Jay Colvin enters his first season as Chief Legal Officer in 2022. He originally joined the Lions in May 2016 as Senior Vice President of Legal Affairs and General Counsel. He manages all legal matters pertaining to the corporate and business activities of the team, and also serves as corporate secretary for the Lions and Detroit Lions Charities.
Prior to coming on board with the Lions, Colvin was a partner at Bodman, PLC law firm where he practiced law for 27 years. While at Bodman, he acted as an advisor and attorney to the Ford Family for 25 years, including representing the Detroit Lions organization. Beginning his career as a certified public accountant, Colvin's areas of specialty at Bodman were estate and tax planning for high-net-worth families, as well as corporate and partnership taxes.
Additionally, Colvin has extensive experience consulting professional athletes on legal and wealth planning throughout their active and alumni careers including structuring business deals, contracts, charitable contributions and the formation and operation of charitable foundations.
Colvin's professional accolades include being listed on The Best Lawyers in America in the Trusts & Estates practice area since 2012 and named a 2014 "Top Lawyer" by DBusiness magazine. In May 2018, he was also named a member of DBusiness magazine's "Top Corporate Counsel." He currently serves on the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors where he is also the Treasurer and serves as a trustee to several private foundations.
Colvin is a graduate of Wayne State University with a B.S. and a J.D., cum laude; Order of the Coif from the Wayne State University School of Law. He is married with three children.
