Full Name
Curtis Franks
Job Title
General Counsel
Company
FIFA World Cup 2026
Speaker Bio
Curtis R. Franks, Jr. is an accomplished attorney and business affairs executive with nearly two decades of experience advising senior leadership across the sports, entertainment, and corporate sectors. Currently serving as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for the FIFA World Cup 2026, Curtis leads a team of legal professionals overseeing all legal, governance, compliance, and brand protection matters for the world’s largest sporting event spanning the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Prior to joining FIFA, Curtis was Senior Legal Counsel and Head of Global Marketing Partnerships at The Coca-Cola Company, where he directed legal strategy for Coca-Cola's global sports, entertainment, and influencer marketing assets, and managed complex relationships with top marketing agencies and partners worldwide.
Earlier in his career, Curtis served as Associate General Counsel and Director of Legal Affairs for the NCAA, providing comprehensive legal support for the NCAA's 90 national championships and the organization’s $1 billion media and sponsorship portfolio. He also held senior legal and business affairs roles at the NBC Sports Group, where he managed legal affairs for Golf Channel, GolfNow, and other digital businesses across North America, the UK, and Australia.
Curtis began his career with positions at the Atlanta Hawks and The Coca-Cola Company, gaining extensive experience in commercial transactions, licensing, and strategic partnerships.
A recognized leader in the field, Curtis serves on the Board of the Sports Lawyers Association and has been honored in the GC Powerlist Miami by The Legal 500 and as a “40 Under 40” alumnus by the University of Georgia.
He earned his Juris Doctor with a Certificate in Sports Law from Tulane University Law School and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Georgia. He is admitted to practice in Georgia and Indiana.
Prior to joining FIFA, Curtis was Senior Legal Counsel and Head of Global Marketing Partnerships at The Coca-Cola Company, where he directed legal strategy for Coca-Cola's global sports, entertainment, and influencer marketing assets, and managed complex relationships with top marketing agencies and partners worldwide.
Earlier in his career, Curtis served as Associate General Counsel and Director of Legal Affairs for the NCAA, providing comprehensive legal support for the NCAA's 90 national championships and the organization’s $1 billion media and sponsorship portfolio. He also held senior legal and business affairs roles at the NBC Sports Group, where he managed legal affairs for Golf Channel, GolfNow, and other digital businesses across North America, the UK, and Australia.
Curtis began his career with positions at the Atlanta Hawks and The Coca-Cola Company, gaining extensive experience in commercial transactions, licensing, and strategic partnerships.
A recognized leader in the field, Curtis serves on the Board of the Sports Lawyers Association and has been honored in the GC Powerlist Miami by The Legal 500 and as a “40 Under 40” alumnus by the University of Georgia.
He earned his Juris Doctor with a Certificate in Sports Law from Tulane University Law School and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Georgia. He is admitted to practice in Georgia and Indiana.
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