Sports Law: Nationwide

THE FIRM Covington & Burling remains one of the US sports industry's go-to providers for legal services, with its lawyers well-known and trusted by many of sport's most significant organizations. The group brings a combination of depth and breadth in both personnel and expertise which attracts some marquee clients. Yet again this year the team has been involved in some of the most high-profile sports transactions and cases, perhaps most notably through its representation of the NFL in the major antitrust class action brought by the NFL players.

Client Service "The firm makes me feel like I am one of its most important clients. The lawyers are always available and they just give us really practical, commercial advice."

Commercial Awareness "These guys understand the sports business better than anyone - the business is rapidly changing, especially on the rights side - they're playing a major role in that, and they are at our side when we do the deals."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Gregg Levy heads the firm's sports litigation team. He is highly regarded for his expertise in the sector, and is noted for his work as regular outside counsel to the NFL. He led the team's representation of the NFL in connection with the high-profile class action antitrust case brought by ten prominent players against the league.

Bruce Wilson is a high-profile corporate attorney with a strong presence in the sports sector. He was part of the team which represented the LA Dodgers in connection with high-profile media rights negotiations.

Peter Zern is another of the firm's prominent corporate practitioners. He recently led the team advising the Big East Conference in relation to both membership and expansion issues.

Douglas Gibson is a prominent sports transactional lawyer. He co-led the team which represented the NFL in media negotiations, as well as representing the owners of the Ultimate Fighting Championship in its broadcast deal with FOX.

THE FIRM Proskauer Rose has occupied a position close to the apogee of the US sports law market for many years. Commentators view its grip on the pinnacle as likely to strengthen yet further after another astonishing year of sporting success. The team represented the NBA in its collective bargaining agreement with the NBAPA, and served as labor counsel to the NFL during its collective bargaining agreement with its player association. The team remains lead counsel to the English Premier League in an ongoing suit against YouTube concerning the presence of copyright-infringing content on its website.

Client Service "The lawyers have great people skills, and take a very collaborative approach - it's not about doing things their way, but about working with us to make sure we're doing it in the right way for us."

Commercial Awareness "They understand sport as well as any outside law firm we've worked with, both in terms of their willingness to listen, coupled with the fact that they represent the NBA, the NFL, the NHL, various teams - they have a 360-degree understanding of sport, and almost understand how we fit into the picture of sport better than we do."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Howard Ganz co-chairs the firm's sports practice group. He is held up as one of the sports sector's leading labor lawyers, and he recently represented the NBA in relation to the collective bargaining negotiations with the NBAPA.

Joseph Leccese co-chair's the practice group alongside Howard Ganz, as well as chairing the firm itself, and also maintains a highly active presence in sports transactions; "he seems to be everywhere at once - he's in every single major deal." Recent highlights include representing the Pac-12 Conference in high-profile media rights agreements with FOX and ESPN. Clients are keen to stress that "he brings great judgment, which is exactly what you need in sport, and we've really come to rely on him."

Robert Batterman is another of the firm's notable sports labor lawyers. He is lauded as "highly client-centric, and with a great understanding of not just labor laws but also the sports industry." He represented the NFL as its labor counsel during the collective bargaining negotiations.

Bradley Ruskin co-chairs the sports team and remains leader of the sports litigation section. He is "a highly strategic lawyer with a real deft way of reviewing the case and managing the situation and people - he has a very practical perspective." He has been involved in leading the group advising the MLB in relation to the issues arising from Frank McCourt's ownership of the LA Dodgers, and in connection with the Dodgers' bankruptcy.

Jon Oram is "a gifted corporate lawyer with an extraordinary capacity to handle complex matters." He has recently represented Jim Crane in connection with financing its over-$600 million acquisition of the Houston Astros.

Wayne Katz is a corporate attorney who is highly regarded for his work advising sports leagues and teams in relation to transactions.

THE FIRM Skadden Arps's prominence in the sports market is predominantly linked to its considerable expertise in sports litigation. Recently the team has represented the NBA in connection with litigation concerning the legality of the recent NBA lockout. The group also represented the NBA in obtaining the dismissal of breach of contract claims filed against four NBA teams which had previously been members of the American Basketball Association (ABA) by another former ABA team. The group also works with sports franchises in M&A transactions and financing.

