Consulting a varied roster of sports bodies, leagues, governing bodies, federations, teams, and media companies, as well as private equity firms, Latham & Watkins LLP particularly stands out for high-profile antitrust and other litigation for sports governing bodies. The group continues to represent US soccer in a high profile antitrust action brought by the North American Soccer League (NASL), demonstrating its strength in this area of sports law litigation. The group also excels in large M&A deals in the sports industry, particularly in private equity investments of sports teams, and asset acquisitions for portfolio companies. Notably, the group was involved in high value, majority stake acquisitions of Premier League clubs or NBA franchises in 2024. Century City-based Adam J. Sullins heads up the team, alongside Frank Saviano in New York and Chris Yates in San Francisco, who are well supported by Justin Hamill in New York, a key name for large scale mergers and acquisitions in sport. At associate level, Adam Rosenthal is a key name in the group, and can be highlighted for his experience in sports league governance and rules. Kendall Johnson is notable for media rights deals.

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP‘s practice, which sits within the wider entertainment, sports and media practice group at the firm, is notable in its breadth of litigation work which spans bankruptcy litigation and antitrust litigation. Firm chairman Brad Karp is an experienced trial lawyer, and is key in for the group’s litigious matters due to his regular involvement in large antitrust claims or consumer class actions in the sports industry. Other key lawyers for the group’s litigious work include Chris Boehning, who has a strong track record of representing clients in high-stakes regulatory and civil litigation, and Lynn Bayard, who is regularly engaged in litigation stemming from health and safety issues within sport. Brette Tannenbaum is key for the group’s arbitration involving sports governing bodies such as FIFA. On the non-contentious side, the group is often active in private equity transactions and sponsorship deals, as well as advising major sports leagues and federations on structured finance transactions. All named lawyers are New-York based.

Fielding a team of strong litigators who represent players, players associations, sports franchises and sports leagues, among others, Winston & Strawn LLP stands out for complex litigation in relation to matters including contracts, and disciplinary proceedings, The group can be particularly noted for its strength in sports matters in the antitrust space. Adam Dale, who was promoted to partner in 2024, is a standout team member in this regard. David Feher, David Greenspan and Jeffrey Kessler in New York head up the team. Kessler, who is described as ‘hard-working and flexible’ is a leading trial lawyer in the US, and has a long history of acting in matters for college athletes against the NCAA, as well as being involved in a class action, billion-dollar antitrust settlement with the NCAA in 2024. Feher is well established within complex sports employment and labour law matters, another key area of engagement for the wider group. regarding gender-discrimination lawsuits. Jonathan Amoona, also in New York, is a go-to practitioner for high-profile individual athletes for confidential arbitrations.

The group at ArentFox Schiff‘s commercial work in the sports industry stands out, including acquisitions, and leasing and licensing agreements for large sports arenas and stadiums, acting for clients ranging from startups to large advertising agencies, and clients in the up-and-coming sector of fantasy sports. Managing partner of the firm’s San Francisco office Richard Brand leads the team, and excels in commercial agreement matters such as naming rights agreements and sponsorship agreements, an area in which the overall practice excels. Zak Welsh, also based in San Francisco, is another key name for commercial agreements, often handling franchise acquisition agreements and licensing agreements. In addition, his strong real estate background enables him to assist clients with sports venue projects. Stephen Hanson serves as outside general counsel to the National Women’s Soccer League, and is well reputed for representing major sports leagues. Eric Fishman is key for the group’s financing matters, often representing private equity, venture firms in investments into the sports industry.

Fielding a multidisciplinary team with experts in mass torts, insurance, IP and corporate law, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP represents major US sports leagues teams, agencies and associations in high profile, often cross-border transactions such as those between European agencies. The litigation for which the group is well known is antitrust class actions, particularly that with competition law elements. The team is led by Anthony J. Dreyer and Karen M. Lent in New York, whose long running representation of PGA Tour, Inc in conspiracy allegations demonstrates an ability to act as key contacts for commercial litigation surrounding sports and competition matters. Matthew Martino specializes in league governance, broadcasting, and sponsorship issues, while Thad Hartmann focuses on high-profile mergers. Michael Menitove regularly advises professional sports leagues on their business practices and agreements. All named attorneys operate out of New York.

