Morgan Lewis has announced that Jeffrey S. Moorad has joined the firm as a partner and chairman of the global sports industry initiative at the firm (www.morganlewis.com), where he will oversee and co-lead the initiative with firm partner Jack Concannon.
Moorad is the Chairman and CEO of Moorad Sports Partners, an investment management company, and a past owner and CEO of the San Diego Padres. He also was CEO of the Arizona Diamondbacks and co-founder of Steinberg & Moorad. Concannon has practiced in the sports industry for more than 25 years, representing sports franchises and advising clients on the purchase and sale of franchises in the National Football League, Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, Arena Football, and Minor League Baseball.
“Jeff has a unique combination of skills — as a lawyer, former agent, team owner and CEO, and investor — that will complement and build on the firm’s existing capabilities and experience advancing the interests of clients in this ever-evolving global industry,” firm chair Jami McKeon said. “Jeff and I first met as students at Villanova Law School, and I have been following his amazing career ever since. I know our clients will benefit from his deep knowledge and passion for the industry and his unique perspective on their business needs and opportunities.”
The firm says it assists sports clients on “a wide range of matters, including stadium and team finance, mergers and acquisitions, media rights, intellectual property, labor and employment, tax, litigation, retail and merchandising, antitrust regulations, and other sports-related corporate business concerns.”
Moorad and Concannon will lead a team of more than 50 lawyers, according to the firm, who have worked across a variety of entities within the sports industry, including leagues such as the NFL, MLB, UFC, and Professional Bull Riders; teams such as the Oakland Raiders and Boston Red Sox; gaming operators such as Draft Kings and FanDuel; retailers such as Fanatics; broadcasters such as Comcast and NBC Universal; and numerous individual team owners and sports industry investors.
“This is a great opportunity for me to join a team that knows the sports world inside and out and already does business in the industry at the highest level,” said Moorad. “The range and depth of Morgan Lewis’s existing practices are perfectly aligned to serve sports industry clients and those interested in doing business in the industry. From financing to intellectual property to media distribution to employment matters, the available expertise is exceptional.”
