SPORTS

From private equity investments to intellectual property protection and regulatory investigations, we advise on the business of sports at every level. Backed by the strength of our top-ranked practices in finance, litigation, private equity/mergers and acquisitions transactions, labor and employment, and white collar defense, we provide end-to-end legal support tailored to the unique demands of the sports industry.

How We Help

Professional Sports Financing Deals: McGuireWoods’ Sports Industry Team advises clients on sophisticated, high-value financing transactions across the professional sports landscape. Building on the strength of our Syndicated Finance Practice Group — nationally recognized as a top firm for advising lenders in debt finance transactions by league tables and co-led by a finance partner honored as a “Power Player” by SportsBusiness Journal — we structure and execute stadium construction loans, leaguewide credit facilities and individual lines of credit for teams, leagues and owners. Our finance experience spans nearly every major sports league — including the National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB), National Basketball Association (NBA), National Hockey League (NHL) and English Premier League (EPL) — equipping us with deep industry insight and financial acumen.

Sports Mergers and Acquisitions and Private Equity Transactions: McGuireWoods is a nationally recognized leader in M&A and private equity transactions, ranked among the top 10 U.S. law firms in benchmarking league tables published by LSEG, Mergermarket, and PitchBook. We counsel clients on corporate transactions across the sports industry, bringing experience in deals involving nearly every major professional sport and sports league — including the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, European football (soccer) leagues, PGA/professional golf and motorsports. Leveraging the strength of our nationally acclaimed Private Equity Industry Team, we deliver a powerful combination of industry knowledge and transactional experience. Our attorneys represent companies, investors, management teams and professional 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 world of sports business.

Collegiate Athletics: In partnership with the firm’s Higher Education Practice Group, McGuireWoods’ Sports Industry Team provides sophisticated counsel to higher education clients participating in collegiate athletics, including schools in the Ivy League, Big Ten, Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Southeastern Conference. We advise colleges and universities on matters involving National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) compliance, enforcement actions and eligibility; coaching contracts; name, image and likeness developments (including providing direct compensation to student-athletes); Title IX (including gender equity in athletics); trademark and licensing; and student-athlete policy. We conduct investigations into coach and athlete misconduct, including allegations of fraud, hazing and sexual misconduct. We’ve been involved in cutting-edge work on student-athlete labor organizing efforts and advise colleges and universities on how to meet student-athlete needs prior to potential unionization. Our team consists of a former member of the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions, which is responsible for adjudicating NCAA rules violations for Division I schools, and former in-house counsel at ACC and Big Ten schools. With an understanding of the rapidly evolving collegiate athletics landscape, we deliver solutions that protect reputations, preserve eligibility and advance institutional missions.

Marketing Contracts and Endorsement Deals: Our team represents large corporate clients and professional athletes, advising on and negotiating premier marketing and endorsement arrangements. We have decades of experience helping clients develop endorsement portfolios and navigating complex marketing deals. We have secured long-term sponsorship deals on behalf of clients with elite talent, including NBA superstars LeBron James and Blake Griffin. With deep industry knowledge and a track record of successful outcomes, we ensure clients maximize their brand value and strategic partnerships.

Regulatory and Enforcement Defense: In today’s sports landscape, regulatory scrutiny and enforcement actions can threaten reputations and operations. McGuireWoods’ Sports Industry Team provides strategic defense for teams, leagues, universities, executives, professional athletes and other key stakeholders facing investigations by the Department of Justice, Securities and Exchange Commission, NCAA, and other regulatory or governing bodies. Our government credibility is bolstered by the firm’s highly acclaimed Government Investigations & White Collar Litigation Practice Group, including a U.S. deputy attorney general, U.S. attorneys and other federal prosecutors, and senior enforcement leaders from major agencies. That depth of experience includes securing a full acquittal in a high-profile FIFA bribery trial — following an eight-week jury proceeding — on behalf of an international sports executive. Whether the matter involves alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, honest services fraud, money laundering or other complicated financial crimes, our team delivers effective, discreet representation from the outset of an investigation. We also advise on matters involving performance-enhancing drugs, controlled substances and drug-testing validation — areas of increasing scrutiny in professional and collegiate athletics. From eligibility disputes and compliance breakdowns to high-stakes enforcement actions, we guide clients as they navigate risk, protect reputations and preserve competitive standing in a fast-moving, highly scrutinized sports environment.

