Walter "Fritz" Metzinger, III

Fritz Metzinger’s practice spans business litigation, gaming regulatory work, and sports law, with a particular emphasis on representing clients navigating complex commercial and contractual matters. He regularly advises individual and corporate clients across Louisiana, earning a reputation as a persuasive advocate and writer in trial and appellate courts.

Fritz brings particular depth to the intersection of sports, law, and business. An avid sports fan, Fritz is a frequent speaker and author on sports law issues and is often tapped by local media to comment on high-profile developments.

He also maintains a robust practice in gaming regulation, advising clients on licensing and compliance in a rapidly shifting legal landscape.

• Represented professional sports teams with respect to a number of litigation-related and regulatory matters.
• Represented a number of clients with respect to gaming regulatory matters, including matters pertaining to the implementation of sports wagering in Louisiana.
• Regularly conducts legal research and assists with motions, motion response, oral arguments, and depositions on a wide variety of matters.
• Assisted in representation of international restaurant management and operations company against claims of securities violations, fraud, and contractual breach.
• Represented rental property management company in having claims of breach of lease by former apartment lessee dismissed.
• Represented financial broker in dispute with former brokerage firm over termination.

• American Bar Association member, Chair of the Sports-Related Disputes Subcommittee of the Business and Corporate Litigation Committee, Business Law Section member, and Co-Chair of the Litigation Section's Young Lawyers Committee.
• Louisiana State Bar Association House of Delegates member.
• Federal Bar Association member.
• International Association of Gaming Advisors member.

• The Best Lawyers in America:  Ones to Watch 2023 - 2026.
• Louisiana Super Lawyers Rising Star 2021 - 2025.
• New Orleans Magazine "Top Lawyer" 2022 - 2024.
• New Orleans CityBusiness 2022 Leadership in Law honoree.

Panelist, "New Orleans at the United States Supreme Court," American Bar Association Business Law Spring Meeting, April 2025.

Panelist, "Sports Law in 2025: Litigation, Athlete Compensation, Rights, and Emerging Legal Protections," myLaw CLE, March 2025.

Panelist, "The Current, Chaotic Legal Landscape of NCAA Student-Athlete Compensation," New Orleans Bar Association, CLE, August 29, 2023.

Panelist, "Emerging Issues in Sports: What’s on the Horizon For Young Professionals," 2023 Tulane Entertainment and Sports Law Conference, March 4, 2023.

Panelist, "Trial Preparation and Practice," New Orleans Bar Association 2022 Procrastinators' Programs, December 28, 2022.

Panel Moderator, ABA Section Roundtable: "Moving from Law School Student to Lawyer," ABA Litigation Section, September 29, 2022.

Panelist, CLE Program: "Recent Developments in Business & Corporate Litigation," ABA Business Law Section CLE, March 31, 2022.

Panelist, "Antitrust and the NCAA: Should College Athletes Be Paid to Play?," New Orleans Bar Association, CLE, June 3, 2021.

Panelist, "Premises Liability Implications of Mass Shooting Events," Association of Corporate Counsel, Louisiana Chapter, October 31, 2018.

• Chapter Author, Recent Developments in Sports-Related Disputes, American Business Law Section Annual Publication, 2024.
• Chapter Author, Recent Developments in Sports-Related Disputes, American Business Law Section Annual Publication, 2022.
• Author, For the Love of the Frame: How Behavioral Economics Helps Explain the NCAA Grant-in-Aid Cap's Perplexing Antitrust Vitality, 91 Tul. L. Rev. 595.