Commercial Awareness "The lawyers keep up with every development in sports." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Shepard Goldfein heads the firm's global antitrust practice group. Clients note that he is "a top-notch antitrust litigator with a sound understanding of our business and the sports industry as a whole." He recently advised the NHL in a much publicized arbitration which upheld the league's rejection of the $102 million, 17-year contract between the New Jersey Devils and Ilya Kovalchuk.

Jeffrey Mishkin has an exceptional reputation within the sports sector, and clients view him as "a true leader in the sports field, who continues to be responsive to the needs of our company." He headed the team which was lead counsel to the NBA and its member teams in the class action lawsuit against the NBAPA related to the NBA's lockout.

Thomas Gowan is a corporation finance lawyer who is heavily involved with the sports industry. He recently acted for the NHL in relation to the financing and sale of the Dallas Stars.

THE FIRM Arent Fox's sports team is able to draw upon the resources of 26 of the firm's attorneys, ensuring that it is able to assist sports clients with media rights issues, sports financings, and sponsorship work. Commentators are also increasingly noticing the firm's prominence in the sale and acquisition of sports franchises. One of the team's key recent highlights was its representation of the Los Angeles Lakers in connection with its media rights deal with Time Warner Cable.

Client Service "They are excellent attorneys, and highly efficient in the work they've done for us."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Richard Brand chairs Arent Fox's sports practice group. He is highly regarded for his expertise in representing both sellers and purchasers of sports teams. He brings "tons of experience, and good business sense" to the deal table, and recently led the team's representation of the Los Angeles Lakers in relation to the landmark 20-year rights distribution deal with Time Warner Cable.

THE FIRM Debevoise & Plimpton's prominence in the sports arena is predominantly linked with the firm's stellar IP practice. The group is regularly called upon to assist significant sports clients with their IP concerns, such as the NFL, NBA, NHL, Oakland Raiders, and the Washington Capitals.

Sources say: "The whole team is very bright; Debevoise is a firm that is known for their smart lawyers. There is nothing over elaborate about them, they just do what we need them to do. They are brilliant, very practical, easy to talk to and incredibly talented."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Bruce Keller leads Debevoise & Plimpton's involvement in the sports space. He is a highly experienced IP attorney, and regularly assists sports clients with IP issues.

THE FIRM DLA Piper is rapidly cementing its position amongst the elite of US sports law practices, with its members consistently counseling high-profile clients across a wide range of sporting concerns. The group is praised for its strength and increasing dominance of the stadium financing market, and the team has recently been working with the San Francisco 49ers in relation to financing its new stadium project. The practice is also increasingly a destination for the sellers and purchasers of sports teams, and recently it advised Matthew Hulsizer in connection with financing his potential acquisition of the Phoenix Coyotes.

Commercial Awareness "They are creative problem solvers who figure out ways around bumps in the road and do not create them."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Peter White co-chairs the firm's global sports media and entertainment practice group. He is a tremendously experienced sports law practitioner, and regularly undertakes commercial and financing transactions for sports entities. Sources suggest "he has a fulsome knowledge of the sports space and tremendous relationships in the industry which help in getting transactions done." He recently advised the San Francisco 49ers in relation to financing the franchise's new stadium project.

Charles Baker's practice is focused predominantly on assisting sports, media and entertainment clients on M&A transactions and corporate finance. Sources believe that he "really understands the idiosyncrasies of sports transactions - and he really knows how to get a deal done."

Mark Whitaker is heavily involved in the sports industry, and regularly works with clients from the financial sector on sports transactions. Clients enjoy working with an attorney who is "smart, insightful, tenacious, and remarkably calm and good humored under even the most daunting of circumstances."

THE FIRM Sources note that O'Melveny & Myers remains a popular practice in the sports industry for a wide variety of issues including M&A transactions, finance, litigation, IP and licensing. The group has a longstanding relationship with the IOC, and has recently been advising it on the sale of its US media rights for upcoming Olympic Games. The team has also worked with NFL Players Incorporated in relation to a number of broadcast and digital media issues.

