SPORTS INDUSTRY TEAM
The sports industry consists of billion-dollar businesses, innovative emerging companies, skilled performers and just about everything in between. In this highly competitive environment, our clients demand smart and experienced counsel to address a wide range of legal challenges. Holland & Knight’s Sports Industry Team was created for just that purpose. We are a full-service enterprise of highly skilled and experienced lawyers ready to help our sports industry clients efficiently meet their business objectives and solve their problems on and off the playing field.
COLLEGE AND AMATEUR ATHLETICS
We have advised clients on a range of collegiate athletics matters, including name, image and likeness (NIL) programs, NCAA governance and investigations, and conference realignment challenges. We counsel clients on privacy issues related to athlete records and Title IX compliance and on issues faced by international athletes.
DISPUTES
We have represented clients in high-profile disputes involving breaches of contract, agent fees, league and team disciplinary matters, team relocation, owner disputes, multi-team trade disputes, internal investigations, tax, intellectual property, and other regulatory and compliance matters.
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES, AGENCIES AND GOVERNING BODIES
We have handled private business matters for players in the NFL, MLB, NHL and NBA , including representing the business interests of seven players who were drafted No. 1 overall in the NBA (5), NFL (1) and MLB (1). We have advised sports agencies on compliance matters with the Athlete Agent Registration Act and on player association compliance. We have also represented professional athletes on endorsement agreements for all types of media.
TEAMS, LEAGUES AND ASSOCIATIONS
We have provided comprehensive antidiscrimination, anti-harassment and anti-bullying training to coaching staffs, front office personnel and teams. We have advised one of the four major sports leagues on liability, tax and intellectual property issues, as well as advised teams on a variety of confidential internal and external matters. We counsel and advise professional sports leagues on structuring their player agreements, group licensing policies, codes of conduct and human resource policies. Additionally, we have advised team owners on their purchase and sale transactions, assisted in league formation and reformation matters, conducted and defended against internal investigations by and for leagues and teams, advised on content licensing agreements, represented an esports provider on content and music, and counseled an eGaming platform on corporate governance, executive compensation and initial public offering preparation.
STADIUM AND ARENA DEVELOPMENT
Altius Sports Partners
Carmelo Anthony
Conor McGregor
Fifth Down Capital
Florida Atlantic University
Florida State University
Justin Douglas
Jusuf Nurkic
Karate Combat
LEAD1 Association
Miles Bridges
Noah Lyles
Patrick Williams
Sha’Carri Richardson
SpringHill Company
Squad
Tennessee Titans
TKO Group Holdings Inc.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
UNLTD Sports Group
XFL
Zion Williamson
Keith Carroll Partner | Boston
617.573.5865
We have represented teams in the NFL, NBA, MLB and MLS on a range of stadium and arena development issues, including financing, construction, real estate, land use, disabilities law and environmental matters. We have represented the interests of owners, affiliates of major league sports franchises, investor groups, general contractors, construction management companies, architects and governmental bodies and acted as bond counsel, disclosure counsel, swap counsel or special counsel to city and county governments, districts and authorities in virtually all types of municipal and industrial development projects, including stadium complexes.
Tyrone Thomas Partner | Washington, D.C. 202.469.5560
tyrone.thomas@hklaw.com
