Lamb McErlane managing partner named chairman of Pa. State Athletic Commission

The managing partner of a suburban Philadelphia law firm has been

named chairman of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission.

Joel L. Frank, who also serves as executive committee chairman of the West Chester, Pa. law firm Lamb McErlane PC, was tapped by Gov. Tom Corbett to serve a four-year term as chairman of the state body that oversees and regulates professional boxing, kickboxing, wrestling and mixed martial arts.

Nominees chosen to sit on the athletic commission require confirmation by the state Senate.

“I am eager and excited to begin my role as Chairman of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission,” Frank said in a statement. “It will be an honor to serve the Commonwealth in this capacity.”

Frank, who as an attorney focuses his practice on commercial and civil litigation in state and federal court, received his law degree from Widener University School of Law.

In his personal life, he has been actively involved in the mixed martial arts scene for more than two decades, both as a practitioner and instructor.

The attorney holds black belts in two separate forms of martial arts, according to a bio provided by the law firm.

According to a Lamb McErlane news release, Pennsylvania is considered to be one of the more active states when it comes to professional boxing and mixed martial arts.

The state Athletic Commission licenses more than 1,400 professional athletes, including boxers, kickboxers and wrestlers, and also licenses sports promoters, managers, doctors, trainers, announcers, timekeepers, referees and agents, according to the news release.

Prior to joining Lamb McErlane, Frank worked as a partner at a large law firm in downtown Philadelphia.