Paul Hastings opens global sports practice as another law firm enters sector
Law firm Paul Hastings have launched a new global sports practice as the Bishopsgate-based US giant expands its offering.
Former Baltimore Ravens general counsel Brandon Etheridge and former Slaughter figure Mark Zerdin, who advised TWG Motorsports on their Cadillac F1 team entry, will form the core of the practice, which will form part of deals-based Paul Hastings on both sides of the pond.
“Sports has matured from a niche trophy asset into a growing asset class projected to be in the trillions, and clients navigating that shift need counsel who can match their sophistication and ambition across a broad and evolving spectrum of opportunities,” said firm Chair Frank Lopez.
“Paul Hastings is uniquely positioned to holistically meet that demand through our market-leading entertainment, sports and media work and our deep relationships with the world’s leading asset managers, sovereign investors and strategic operators, as well as many of the most prominent sporting teams and bodies around the world.”
Sports M&A on the rise
It is the latest move from a legal firm into the world of sports M&A, with the sector continuing to drive deals across a number of sports.
Paul Hastings enjoys revenues of $2bn and has London headquarters based out of 100 Bishopsgate in the City.
The firm has also hired Chidi Oteh, who is a former counsel of both Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer teams.
“The firm handles the full spectrum of sports-related matters,” the organisation said, “including traditional sports, such as MLB, the NFL, NBA, the NHL, FIFA and PGA Tour, and teams like the Golden State Warriors; multiple global football clubs, UFC and Formula 1; multimedia and technology companies like ESPN; secondary ticket marketplaces such as Vivid Seats; and leading gaming and esports companies like Activision Blizzard and Ubisoft.”
Paul Hastings maintains a main headquarters in New York.