Sports Law | USA

Covington & Burling LLP is an extremely well-respected firm with a deep bench of practitioners advising on high-profile contentious and non-contentious mandates. The law firm represents some of the largest sporting organizations in the country, including teams, leagues, colleges and conferences, with further experience acting for sporting bodies from the wider American continent. It is also a prominent player in the e-sports sector. It is skilled in handling media issues, financing and M&A, as well as tax-related matters. It also regularly handles industry-wide litigation including class actions.

Proskauer Rose has a strong bench of seasoned practitioners, with enviable experience in large-scale M&A, complex financing, real estate matters, media rights issues and labor and employment negotiations. The law firm represents an outstanding portfolio of clients, including major leagues, leading sports teams and investors into varied sports ventures. It also offers broad litigation capabilities, which includes handling employment and discrimination disputes.

Skadden has a highly renowned sports law practice with standout capabilities in a diverse range of contentious and noncontentious matters. The law firm offers exceptional proficiency in litigious concerns, with noteworthy experience in antitrust disputes, IP and labor-related issues. It is also knowledgeable about commercial transactions, licensing agreements and financing. The firm is not only for representing individual teams and owners, but also for acting as principal outside counsel to the NBA and NHL. It is also adept at advising on sports betting-related matters.

Winston & Strawn is a highly regarded litigation practice also relied upon by big-name clients for ongoing corporate advisory services. The law firm represents premier athletes and players' associations in arbitrations, antitrust cases and personal conduct disputes. It is experienced in representing media companies, government entities and sponsors and also offers high-end advice on non-contentious matters, including employment and marketing agreements. The firm has the capacity to handle major equal employment opportunity and discrimination matters.

ArentFox Schiff LLP is a leading force in the specialist area of naming rights and sponsorship, an area in which the firm has carved out a dominant niche. The law firm has a strong track record advising on sports arena financing, construction projects and other corporate transactions. It also has notable experience negotiating and drafting media rights agreements, and additionally offers counsel on the use of innovative technologies in the sports sector.

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP offers a highly capable team that maintains a strong sports law practice that is international in scope. The law firm adeptly advises on significant anti-doping mandates for anti-doping agencies and sporting organizations. It is respected for its work with international sporting bodies and domestic minor leagues as well as emerging sports. Other areas of expertise include naming rights, sponsorship agreements, stadium development and corporate transactions.

DLA Piper has an established practice valued for its longstanding expertise in a range of transactional and development matters. The law firm advises an impressive portfolio of sports teams, leagues and broadcasters on a range of complex concerns, with notable expertise in stadium development, financing, employment and real estate mandates. It is able to leverage its impressive global network on cross-border mandates.

Latham & Watkins LLP has a well-regarded sports law group that acts for a stellar client base in a variety of contentious and non-contentious matters. The law firm has aptitude in a broad array of issues relating to the broadcasting and media space, including the acquisition of sports distribution rights. It offers notable expertise in new media and digital distribution within the sports sector. The firm enjoys an impressive reputation for the diversity of its client base, including sports technology companies, major international bodies such as the IOC, and leagues and teams.

Foley & Lardner LLP has extensive expertise in corporate transactions, media rights deals and advising on the development of sports stadiums. The law firm acts for clients, including universities, leagues and teams, on contentious and noncontentious antitrust, tax, IP and labor matters. It demonstrates particular strengths in team transactions including significant franchise acquisitions, and handles high-value sponsorship, media rights and licensing deals for major teams and competitions.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP has a highly regarded practice that boasts notable strength in both litigation and arbitration proceedings relating to the sports industry. The law firm has noteworthy strength in handling transactional matters and advising investors and sports companies in high-value M&A and financings. It also brings expertise to corporate matters, media rights issues and stadium developments, and maintains a diverse client roster made up of leagues, associations, athletes and media groups.

Herrick, Feinstein LLP is recognized for its work with prominent names in American sports, including teams, leagues and investors. The law firm provides counsel on complex disputes and daily advisory needs across a number of sports. It regularly advises on multimillion-dollar financing and refinancing deals. The firm offers extensive experience in entertainment and intellectual property transactions.

