Irwin P Raij

Practice Areas

IRWIN RAIJ co-chairs Sidley’s Entertainment, Sports and Media industry group. He focuses his practice on the business of sports, advising clients on the negotiation and financing of complex sports facility development projects, the purchase and sale of professional teams, and the full range of material commercial agreements that shape the industry. Irwin has worked on matters involving the National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), Major League Baseball (MLB), Major League Soccer (MLS), and the National Hockey League (NHL), as well as the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). His international experience includes engagements with Serie A, LaLiga, and other European soccer leagues, along with Formula 1 events. He also advises major college conferences on issues ranging from NIL to private equity investment. His experience includes representing clients in sports-anchored public-private partnerships for both professional and collegiate stadiums, and related ancillary development, construction, and financing. He represents both buyers and sellers of sports franchises, and counsels on media rights, concessions, and promotional and advertising agreements, including naming rights, merchandising, and operational arrangements. Irwin also advises on RSN formation, sports technology ventures, stadium service agreements, ticketing, and broadcasting and streaming rights across television, radio, and digital platforms. His clients include leagues, teams, individuals, universities, college conferences, developers, private equity firms, financial institutions, and state and local governments.