Primarily advising large media organizations, major sports leagues and conferences, as well as professional sports associations, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP handles a varied workload ranging from high profile commercial and employment litigation in the sports industry to contract negotiations and corporate restructurings. Key team members include Yehudah Buchweitz, Eric Hochstadt, Arianna Scavetti, and Kyle Krpata in New York, as well as Washington DC-based Andrew Tulumello and Dennis Adams. Tulumello has a strong track record in high profile commercial disputes which have shaped the sport industry, regularly representing clients in the Supreme Court, while Hochstadt and Buchweitz are key for complex state and multi-district antitrust litigation, including civil litigation and class actions. Scavetti is who professional athletes often turn to with health and safety concerns and wellbeing matters, including abuse and harassment claims.

Showcasing particularly expertise in naming rights deals for sports stadiums, clubs and teams, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner proficiently handles a range of mergers, acquisitions and sponsorship matters in the sports industry. The group is also strong in arbitration, mediation, and bankruptcy litigation, including industry specific litigation such as concussion litigation within college and professional football. Ryan Davis in St Louis and Steven Smith in Colorado Springs are the duo leading the team and both act in cross-border acquisitions of sports entities, as well as in contractual and class action disputes. Davis in particular is key for the group’s activity in naming rights, sponsorship and media deals. Douglas Mishkin is a go-to for matters related to US gambling laws, while Richard Young in Colorado Springs has a particularly strong reputation in anti-doping matters.

Offering a ‘combination of complete technical knowledge and real world experience’ and leveraging close ties with a range of financial institutions, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is a go-to contact for private equity and investment into the sport industry, as well as acquisition financing and capital raising. Elsewhere, athletic commissions and television networks form a large part of the group’s varied client base. Richard Birns in Washington, D.C. and Maurice Suh in Los Angeles lead the group. The former is strong in corporate transactions, including joint ventures which are a strength of the wider group, while the latter is a strong corporate litigator and has been involved in international arbitration, particularly that involving sports governing bodies. Kevin Masuda in Los Angeles and Stefan dePozsgay in New York are also key team members.

Loeb & Loeb LLP is adept in the full array of transactions related to media and entertainment within sport, but is especially knowledgeable in financing work and sponsorship right deals for sports clubs, leagues and franchises. The group is also is strong in gaming/social media, and is also increasingly involved in the esports space. Spearheading the group are Arash Khalili and Brian Socolow. Socolow, who is based between Washington DC and New York, has a strong track record of working on complex commercial transactions and business disputes. Khalili in Los Angeles is also strong in corporate and M&A matters in the sport industry, including joint ventures as well as endorsement and licensing deals. Elsewhere, Lisa Wiznitzer is key for sports and entertainment matters.

Aside from the diversity of its commercial agreements mandates due to the collaboration between the sports industry group and entertainment and media group at the firm, O'Melveny is noteworthy for its engagement in employment litigation in the sports industry. Experienced trial lawyer David Marroso, in Century City, is key for such litigation and is well placed to act for athletes and sports promoters in complex claims on issues such as race discrimination, while Jeffrey Gordon in Washington DC is also a strong disputes lawyer, particularly on the commercial side. Gordon is also often engaged in partnership agreements, a strength of the wider group, and practice head Amy Siegel in Century City is key for the group’s sponsorship agreement work.

Eversheds Sutherland represents both athletes and teams in corporate transactions and a range of commercial agreements which spans sectors, from energy buy agreements for the construction of sports facilities to sports sponsorship agreements. The former has become a area of strength for Baird Fogel, who based in San Francisco and leads the team. The group’s sector knowledge also extends to sports betting and fantasy sport. These are areas of sports law which are rapidly emerging and for which associate Kristi Thielen, also located in San Francisco, is also a standout team member.

