Herrick

Overview

We feature a complete roster of sports lawyers focused on the myriad corporate, real estate, tax, litigation, intellectual property and government relations concerns that arise in the sports industry. Our work spans league and team formation and operation, arena and stadium financing and development, naming rights, sponsorships and media rights transactions, team acquisitions and investments, and a wide range of ancillary concerns. We also provide pragmatic counseling on the day-to-day operation of sports businesses – tackling player and personnel issues, credit facilities, concession agreements, advertising and vendor contracts, and off-season stadium and arena events. Off the field, we represent many team owners, executives and athletes in their outside investment activities, as well as in their tax and personal planning concerns. For more information, download our sports law brochure.

Sports Media Rights

Herrick lawyers have been at the forefront of a number of transformative concepts in the sports media, technology and telecommunications space – including regional sports broadcasting and pay-per-view broadcasting, which were brought to life by clients who relied on our guidance, from idea to evolution. And we remain at the forefront of the space, having advised on significant media rights transactions for an array of storied teams and organizations, including the New Jersey Nets, Chicago Cubs, New York City FC, Florida Marlins, New York Yankees, and Top Rank.

Team Acquisitions, Dispositions and Bids

We have represented individual investors and ownership groups in ownership transfers, and in bids to acquire NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB franchises – including the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Jersey Nets, New York Islanders and Nashville Predators. Internationally, we’ve recently advised investors in their investments in top English Premier League clubs, Israeli basketball teams, and the Italian soccer clubs A.S Roma, Bologna FC 1909 and Venezia FC.

Stadium Financing, Leasing and Construction

We counsel franchise owners on a wide range of stadium financing, leasing, construction, naming rights and operational matters. Our recent work spans major arenas and stadiums across the U.S., including the new Yankee Stadium, Citi Field, Red Bull Arena, MetLife Stadium, National Grid Park, Amalie Arena, Vivint Smart Home Arena, Audi Field, Las Vegas Raiders Stadium, Richmond County Ballpark and PNC Field.

Sports Finance

Members of our sports law group have advised financial institutions and franchise owners on more than $6 billion in complex sports finance transactions. Recently, we represented a syndicated lender in the NHL’s $1.4 billion league wide credit facility, a lender in a $150 million financing to an NHL club, a regional sports network in a $625 million credit facility and $250 million high-yield note offering, a major league baseball team in a $250 million credit facility, and an affiliate of the New York Jets and the New York Giants in a $650 million bond placement for MetLife Stadium.