Katten has a strong team with an impressive client base, including many major teams. The law firm also acts for buyer groups, unions and developers in sports matters. It represents a number of key players in the market with respect to sporting arena developments, media rights deals, financing and broadcasting. Additionally, it assists clients on regulatory matters such as compliance with league regulations.

O’Melveny & Myers has a wealth of experience structuring deals for established sports clients. The law firm is noted for its expertise in team and company M&A, league sponsorship and stadium development. A growing esports practice, it advises on the acquisition of esports entities, tournament hosting negotiations, and sponsorship. It is capable of handling cross-border ventures, including deals involving broadcasting rights and licensing agreements. The firm is also equipped to advise on investigations for teams and organizations.

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison has a broad offering which demonstrates strength in a range of contentious and non-contentious matters. The law firm is highly sought after for its expertise in investigations and high-profile disputes, particularly in relation to concussion. It is also capable of handling M&A transactions as well as matters relating to licensing agreements and sponsorship deals. The firm is sought out by a diverse client base made up of international sporting bodies, private corporations and individuals.

Sidley Austin LLP has a strong team that has excellent transactional and corporate capabilities. Acting for teams, leagues and investors, the law firm advises on complex cross-border M&A as well as on financings and joint ventures. It also offers further prowess in representing governments and universities in facility matters, including naming rights and stadium development.

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP provides broad multidisciplinary expertise to service teams, leagues, owners and investors. The law firm leverages transactional and corporate abilities to assist on M&A and joint ventures. It is also adept in handling litigation matters and investigations. Offering additional skill in real estate matters, the firm represents stadium developments and financings.

Wilkinson Stekloff LLP focuses its sports practice on litigation for professional and collegiate sports corporations. The team has extensive experience handling high-profile antitrust cases and investigations.

Arnold & Porter offers strong capabilities in representing leagues, teams and associations in contentious issues. The law firm provides noteworthy strength in handling antitrust matters, and is further equipped to handle complex IP, patent and copyright disputes. It also leverages additional skill to advise players in appellate matters.

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP's growing sports practice advises a range of players in the sports space, from leagues to investors. It counsels on acquisitions, financings, naming rights and sponsorships, while also offering strong litigation capabilities, primarily in antitrust and commercial litigation.

The Global Sports Advocates team is renowned throughout the market for its strength in advising athletes in complex sports disputes. The practitioners demonstrate considerable strength in assisting clients facing allegations of anti-doping rule violations. The group has handled a vast range of matters including breach of contract and IP disputes and is adept at handling both domestic and international issues.

Greenberg Traurig's team is held in high regard for its ability to advise clients on a range of issues, including acquisitions, endorsement agreements and licensing agreements. The law firm represents athletes, sports teams and corporations in the sports sector. Its practitioners have further experience of handling issues in the esports space.

Holland & Knight LLP services clients with a multidisciplinary team with experience in both contentious and noncontentious matters. The law firm offers noteworthy strength in handling employment contract agreements. It also represents teams and players in business disputes and sensitive investigations. Its members are adept in advising businesses seeking to form partnerships and establish sponsorships with sports leagues, and it is also equipped to advise on transactional matters, such as mergers and acquisitions.

Kirkland & Ellis represents key players in the industry, from teams to investors, with particular expertise in advising the latter. It is adept at counselling on acquisitions, sponsorship agreements, media rights deals, and league formations.

McGuireWoods LLP is a global firm that leverages the strength of its wholly owned subsidiary in the sports space. Its practitioners provide legal and public affairs services to clients worldwide. With expertise in handling corporate transactions, disputes and regulatory matters, it is notably adept at negotiating credit facilities for major sports franchises and leagues.

Vinson & Elkins LLP offers a range of services across the sports sector, advising clients including leagues, universities, teams and media companies. It is well-versed in representing clients in litigation, its expertise in this area including privacy and IP.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges' sports practice is held in high regard throughout the market. The practitioners have considerable experience in handling commercial disputes on behalf of athletes and players' associations. The team also provides counsel on investigations of alleged misconduct. Its attorneys have further strength in assisting clients with significant transactions and in antitrust litigation.