The University of Nevada at Las Vegas has hired a high-powered attorney from Herrick Feinstein LLP to advise it in its bid to lure the Oakland Raiders to Las Vegas.
UNLV will pay attorney Daniel A. Etna $745 an hour to help with, among other things, the “analysis and negotiation of the draft joint-use agreement,” according to UNLV spokesman Tony Allen. That agreement, between UNLV and the Raiders, is highly complex in that it involves public and private money.
“We look forward to working with the Raiders and the Stadium Authority Board to give UNLV football — and our great fans — access to a stadium and accompanying game-day experience that will rival the best in college football,” Allen told the local media.
University Regent and attorney Trevor Hayes told the Las Vegas Sun that he viewed retaining Herrick as an “insurance” policy.
“Getting the best possible use agreement for UNLV will dictate its future in athletics,” Hayes said. “I support spending money to hire the best experts. Even if it costs $100,000, that equates to $3,333 per year for the 30-year life of the (lease). A poor use agreement will put UNLV out of the Division I athletics business.”
Etna is a partner in the firm’s Corporate Department, and co-chair of the firm’s Sports Law Group. He has significant experience on matters related to the business of professional sports. That experience includes the sale and acquisition of sports franchises; stadium and arena development, construction and financing (including the new Yankee Stadium), and broadcast and digital media agreements. Etna also advises on concession agreements, sponsorship and naming rights agreements, ticketing and personal seat licensing agreements, league-wide and individual team debt financings, memorabilia sales agreements and sports-related joint ventures. He has also counseled NBA All-Star and NFL All-Pro players in connection with their private investment activities.
