Sports & Entertainment

Sports & Entertainment

Sports & Entertainment

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Overview

The world of sports and entertainment has become a world of big business, and it has quickly become a truly global business. This is true both for sports and entertainment businesses whose ability to compete on the field or the stage is dependent on their ability to generate revenues and compete in the business world and for businesses in other industries increasingly looking to sponsorship opportunities as a means to advertise their products and services. As the complexity - and the stakes - of the business of sports and entertainment continue to grow, we believe that so too does the need for sophisticated counsel with a deep understanding of the issues that matter to you, the experience necessary to effectively and efficiently help you achieve your goals and a track record of delivering results for our clients on the matters that mean the most to them.

31

Represented 31 NHL hockey clubs and/or their owners

20+

Represented over 20 Premier League, La Liga, Championship and international soccer clubs

130+

Over 130 different legal projects in the build-up to the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games

We are recognized internationally as a leader in sports and entertainment law

We are one of only two law firms in the world recognized by Chambers, a directory of the most widely recommended law firms and lawyers with rankings based on client input, as having one of the leading sports practices in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Hundreds of clients across multiple sports and around the world have relied on our lawyers to help grow their businesses, protect their interests and compete. We offer our clients the unique experience and relationships of our over 100 Sports and Entertainment Group members across the United States, in the United Kingdom and across Europe, Asia and the Middle East, practicing in a variety of transactional, litigation, regulatory, real estate and financial institutions practice groups.

Offers the best possible client service

Chambers

Recognition

  • One of only two law firms worldwide recognized by Chambers as having leading sports practices in both the United States and the United Kingdom.
  • Recognized in the United States and United Kingdom by Legal 500 as a leading law firm in Sports
  • Recognized as “Power Players” in sports law by Sports Business Journal
  • Previously recognized as International Law Firm of the Year by The Lawyer European Awards
  • Previously recognized as UK Law Firm of the Year by British Legal Awards, Chambers Europe Awards for Excellence, Chambers Global Awards and The Lawyer Awards
  • Previously recognized as highest-ranked law firm for innovation by Legal Business survey of 9,000 clients
  • Twice-ranked as the World’s Most Innovative Law Firm by the International Legal Technology Association
  • Previously recognized by BTI Consulting Group’s “Client List A-Team”, an elite group of 30 law firms most recognized by clients for delivering the best levels of client service

Recognition

  • One of only two law firms worldwide recognized by Chambers as having leading sports practices in both the United States and the United Kingdom.
  • Recognized in the United States and United Kingdom by Legal 500 as a leading law firm in Sports
  • Recognized as “Power Players” in sports law by Sports Business Journal
  • Previously recognized as International Law Firm of the Year by The Lawyer European Awards
  • Previously recognized as UK Law Firm of the Year by British Legal Awards, Chambers Europe Awards for Excellence, Chambers Global Awards and The Lawyer Awards
  • Previously recognized as highest-ranked law firm for innovation by Legal Business survey of 9,000 clients
  • Twice-ranked as the World’s Most Innovative Law Firm by the International Legal Technology Association
  • Previously recognized by BTI Consulting Group’s “Client List A-Team”, an elite group of 30 law firms most recognized by clients for delivering the best levels of client service

Ryan S. Davis

Office Managing Partner, St. Louis

+1 314 259 2818

Graham Shear

EMEA Regional Leader – Litigations & Investigations and Co-Global Practice Group Leader – Business and Commercial Disputes, London

+44 (0) 20 3400 4191

Steven B. Smith

Office Managing Partner, Colorado Springs

+1 719 381 8457

Ryan S. Davis

Office Managing Partner, St. Louis

+1 314 259 2818

Graham Shear

EMEA Regional Leader – Litigations & Investigations and Co-Global Practice Group Leader – Business and Commercial Disputes, London