In addition to displaying a forte in licensing agreements for a range of clients including sports teams, clubs and authorities, Herrick, Feinstein LLP demonstrates a versatility of sports law expertise, and other key areas of work for the group are joint ventures and employment issues, and debt financing. Irwin Kishner, Daniel Etna, Eric Stabler and corporate governance expert Morris DeFeo are key lawyers in the team. The group has a strong relationship with the New York Yankees, and continues to represent representing Yankee Global Enterprises in private equity matters related to credit facilities. All named lawyers are based in New York.

The Chicago-based team at Katten often assists clients in the purchase and sale of sports franchises, television and radio broadcast agreements, and arena construction. It draws on strength from its tax, private credit, employment, and real estate teams to support clients. Team head Adam Klein is supported by Daniel Render, noted for his work on transactional matters, and real estate go-to Jason Gorczynski. Valentina Famparska is the key name for tax related matters.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is skilled in sophisticated commercial transactions such as sponsorships, promotions and marketing agreements, as well as an array of commercial disputes within sport. The group is instructed by a varied client base of clients ranging from banks to sports leagues, sports investors and sports agencies. Jeffrey Moorad, Andrew White, Andrew Rocks and Jocelyn Cuttino are key team members, based in Orange County and Washington DC, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington, DC respectively. White stands out for investments into sports franchising, as well as M&A, while Cuttino mainly assists clients with employment and labor issues.

Offering clients access to a group which spans the United States with offices in Seattle, New York, and Washington DC, Perkins Coie LLP is particularly reputed for its sponsorship rights agreements and broadcast rights expertise, as well as acting in large stadium construction and financing projects for sports stadiums and venues used by clubs in franchises within professional sports. Practice heads are Stewart Landefeld, emerging technologies expert Shirin Malkani and Jamie Schafer, providing a wide range of expertise in the regulatory space, including regulation associated with digital assets in sport.

Thompson Hine LLP specializes in the construction of stadiums, serving as development, design and construction counsel for professional sports facilities in North America used by major sports leagues such as the NFL, NBA, and MLS. Alan Ritchie in Cleveland, whose practice often caters to clients involved in various forms of labour agreements for sports developments and mixed use developments, leads the team. Jack Clark, who works out of the firm’s Columbus office, is a go-to practitioner for clients who require assistance with structuring and negotiating agreements for construction and financing initiatives. Jeffrey Appelbaum in Columbus is another key name to note, particularly for construction consulting within the sport industry.

Vinson & Elkins LLP often represents sports leagues in putative class actions arising from misconduct or criminal investigations, but also counts sports franchises, and media companies as key clients. The group boasts a strong bench for IP related matters, as Hilary Preston in Austin heads up the team with an established offering in the IP space, such as patents relating to digital media used by various sports leagues. Additionally, New York's Michael Kurzer specializes in tech transactions and intellectual property, and is therefore key for the group’s work on licensing agreements and licensing activity in the sports industry.

Wilkinson Stekloff, a practice which is described as ‘trial-ready’ by one client, notably acts for the NFL and its teams in high stakes and high value litigation, adding to its strong track record in antitrust class-action lawsuits and defamation cases. Also notable is the group’s representation of the NCAA in long-running antitrust class-action litigation, led by Cali Arat and Rakesh Kilaru. Experienced litigator Beth Wilkinson. who has previously represented the NFL in concussion-related litigation and Brian Stekloff head up the team. All lawyers mentioned are based in in Washington DC.

Akin is highly involved in operational matters for sports leagues and clubs, setting strategies, and is also known for its work on work relating to broadcast rights, including bankruptcy proceedings related to this, as well as assisting clients with gaining broadcast rights. Significantly, the group has bolstered the group’s media rights work with the addition of Randall Boe in New York as senior counsel, who spearheads the group alongside Daniel Nash and Chris Spicer, who are based in Washington DC and Los Angeles respectively.

Hecker Fink LLP is a litigation boutique which handles high profile sport litigation, including gender discrimination and sexual harassment claims, and is often instructed by high profile sport agents and athletes. Sean Hecker and Julie Fink head up the overall team, operating out of New York. The former is well established within allegations of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation, while the later has been particularly active in multi district class action litigation for Major League Baseball.