Michael L. Gallagher, the co-founding shareholder of Gallagher & Kennedy and a sports lawyer, passed away earlier this month. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of our dear friend, mentor, colleague, and leader in Arizona’s legal and athletic community,” read a statement on the firm’s site. “Mike’s big heart and tenacity helped build our firm into a truly unique, nurturing environment in which we are proud to work. All who knew him will forever remember the twinkle in his Irish eyes, the smile on his lips, and the kind words he had for everyone with whom he came in contact. It is not too trite to say that there will never be another quite like Mike.” Gallagher was a former professional baseball player, who co-founded his law firm in Phoenix along with Mike Kennedy in 1978. The firm site says Gallagher led a legal team that “serves as outside general counsel to the Arizona Cardinals NFL team and the Arizona Diamondbacks MLB team. During the course of such representation, the firm’s attorneys routinely handle player contracts and salary arbitrations, television and radio contracts, sponsorship agreements and all other legal aspects of professional sports franchises.