Complex Sports and Business Litigation: From the front office to the courtroom, our sports industry litigation capabilities are extensive. Nationally recognized as a “Powerhouse,” our litigation team is known for bringing a fierce, strategic approach to every case, delivering proactive, cost-effective solutions. Whether defending class actions or bet-the-business and brand litigation, our veteran trial attorneys deliver exceptional results. Bringing specialized experience to the courtroom, our litigators do it all, including partnering with our nationally acclaimed Insurance Recovery Practice Group to maximize financial recoveries and protect clients’ bottom lines. Other highlights from our playbook include resolving customer disputes arising from sportsbook transactions on behalf of large financial institutions, and defending major sports teams and stadium owners against lawsuits alleging unlawful ticket fees.

Representative Experience

Professional Sports Financing Deals

• Major financial institution as administrative agent on $1.5 billion league-wide credit facility;
• major financial institution as administrative agent on $50 million secured revolving credit facilities made available to several NFL teams, an increase on a previously available leaguewide credit facility;
• major financial institution as administrative agent on $75 million senior secured revolving credit facilities made available to an MLB team for access to capital for stadium upgrades;
• major financial institution as administrative agent on term loan facility to Manchester United;
• major financial institution in connection with an $850 million construction term loan for the new Atlanta Falcons Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia and related arrangements with respect to personal seat licensing sales, suite sales and other sponsorship revenues;
• financial institution in major sports endorsement deal with legendary sports athlete.

Sports Mergers and Acquisitions and Private Equity Transactions

• Wasserman, a global sports, music and entertainment company, in M&A transactions, including:
  • acquisition of The Montag Group, a preeminent media agency known for representing talented sportscasters, including Bob Costas, Jim Nantz and Dick Vitale;
  • numerous acquisitions of agencies that represent professional athletes in MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, golf, action and adventure sports, and the Olympics;
• investor in acquisitions and dispositions of sports event management businesses, including the acquisition of Greg Norman Production Company, a leading golf tournament management firm, from legendary golfer Greg Norman;
• venture capital investors in investments in sports-related businesses, including an equity investment in adult sports league business and an equity investment in off-course golf simulator business that hosts real-time, virtual, closest-to-the-pin tournaments.

Collegiate Athletics

• Multiple Division I institutions and individual athletes on student-athlete eligibility issues with the NCAA;
• hazing investigations involving an NCAA football team and an NCAA soccer team, which included allegations of coach misconduct;
• NCAA Division I institution in unionization efforts by a sports team;
• lead counsel in a high-profile jury trial win for the largest collegiate sports licensing program, earning national recognition for a landmark trademark infringement verdict;
• major universities on sports merchandise and licensing litigation;
• NCAA Division I athletics directors on implications of student-athletes being employees of the institutions;
• Division I schools in need of NIL policies and agreements.

Marketing Contracts and Endorsement Transactions

• NASCAR drivers in the negotiation of licensing agreements and contracts;
• major automobile manufacturer in sponsorship and endorsement negotiations with professional basketball superstars and the NBA;
• professional athletes in negotiating marketing and endorsement contracts.

Complex Sports and Business Litigation; Regulatory and Enforcement Defense

• Leading motorsports team in federal criminal investigation;
• NASCAR drivers and team owners in litigation;
• NBA athletes in litigation and governmental investigations.

Other/Advisory Role

• Counsel for NASCAR’s Drivers Advisory Board;
• sports organization in a matter involving a state attorney general’s inquiry into the organization’s policies related to transgender athlete participation.