Our Team
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER and LEGAL SPORTS ANALYST
Jennifer Milo
Jennifer is COO and Legal Sports Analyst at Christine Brown & Partners, bringing more than 25 years of experience in collegiate athletics and higher education, and the perspective of a former Division I college athlete herself.
As COO, she oversees the firm’s operations. As Legal Sports Analyst, she helps student-athletes and coaches navigate a full spectrum of areas in today’s new world of college athletics – from Title IX matters to NCAA compliance issues, NIL, and coaches’ contracts and compensation – drawing on her experience as a Deputy Title IX Coordinator and vast experience in college administration at all NCAA divisions.
Previously, she spent over a decade as Director of Athletics at Cal State San Marcos, where she transitioned the university’s athletics program from NAIA to NCAA Division II and oversaw a period of remarkable success, including 18 CCAA Championships since 2017 and 1,249 CCAA All-Academic honors. Prior to her administration role, she started a new program at CSUSM and served as the Women’s Softball Head Coach at the university. Jennifer retired from CSUSM during the summer of 2025.
Before CSUSM, she was an Assistant Softball Coach and Academic Counselor at San Diego State University. Jennifer competed as a member of the softball team at the University of San Diego, where to this day holds many of the program’s records. Jennifer played in every inning of every game during her four years at USD. Jennifer holds a Master of Arts in College Counseling & Student Affairs (2001) and a Bachelor of Arts in Diversified Liberal Arts (1997), both from the University of San Diego.
ATTORNEY
Emily Staker
Emily Staker is an NFLPA-certified agent with several years of litigation experience, a record of fighting for athletes at every stage of their careers, and a focus on rights protection in a constantly evolving landscape where many of the rules are still being written.
Her expertise lies in the issues that define modern athlete representation, including NIL rights, contract negotiation, guiding players through the draft process, and building career strategies that account for the totality of an athlete’s professional life. She brings a strong legal foundation and a negotiator’s instinct to every client relationship, with a track record of securing outcomes that reflect an athlete’s true value.
In addition to her work on behalf of professional and college athletes, Emily serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, where she teaches NIL law and athlete representation. She also partnered with the University of Denver to develop a robust NIL education series for student-athletes, equipping them with a practical understanding of their rights before they encounter the marketplace firsthand.
Emily holds a J.D. from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and a B.A. from Gonzaga University, where she graduated summa cum laude.
ATTORNEY
Ben LaCourse
Ben LaCourse is an attorney at Christine Brown & Partners whose work focuses on sports and the legal issues surrounding collegiate athletics. Prior to joining the firm, he spent several years in NCAA compliance at Iowa State University and the University of Oklahoma, where he played a key role in the implementation of NIL and advised coaches, administrators, and student-athletes on eligibility, amateurism, and other NCAA compliance matters. Ben has also practiced in private practice, handling both transactional and litigation matters for a diverse range of clients.
A former Division I soccer player, Ben brings firsthand experience and perspective to his work in collegiate athletics, pairing on-the-field insight with a detailed understanding of NCAA rules and institutional decision-making. He serves on the Oral Roberts University Sports Management Advisory Board and is a member of the New York and Oklahoma Bar Associations.
He holds a J.D. from University of Tulsa College of Law, where he graduated with honors and was active in the Sports Law Society and Christian Legal Fellowship while serving as a Graduate Assistant in Athletics Internal Operations. He holds a B.S. in Sports Management from Oral Roberts University.
FINANCE MANAGER
Steve Donahue
As a founding member of Christine Brown & Partners, Steve plays a key role in overseeing the firm’s financial operations and supporting its long-term growth. He manages billing, budgeting, financial reporting, and client account processes, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and compliance. Steve works closely with firm leadership and attorneys to provide financial insight, support client onboarding and retainer management, and help maintain the strong operational foundation that allows the firm to serve its clients effectively.
Before joining the firm, Steve served as Director of Athletics at Fairfield College Preparatory School, where he led large-scale budgeting, staffing, and operations for a multi-sport program. He also taught mathematics at the school.
Steve holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from Sacred Heart University and a Bachelor of Arts in Politics from Fairfield University.
SPORTS MANAGEMENT LEGAL ASSISTANT
Mia Kaufman
Mia Kaufman is the Sports Management Legal Assistant at Christine Brown & Partners, with experience inside Division I programs that provides insight into how teams operate, how decisions are made, and where athletes most often need informed support.
Mia is a second-year Juris Doctor candidate at SMU Dedman School of Law and an active member of the Sports and Entertainment Law Club and Women in Law. She has worked with the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office, analyzing body-worn camera footage and supporting legal advocacy efforts.
Mia is in her second year as a Graduate Assistant for the SMU Men’s Basketball team after spending three seasons as a Student Manager for the University of Southern California Men’s Basketball team.
Mia graduated summa cum laude from the University of Southern California with a B.A. in Law, History and Culture and a B.A. in Psychology.