium ticketing tech was sparked during an EASL short course, where she recognized a vulnerability in how private venues handle sensitive fan data.
"My interest in the intersection of artificial intelligence and the law has been a driving force in my legal education from early on," said Dowers. "Biometric data is immutable and, once compromised, cannot be reset, which makes the legal stakes uniquely high."
Her research tackles a major gap: the private sector lacks a comprehensive, uniform federal privacy law to govern biometric tech. "The regulatory landscape is deeply fragmented, consisting of a patchwork of state statutes with no overarching federal standard," Dowers said, adding that sports venues have quickly become some of the most active deployment sites for this technology. Her paper bridges these two passions to propose a more unified solution.
In the Trenches of Corporate Law and Sports
Last summer, Dowers served as a legal intern with the Miami Dolphins' legal department. "Working with the Miami Dolphins last summer marked a truly pivotal point in my legal education," she shares, noting that "no two days were the same." Her internship involved drafting and redlining vendor, athletic physician, and influencer agreements, while assisting with updates to the organization's privacy policies.
Beyond sports, Dowers has diverse professional roots. She has an undergraduate degree in public policy from the University of Maryland, previously interned at Skadden Arps, and is currently expanding her corporate law experience as a Summer Associate at Dechert LLP in New York.
"I firmly believe that the relationships you build during an internship can be just as valuable as the substantive legal work itself, especially in a relationship-driven industry like professional sports," she said.
Learning to "See Around Corners"
During her time with the Dolphins, a piece of advice from Deputy General Counsel Marc Weinroth completely reshaped Dowers’ educational philosophy. Weinroth emphasized that great sports attorneys "must be capable of seeing around corners."
"In-house counsel at a sports organization is not a specialist; you are a generalist, called upon to address legal questions across an enormous range of subject areas, often with little notice," said Dowers. "The entire organization looks to legal to identify issues before they become problems, and that is a significant responsibility."
Because of this insight, Dowers purposefully diversified her course load. Alongside her core EASL classes, she has pursued coursework in Administrative Law, Federal Income Tax, and Startup and Entrepreneurship to develop the breadth of knowledge required to anticipate issues across multiple areas. For Dowers, "the ability to see around corners is not a talent you are born with; it is a discipline you cultivate through continued and varied education."
Looking Ahead
After graduation, Dowers looks forward to joining a law firm where she can build foundational transactional skills in drafting, negotiation, and deal structuring—skills that will translate seamlessly into any legal environment. "A mentor once advised me to identify the in-house role I aspire to, study its required qualifications, and methodically work toward meeting each of them," she said of her strategic approach.
For incoming law students hoping to break into sports or tech law, Dowers offers two core pieces of advice: network with intention, because community opens doors that credentials alone cannot; and remember to breathe.
“Your first year is intense, and it is easy to spiral," said Dowers. "Grades matter and can make a difference in a competitive hiring market, but they are not the whole story. Focus on doing your best work, stay curious, and trust that everything will fall into place."
Read more about the School of Law’s Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law area of study.
