Sports Law

The sports industry is big business. Outside the lines, these businesses face the same challenges confronting industries globally – regulatory uncertainties, reputational threats in the courtroom, data privacy worries, new and disruptive technologies and the complexities of largescale financial transactions.

Orrick knows the score. For years we’ve supported major players in the industry. We have teams of lawyers across practice groups advising some of the most influential sports business leaders in the world, as well as disruptors reshaping the sports experience in a rapidly evolving industry. We are already chalking up wins for our clients:

• Our public policy lawyers are working in states around the country for Major League Baseball, the NBA and others to enact workable regulations to legalize sports betting. Our efforts helped preserve the multi-billion dollar fantasy sports industry, and we’re now innovating to guide them as they develop new ways to serve fans with the click of an app.
• Our trial lawyers are helping the NCAA with solutions in courtrooms across the United States.
• Our transactional lawyers have advised a broad range of sports businesses to grow stronger financially, including our Paris team guiding FIA, the world governing body for motor sports, in the acquisition of Formula 1’s parent and our Capital Markets team advised pioneering Esports company Cloud9 in its financing rounds.
• We’ve advised on real estate and public financing for sports venues around the world, including Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres; the Sacramento Kings new arena; US Bank Stadium, home of the Minnesota Vikings; Stade Vélodrome de Marseille, home of French soccer club Olympique de Marseille; and Fukuoka Dome, home of Japanese professional baseball team the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.

Orrick’s new Sports Working Group is the next step in our evolution as a destination practice for sports law.