August.03.2016
With an Orrick public policy team playing a central role, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed a bill that legalizes fantasy sports operations such as FanDuel and DraftKings in the second largest market in the nation.
Led by partner Jeremy Kudon, Orrick’s public policy group was instrumental in getting the New York Legislature to pass the bill on June 18, removing perhaps the biggest roadblock facing the multi-billion dollar fantasy sports industry. Cuomo signed the legislation on August 3.
The Orrick effort on behalf of clients FanDuel, DraftKings and the Fantasy Sports Trade Association has been part of a national strategy to get states to legalize and regulate the industry. The legislation also ends the companies’ litigation with New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who issued a widely publicized cease and desist order against FanDuel and DraftKings last November.
“It is a tremendous day for the industry and one that we hope to build on in the months ahead,” Jeremy said in a statement after the governor signed the bill.
Jeremy and his team coordinated the legislative campaign that produced the New York legislation. In addition to Jeremy, the team included partner Ann Patterson, Of Counsel Scott Ward, associates Nick Green, James Fee, Suman Tatapudy and senior strategists Chris Grimm and Erica Sechrist.
You can read Law360's coverage of the bill's signing here.