+44 (0) 20 3400 4191

Steven B. Smith

Office Managing Partner, Colorado Springs

+1 719 381 8457

Meet The Team

Ryan S. Davis

Office Managing Partner, St. Louis

+1 314 259 2818

Graham Shear

EMEA Regional Leader – Litigations & Investigations and Co-Global Practice Group Leader – Business and Commercial Disputes, London

+44 (0) 20 3400 4191

Steven B. Smith

Office Managing Partner, Colorado Springs

+1 719 381 8457

Areas of Focus

  • Anti-Doping Practice

  • Collegiate Sports Practice

  • Entertainment Industry Practice

  • Naming Rights and Sponsorship Practice

  • Olympic and National Governing Body Practice

  • Professional Sports Team Practice

  • Sports and Entertainment Contract, Endorsement and Celebrity Representation Practice

  • Sports and Entertainment Litigation Practice

  • Sports and Entertainment M&A Practice

  • Sports and Entertainment Specialty Counseling Practice

  • Sports and Event Financing

  • Sports and Event Venue Real Estate Infrastructure and Operation

Representative clients

Members of the Sports and Entertainment Group currently represent and/or have represented each of the following representative clients:

Professional Sports Teams and/or their Owners

  • 31 National Hockey League Clubs
  • Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB)
  • Atlanta Braves (MLB)
  • Atlanta Falcons (NFL)
  • Atlanta Hawks (NBA)
  • Atlanta United (MLS)
  • Brooklyn Nets (NBA)
  • Chicago Red Stars (NWSL)
  • Dallas Cowboys (NFL)
  • DC United (MLS)
  • Denver Broncos (NFL)
  • DS Penske (American Auto Racing)
  • FC Porto (Primeira Liga)
  • Golden State Warriors (NBA)
  • Houston Texans (NFL)
  • Kansas City Chiefs (NFL)
  • Kansas City Royals (MLB)
  • Las Vegas Raiders (NFL)
  • Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (MLB)
  • Los Angeles Chargers (NFL)
  • Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS)
  • Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)
  • Memphis Grizzlies (NBA)
  • Minnesota Vikings (NFL)
  • New England Patriots (NFL)
  • Newcastle United (Premier League)
  • Phoenix Suns (NBA)
  • Reading Football Club (EFL League One)
  • San Francisco 49ers (NFL)
  • Seattle Seahawks (NFL)
  • St. Louis Cardinals (MLB)
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL)
  • Tennessee Titans (NFL)
  • Texas Rangers (MLB)
  • Tottenham Hotspur FC (Premier League)
  • West Ham Football Club (Premier League)

Collegiate Clients

  • Arizona State University
  • Big Sky Conference
  • Big West Conference
  • College Football Hall of Fame
  • Georgia Tech Athletic Association
  • Mountain West Conference
  • National Collegiate Hockey Conference
  • National Football Foundation
  • NCAA
  • Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
  • Stanford University
  • University of Denver
  • University of Tennessee
  • Yale University

Olympics Organizations and Clients

  • United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC)
  • Olympic Delivery Authority
  • Over 20 U.S. Olympic National Governing Bodies, including USA Basketball and USA Swimming

Professional Athletes (Current or Former)

  • Gareth Bale
  • Ashley Cole
  • Jimmy Connors
  • Peter Crouch
  • Kieron Dyer
  • Melissa “Missy” Franklin
  • Jackie Joyner Kersee
  • Orlando Pace
  • Troy Polamalu
  • Brendan Shanahan
  • Jonjo Shelvey
  • Patrick van Aanholt
  • Michael Vick
  • Joey Votto
  • Adam Wainwright
  • Kurt Warner

Anti-Doping Movement Clients

  • Australian Anti-Doping Agency
  • U.S. Anti-Doping Agency
  • World Anti-Doping Agency

