Paul Hastings LLP has launched a global sports practice that will advise investors, teams, leagues, governing bodies, broadcasters, esports and gaming companies, and other participants in the sports industry, the firm announced.
The practice draws attorneys from the firm’s entertainment and media, hospitality, real estate, mergers and acquisitions, finance, litigation and regulatory practices. Paul Hastings said the group will advise clients on transactions, licensing, investments, financings and intellectual property matters.
Firm Chair Frank Lopez said the launch reflects growing client demand for legal services across the sports sector.
The firm said the expansion builds on recent additions to its sports-related legal team.
In May, Paul Hastings hired Mark Zerdin from Slaughter in London as chair of its sports practice. Zerdin previously served as co-head of Slaughter’s sports practice and has advised sports teams, governing bodies, corporations, private equity firms and family offices on transactions. Among his recent work, the firm said, was advising TWG Motorsports and General Motors on their successful application to enter the FIA Formula One World Championship as the Cadillac Formula 1 Team.
This month, the firm added Brandon Etheridge in Washington, D.C., and Chidi Oteh in Boston.
Etheridge previously served as general counsel for the Baltimore Ravens, assistant labor relations counsel for the NFL and practiced in Covington’s sports law group. Paul Hastings said he advises athletic teams, sports leagues, asset managers and other sports-related clients on investments and ownership matters.
Oteh joined the firm from Ropes & Gray. He previously held in-house legal roles with organizations in Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer and has advised asset managers, institutional investors and sports organizations, including the NFL, the Golden State Warriors, the Carolina Panthers and the Seattle Seahawks on matters involving professional and collegiate sports.
The firm said its sports practice also includes Boston-based corporate partner Benjamin Stein and New York-based M&A partner Tim Fesenmyer and hospitality and leisure attorney Todd Fieldston.
According to Paul Hastings, the practice will advise clients on transactions, commercial partnerships, media rights, venue development and sports-related technologies. The firm said its work spans professional sports, including Major League Baseball, the NFL, the NBA, the NHL, FIFA, the PGA Tour, Formula 1 and UFC, as well as media, gaming and esports companies, including ESPN, Vivid Seats, Activision Blizzard and Ubisoft.
