SAM GILBERTSON

Agent & Draft Advisor

A former college player and coach, Sam now represents professional baseball players from all over the nation. He also provides pre-draft advising to student-athletes who are pursuing professional baseball careers. He is a licensed attorney in Michigan and Indiana. Sam earned his Juris Doctor from Regent University School of Law. While at Regent, he was mentored by a veteran MLB agent who has advised and represented a Cy Young Award recipient and several players in the All-Star Game and the World Series. Sam is a member of the Sports Lawyers Association and lives in Portage, Michigan with his wife, Anna, and their son.

SHAUN P. WILLIS

Agent & Draft Advisor

Managing Partner

Shaun represents professional baseball players and specializes in negotiations and arbitration. He has been named as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Association. He is licensed to practice law in Michigan and is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. He received his Juris Doctor from Thomas Cooley Law School and is also a licensed commercial pilot. He cultivates marketing and endorsement relationships for clients with his connections in the industry. Shaun and his wife, Corrina, reside in Vicksburg, Michigan with their seven children.

MICHAEL WILLIS

Managing Partner

Registered as a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Illinois, Michael oversees asset protection, wealth preservation, and estate planning for our clients. He is a licensed attorney in Florida and Michigan and is listed in The Best Lawyers in America and Superlawyers. He graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. from University of Notre Dame and received his Juris Doctor from University of Michigan Law School. He remains an avid Notre Dame fan. Michael lives in Mattawan, Michigan with his wife, Susan, and their six children.

DONALD SMITH

Partner

A former college football player, Don now assists professional athletes with family law issues, child custody concerns, and defense of athletes accused of crimes. His background as a defense attorney gives him experience negotiating tough deals for his clients. Don obtained his Juris Doctor from Michigan State University - Detroit College of Law, where he graduated magna cum laude. He lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan with his wife and two children.

Dave Pasti

Agent & Advisor

Diakon Baseball Group

Since 1998, Dave has served as an advisor and agent to college and high school players in the annual baseball Draft. He has represented numerous MLB players and has decades as experience as an agent. He is a licensed attorney in the state of Maryland and is on the leadership board of the Metro Maryland Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He received his Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law. Through his career, he has established a reputation within the baseball industry as a quality agent who places a high value on integrity and trust. Dave lives in Rockville, Maryland with his wife, Marie, and their three boys.

VERELLE KIRKWOOD

Associate

After Verelle finished his NCAA basketball career, he played professional basketball in Argentina. He assists the agency with basketball clients and has coached high school basketball at Phoenix High School of Kalamazoo. He is a licensed to practice as an attorney in Michigan and is a member of the U.S. Army Michigan National Guard JAG Corps. After graduating from Western Michigan University, he earned his Juris Doctor from Michigan State University College of Law. Verelle has lived abroad in both Costa Rica and Buenos Aires and speaks Spanish fluently. He lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan with his wife and son.

Max Antonneau

Client Service Specialists

Max Antonneau is the Client Services Coordinator for Willis Sports Agents. Antonneau has served in his role since September of 2018 and focuses on: new client and advisee recruitment; Willis Sports Agents MLB scout network curation, management, and consultation; and initiatives in marketing and analytics. Prior to his time at Willis Sports Agents, Antonneau worked in Basketball Operations for You First Sports where his efforts in research and data analytics assisted agents through the contact negotiations of NBA clients. In March of 2020, Antonneau was named among “The 30”, Western Michigan University’s prestigious publication recognizing 30 emerging leaders in business. Antonneau currently resides in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and is an active member of the community.

Sydney Haskin

Client Service Specialists

Sydney graduated magna cum laude from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice. Prior to graduating from Western, Sydney studied for a semester in London, England where she was ranked summa cum laude. In her free time, Sydney enjoys traveling and spending time with her friends and family. Sydney plans on attending law school in the fall of 2021.

Trent McNeil

Client Service Specialists

Trent McNeil specializes in Business Development for Willis Sports Agents. He has been on the team since January of 2023. McNeil handles the equipment orders and vendor relations for our pro players. He also assists with obtaining branding and endorsement opportunities for our players. A former Eagle Scout, Trent enjoys working out, collecting sports cards, and spending time with friends and family.