Corporate Sponsors

  • Acrisure
  • AirBnb
  • Ameriquest
  • Banc of California
  • Bank of America
  • Dolby Laboratories
  • Enterprise Holdings, Inc.
  • Hanesbrands
  • Lucozade Sport
  • MetLife
  • New York Life Insurance Company
  • Nike
  • Nutrien
  • Progressive
  • STIFEL
  • Target
  • TD Ameritrade
  • Visa
  • XBTO (a global leader in cryptofinance

Professional Sports and Entertainment Organizations

  • Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG)
  • ASICS
  • ATP Tour
  • Career Sports and Entertainment
  • Cricket & Hockey Holdings Limited
  • Delaware North Companies/Sportservice
  • Great White Shark Enterprises/Greg Norman
  • Hi-Rez Studios (Esports)
  • HOF Village, LLC (a joint venture of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Industrial Realty Group)
  • Howard Hughes Corporation
  • INDYCAR
  • LPGA Tour
  • National Basketball Association (NBA)
  • National Football Foundation
  • National Football League (NFL)
  • National Hockey League (NHL)
  • National Hot Rod Association (NHRA)
  • National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
  • New Era Cap Company
  • Oak View Group
  • Pacific Coast League
  • Pebble Beach Company
  • PGA Tour
  • PING Golf
  • SBOBET
  • SMG Property Management, Inc.
  • Sport Integrity Australia
  • Sportradar
  • Stellar Football Limited
  • The FA
  • The Hong Kong Jockey Club
  • Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
  • United Soccer League (USL)
  • US Club Soccer
  • World Triathlon Corporation (IRONMAN)
  • WTA Tour

Real Estate Development and Financing Clients (Sports and Entertainment Industry Matters)

  • Aviva
  • Balfour Beatty
  • Barclays
  • Canary Wharf Group
  • CBRE Global Investors
  • Crown Estate
  • Investec
  • Land Securities
  • Tesco
  • Transport for London
  • Numerous lenders engaged in discounting receivables

Entertainment Companies

  • British Telecom
  • CNN
  • Comcast Spectacor
  • Metro
  • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
  • MP & Silva
  • Sony Pictures and its subsidiaries, Columbia Pictures and Tri-Star Pictures
  • The Walt Disney Company
  • Turner Sports
  • Universal Music Group
  • WarnerMedia
  • Various other motion picture, television and other media studios, producers, directors, distributors and broadcasters

Related Insights

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Feb 07, 2024

Showing anti-competitiveness the red card

The European Union’s Court of Justice (“ECJ”) went into the 2023 winter break in style, publishing a hat-trick of judgments (hereafter referred to as SuperLeague, ISU, and Royal Antwerp) regarding the application of competition law to the governance of sport. These judgments are an El Classico of sorts for sports and competition law aficionados, with far reaching implications for rule-makers (such as FIFA, UEFA, the ISU, national sports associations and other sports governing bodies), players, clubs, fans, and other sectors more generally. This article details the factual background of the judgments, before assessing in turn, key implications in terms of sports governance and competition law. The judgments (ISU and SuperLeague in particular) strongly affirm the application of competition law to the governance of sports, and may subsequently result in many sports governing bodies revisiting the content and application of their rules.  
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Check Complete: Arteta decision confirms strong criticism might not be misconduct under FA Rules

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The European Union’s Court of Justice (“ECJ”) went into the 2023 winter break in style, publishing a hat-trick of judgments (hereafter referred to as SuperLeague, ISU, and Royal Antwerp) regarding the application of competition law to the governance of sport. These judgments are an El Classico of sorts for sports and competition law aficionados, with far reaching implications for rule-makers (such as FIFA, UEFA, the ISU, national sports associations and other sports governing bodies), players, clubs, fans, and other sectors more generally. This article details the factual background of the judgments, before assessing in turn, key implications in terms of sports governance and competition law. The judgments (ISU and SuperLeague in particular) strongly affirm the application of competition law to the governance of sports, and may subsequently result in many sports governing bodies revisiting the content and application of their rules.  
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