McGuireWoods recently launched a Sports Industry Team, leveraging the firm’s experience in precedent-setting litigation and groundbreaking transactions that have helped shape the modern sports landscape.
The multidisciplinary team provides legal support grounded in a deep understanding of the sports industry. Its roster includes accomplished lawyers who have led billion-dollar stadium financings, closed headline-making M&A deals, negotiated endorsement contracts with global sports icons, and won high-stakes litigation for professional teams, professional athletes and universities.
Partners Robert Muckenfuss, Seth Goldsamt and Sarah Wake lead the team. Muckenfuss has represented athletes, professional sports teams and corporate sponsors in matters ranging from high-profile endorsements and marketing agreements to complicated contract disputes. He serves as designated counsel to NASCAR’s inaugural Drivers Advisory Council.
“McGuireWoods has a legacy of leadership in the sports industry that spans decades,” Muckenfuss said. “Our team brings market-leading litigation and transactional capabilities together to deliver solutions tailored to the unique demands of this dynamic industry.”
McGuireWoods is a leader in corporate transactions spanning nearly every major sports league — including the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and the English Premier League. The firm’s nationally recognized Syndicated Finance Practice Group structures and executes stadium construction loans, leaguewide credit facilities and individual lines of credit for teams, leagues and owners.
The firm also draws on the strength of its Private Equity Industry Team, representing companies, investors, management teams and athletes in acquisitions, dispositions, private equity and venture capital transactions, joint ventures and other strategic deals.
“Whether advising on the buy or sell side or representing general partners or limited partners, our team advances clients’ strategic goals and delivers results in the fast-paced, ever-changing world of sports business,” Goldsamt said.
In addition, McGuireWoods’ Sports Industry Team provides sophisticated counsel to higher education clients, including schools in the Ivy League, Big Ten, Atlantic Coast Conference and Southeastern Conference.
“As the collegiate athletics landscape changes, our lawyers will continue to advise universities and student-athletes on significant matters, including NCAA enforcement actions, compensation to student athletes, conference realignment, intellectual property issues, hazing and other misconduct, and Title IX,” said Wake, who serves as co-leader of the firm’s Higher Education Practice Group and advises institutions on athletics compliance issues.
McGuireWoods’ capabilities have been recognized with a nationwide ranking for sports law in Chambers USA. The firm also was honored at the 2025 Managing IP Americas Awards for representing The Pennsylvania State University in a high-profile trademark infringement matter recognized as the Impact Case of the Year. The case has wide-ranging implications for intellectual property enforcement by colleges and universities, especially in the athletics arena.
Todd Steggerda, deputy managing partner for strategic development, said, “Our Sports Industry Team demonstrates how we can provide comprehensive, business-focused client service across multiple practice groups and practice areas, combining our strengths and showcasing our standing as a formidable player in this exciting industry.”