This group has an unassailable place in the upper echelons of sports practices, with a caliber of work that attracts an enviable client roster.
“The consistent level of quality throughout the ranks and its business-oriented, practical advice” attracts major entities like the NFL. Clients and sports industry insiders praise the group’s complete understanding of the commercial pressures affecting the industry:
“These guys not only act as counsel, but also put themselves in our positions to see how we should react for the good of the company.” As chair of the litigation group,
Gregg Levy is invaluable in disputes.
“A litigator who should be on anybody’s list,” he brings
“extraordinarily good judgment and phenomenal instincts” to the table. He recently led the representation of the NFL in constitutional challenges to security patdowns conducted at NFL stadiums. Corporate attorney
Bruce Wilson provides
“great judgment and excellent, forthright advice.” He recently worked with
Douglas Gibson, assisting the NBA with its arrangements to jointly manage key digital assets with TBS. Gibson is also a corporate attorney with a fantastic grasp of his clients’ commercial needs. As one source states,
“I can’t say enough good stuff about the guy, but to sum it up: Doug delivers.” A sports and media specialist,
Peter Zern's greatest strength is in negotiations:
"He cuts right through the posturing of other parties to get to the practical realities.” He recently represented the NHL in negotiations for ownership of the US version of the NHL Network with a joint venture. Respected corporate tax specialist
Andrew Friedman has counselled sports clients from all four major leagues, as well as the USTA, and major sports franchises such as the Boston Red Sox.
This team maintains its position among the elite of the national sports market. Able to draw on over forty-five years' experience, it represents clients including major leagues and franchises. Central to its appeal, say sources, are its foundations in the firm's nationally renowned labor team, and they particularly mark out
Howard Ganz. Cochair of the group, he is the NBA’s principal outside labor counsel, and clients say:
“He is so experienced and has such depth of sports knowledge that we can go to him for advice on almost anything.” Along with Ganz,
Joseph Leccese cochairs the practice.
“He knows the sports industry inside-out and maintains the uniform standard of excellence which pervades the team." He concentrates on sports and media-related corporate issues, and sources are especially keen to highlight his expertise in stadium deals and financings.
Robert Batterman's experience speaks for itself: labor counsel to the NHL and the MLS, he has recently been advising the NFL on collective bargaining matters.
Bradley Ruskin is cochair of the global litigation department and heads the litigation side of the sports practice. He represents a sterling list of clients, successfully leading the team that represented the ATP World Tour in a jury trial.
Wayne Katz is a corporate specialist and a seasoned sports attorney. Clients underline his commitment:
“He works seven days a week, and he understands what it takes to be our lawyer.” Corporate specialist
Jon Oram represents sports leagues and teams in acquisitions and financing matters.
This team has the legal expertise, the sector knowledge and the exceptional clients to justify its long-standing position among the elite firms in this area. It represents a number of the major leagues: the NFL, the NBA, the NHL, MLB, and the PGA Tour have all relied on the stellar group of respected attorneys. Clients mark out the exceptional client service, marvelling at the team's
“ability to give you exactly the advice you need, before you’ve even realized you need it.” "The go-to lawyer for thorny sports litigation," Shepard Goldfein is
“exceptionally fine at what he does.” Clients enthuse about his passion for and deep understanding of the sports industry. Commerciality is one of the core strengths of the group, as exemplified by
Jeffrey Mishkin and his
“outstanding business acumen.” Former executive vice president and chief legal officer of the NBA, Mishkin combines commercial understanding and superb legal skills – so much so that one source says
“there isn’t another lawyer I’ve worked with that inspires such confidence in me.” Martin Klepper is principally involved on the transactional side of the sports practice.
This practice is based predominantly around the firm's IP expertise, with
Bruce Keller heading the IP litigation practice. Clients are delighted with the team’s service, with one remarking,
“if I had to create my perfect outside law firm, it would be Debevoise & Plimpton.” The group’s bright, responsive attorneys act for major clients like the NFL.
Dewey & LeBoeuf has become the go-to litigation counsel for player associations. The group, led by practice cochair and
"jaw-droppingly amazing litigator" Jeffrey Kessler, has forged a tremendous relationship with the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), recently representing the association and its licensing affiliate, Players Inc, in a class action lawsuit. The group is also representing the Arena Football League Players Association in ongoing negotiations regarding the suspension of the 2009 season.
David Feher cochairs the practice alongside Kessler.
This team is active in a broad range of issues, and sources single out its strength in stadium development and financing matters, as illustrated by the practice of team leader
Peter White. He has been involved with the financing and development of stadiums for some of the world’s leading sports leagues, including the NBA, NHL and the English Premier League. Clients stress that when working with White and his group,
“you know that every aspect of the transaction is going to be done well."Clients are impressed with this group of
“intelligent, skilled, business savvy and hard-working attorneys.” The team has deep expertise in sports broadcasting matters, as its highlights illustrate: practice chair
Joseph Calabrese led the group advising the San Francisco Giants in its acquisition of an ownership stake in CSN Bay Area. A
"simply outstanding attorney,” Calabrese is undoubtedly the practice’s most high-profile member. The team is also the primary outside counsel in the USA to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and assists the IOC with licensing rights to the Olympic Games.
This group often acts for clients in soccer-related matters. It advised Abu Dhabi United Group in its acquisition of ordinary shares in Manchester City Football Club, and it has a close relationship with the Women’s Professional Soccer, having assisted the Women’s Soccer Initiative with developing a business model. The team is led by the London-based Creighton Condon, managing partner of the European offices, and Daniel Glazer is a key contact in New York.
“One of the most knowledgeable sports attorneys you’ll find anywhere,” Peter Alkalay of McLaughlin & Stern LLP represents a number of amateur sports organizations, including USA Track and Field, the United States Soccer Federation and the American Horse Show Association.
"Easily among the most experienced figures in the area," Bradley Andreozzi of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP represents governing bodies and professional athletes. He is a veteran of trials before the International Court of Arbitration for Sport in its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Curt Holbreich of K&L Gates is an
"amazing litigator who can do just about anything," having advised on a wide spectrum of disputes, including drug testing and athlete eligibility concerns. Top litigator
Maurice Suh of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP recently represented cyclist Floyd Landis.
"We really can't say enough great things about him," say sources.
Howard Jacobs founded the Law Offices of Howard L Jacobs to provide athletes with first-class legal representation. He is particularly well known for representing athletes accused of doping offences.
Charles Henn of Kilpatrick Stockton LLP is an IP litigator with a particular niche in sports issues. He has recently advised adidas and Reebok and is best known for his trade mark work for the Collegiate Licensing Company. At Williams & Connolly LLP’s Washington office,
Mark Levinstein is an experienced trial attorney, with clients including amateur and professional athletes, sports leagues and player associations. A highly regarded labor and employment lawyer,
Daniel Nash of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, has a specialty representing sports clients. Commentators say,
“with him there is no drama, no ego, just a rolling up of sleeves and tremendous efficiency.”