Recognized as a ‘Practice Group of the Year’ by Law360, AFS Sports Group Delivered a Game-Changing Season in 2025
ArentFox Schiff’s Sports Industry Group had a banner year, continuing its industry-leading sports work while closing numerous historic deals.
The Los Angeles Lakers / Buss Family Sale of majority ownership interest in The Lakers from the Buss family to Mark Walter. |
National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Establishment of the league’s 16th and 17th franchises (Denver and Atlanta). |
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander General representation including partnerships with marquee brands such as YSL, NBA2K, and American Express. |
Tampa Bay Rays Sale of majority ownership interest in the Rays from Stuart Sternberg to ownership group led by Patrick Zalupski. |
Red Bull New York (RBNY) Naming rights and ticketing transaction for RBNY’s stadium with Sports Illustrated Tickets and naming rights transaction for RBNY’s training facility with RWJBarnabas Health. |
LRMR Ventures and SC Holdings Representation of LeBron James’s family office in the acquisition of MADE Hoops LLC, the largest youth basketball organization. |
GAME 7 Jersey patch sponsorship transaction with the New York Rangers. |
Kevin Durant General representation including the acquisition of a minority ownership interest in PSG. |
Boardroom 35 LLC Numerous transactions, including partnership with CNBC; establishment of members club; and strategic partnership with Major League Baseball. |
League One Volleyball (LOVB) Media rights strategy and negotiations with VERSANT and Victory+. |
American Skating Entertainment Centers Strategic partnership with Seidler Equity Partners. |
Tampa Bay Lightning Naming rights transaction with Benchmark International. |
Fantasy Life LLC Acquisition of “Fantasy Life” intellectual property from Betsperts and acquisition of Guillotine Leagues. |
National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Sale of the Utah Royals FC to the Miller family. |
University of San Diego Multimedia rights agreement with JMI Sports. |
New York City FC & City Football Group Numerous transactions and commercial endeavors related to its new stadium, Etihad Park, including founding partner sponsorship agreements, suite license and premium seating agreements, and a food and beverage agreement with Legends Global. |
Richmond Flying Squirrels (AA Baseball) Numerous transactions and commercial endeavors related to its new stadium, CarMax Park, including founding partner sponsorship agreements, team sponsorship agreements, suite license agreements, a stadium lease agreement, and a food and beverage agreement with Professional Sports Catering. |
ArentFox Schiff has one of the most experienced and diverse sports law practices in the country. The Sports Group regularly advises leagues, teams, venues, operators, sponsors, and brands across all major professional and collegiate sports throughout the United States and internationally, as well as purchasers and sellers of professional franchises and other sports properties. We have represented as many — if not more — professional sports teams than any other sports law practice. The group also represents some of the most well-known athletes, media companies, private equity firms, and sports agencies, on a broad array of sports-related engagements, encompassing both transactional and litigation matters.
Our experience covers nearly every type of commercial transaction in the sports industry, including the purchase and sale of professional sports properties, representing venues in all aspects of operations from inception to operation, including the development and implementation of naming rights and founding partnerships, as well as the negotiation and finalization of key foundational operational agreements such as management agreements, ticketing agreements, food and beverage agreements, pouring rights agreements, and more. The Sports Group is preeminent in the field of naming rights and sponsorships, having worked on some of the biggest and most innovative deals in the sports industry. The team also negotiates some of the largest athlete endorsement agreements and steers large investments in professional sports franchises. Beyond transactional work, the group has extensive experience in dispute resolution, including many high-profile litigations and confidential disputes. The team also has key experience beyond the more traditional practice areas in burgeoning new sectors of the sports industry, such as fantasy sports, gaming, e-sports, blockchain, and artificial intelligence applications.
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Courtney Thompson, Marketing Communications Manager
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