Sherri DeBettignies
(Erick's Assistant)
sherri.debettignies@fmjlaw.com
Erick Kriewaldt is an Associate in FMJ’s Sports & Entertainment, General Corporate & Business, Real Estate, Manufacturing, and Intellectual Property Practice Groups. Erick works with athletes, agents, teams, sports organizations, and other industry and support network members on matters involving athlete representation, name, image, and likeness (NIL), sponsorships, and a variety of sports-related business matters. He also assists businesses and individuals with a range of corporate, commercial real estate, manufacturing, and trademark matters. Before joining FMJ, Erick gained experience with a professional sports agency, where he supported athlete recruitment and sponsorship matters, and a national digital sports media company working on social media and data initiatives. He also founded an NIL collective while in college and later consulted for an NIL collective at a Power Four institution.
Growing up working in his family’s apartment rental business and operating his own lawn care business in high school, Erick understands the challenges entrepreneurs face in building and running a business. These experiences shaped his appreciation for the work, decision-making, and attention to detail that go into keeping a business moving forward. Erick brings that perspective to his practice, along with the discipline and teamwork he developed as a collegiate athlete, to better understand his clients’ goals and help them navigate their legal needs.
Erick earned his J.D. from the University of St. Thomas School of Law, where he served as President of the Business Law Society, Vice President of the Sports, Entertainment, and Media Law Society, and Vice President and Treasurer of the Greater Minnesota Practice Cooperative. He also competed on the school’s Baseball Arbitration Competition team and continues coaching with the team. Before law school, Erick studied Finance and Supply Chain Management at the University of Minnesota, where he competed on the men’s rowing team.
“My approach is to listen first, understand each client’s goals, and work to find practical solutions that make sense for their business or career. Having run my own small business, grown up working in my family’s business, and gained experience in the sports industry, I understand the challenges entrepreneurs and athletes face and the importance of having someone in their corner who takes the time to understand their perspective. I strive to be a responsive, thoughtful partner who helps clients navigate legal issues, make informed decisions, and move their businesses and careers forward.”
Outside of the office, Erick enjoys Nordic skiing, exploring small Midwestern towns, and taking in the region’s architecture and history. He has a particular interest in the economic forces that shaped rural communities and enjoys building personal software projects with no-code AI tools. In the summer, he can often be found at classic car shows or listening to the Twins on the radio.