Commercial Awareness "The attorneys offer substantial expertise and knowledge regarding the sports and entertainment business, along with great skills in finalizing legal agreements in these areas."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Joseph Calabrese chairs the firm's sports and media practice group. He is a veteran practitioner within the sports sector, and has recently been advising the IOC on the sale of US media rights to the 2014/16 and 2018/20 Olympic Games to NBC Universal.

THE FIRM Arnold & Porter maintains a strong presence in the sports sector through its copyright and telecommunications expertise. Recent highlights include advising MLB and MLBAM on both copyright and telecommunications concerns.

Sources say: "The lawyers are highly skilled, responsive, careful and successful in their work."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Robert Garrett is a highly experienced copyright and communications attorney, regarded by market commentators as one of the leading copyright practitioners active within the sports sector. He continues to work with prominent clients such as MLB and MLB Advanced Media in conjunction with their copyright and telecommunications issues.

THE FIRM This group works with a broad range of clients across a range of sports issues. Its members are principally recognized for their expertise in sports financing, sponsorship, media rights and litigation, although it is also highly recognized for its work in antidoping, through the prominence of Richard Young.

Sources say: "These gentlemen have really understood our business, our organization, our needs - we've come to trust their counsel, and the successes they've had for us has enhanced that trust."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Richard Young is the managing partner of the firm's Colorado Springs office. He is highly regarded for his expertise in athletic disputes. Sources describe him as "one of the few lawyers who truly understands the science, and is therefore able to actually litigate these cases where there are real complex scientific issues at stake - and he can convey the key issues successfully to judges who are not scientific experts."

Steven Smith heads the department, and continues to assist sports clients including Olympic movement governing bodies on sponsorship issues, licensing agreements and media contracts. Sources suggest he "understands the big picture and appreciates our unique needs."

THE FIRM The Foley & Lardner sports team is a multidisciplinary group, drawing upon the firm's expertise in litigation, IP, and employment to provide broad sports law coverage. The team is best recognized for its work in baseball, and it continues to work with the MLB, MLB Properties and MLB Advanced Media across a variety of legal issues.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Mary Braza co-chairs the firm's sports practice group. She works with clients on a range of sports issues including the acquisition and sale of sports franchises. She brings "a very practical business sense."

THE FIRM Katten's sports team undertakes a broad array of work, with its multidisciplinary group made up of practitioners from the corporate, commercial finance, real estate, and litigation practices. The group's members work with clients on a variety of issues, including regulatory compliance, broadcast agreements, sponsorship deals, IP, financing and litigation among others. Recent highlights include advising GSW Sports on its $450 million acquisition of NBA team Golden State Warriors.  

Client Service "The lawyers are efficient, so therefore you know their costs are. It is a firm which simply looks to get the deal done for their client."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Adam Klein is the chair of Katten Muchin's sports practice group. He works with a wide array of clients in relation to an equally broad spectrum of sports work, and it is this breadth of sports specific experience which impresses clients: "His expertise can't be overstated, he's just got so much relevant experience of sports from all sides of the table."

THE FIRM Weil, Gotshal & Manges's involvement in the sports sector stems principally from its strong labor law practice, and the leadership of James Quinn proves central to the team's status. The team was co-counsel to the NFLPA in its labor dispute with the NFL, and also lead counsel to the NFLPA in the antitrust suit which emerged from the labor case. Other highlights include representing the NBAPA in the negotiations which ended the NBA lockout.

Sources say: "They are extremely knowledgeable, extremely experienced, and extremely well-versed lawyers in the sports sector."

KEY INDIVIDUALS James Quinn is "not just a good litigator, but he's also a very good strategist." He is frequently engaged in sports disputes, and this year he has been at the epicenter of some of sport's biggest stories, as he was co-lead counsel to the NFLPA in its labor dispute with the NFL and lead counsel to the NFLPA in the antitrust suit which emerged from the labor case.