Sports Practice

Burns & Levinson’s Sports Practice attorneys have experience representing clients in all facets of the sports industry. We’ve successfully completed deals, handled transactions and resolved disputes for leagues, franchises, owners, investors, athletes, vendors, suppliers, media and technology companies on the professional, intercollegiate and interscholastic levels. We also represent those who provide services, technology, sponsorship and facilities to the sports industry, as well as manufacturers of sporting goods and apparel.

The depth of our sports-related experience spans across our corporate, litigation, intellectual property, real estate, tax and employment groups and includes:

• Setting up professional leagues

• Buying and selling franchises

• Structuring and negotiating financing transactions and investments

• Structuring and negotiating employment and talent agreements

• Negotiating stadium leasing

• Negotiating concession agreements/contracts

• Negotiating sponsorship and rights agreements

• Protecting, licensing and litigating of intellectual property rights

• Serving on the Advisory Board of the Israeli Baseball League

• Mediating, arbitrating and litigating a multitude of issues

Sports is both exciting and challenging and our team of experienced attorneys is dedicated to fostering growth in this industry by identifying opportunities for our clients and counseling them through the legal maze by negotiating terms, securing financing, and by helping them reach our ultimate goal of closing the deal. In addition, our attorneys are advisors for and participate on company and organization boards and committees, including the recently formed Israel Baseball League.

Our clients can score high achieving MVP status by utilizing our expertise in many cross legal disciplines. Our sports industry clients are covered in every legal aspect – corporate, finance, copyright, trademark, patents, tax, media and entertainment, real estate, labor and employment, securities, and franchising.

Recent Transactions and Clients:

• Sale of Augusta Greenjackets, (Minor League Baseball Team) to Ripken Enterprises

• Purchase of Modesto Nuts (Minor League Baseball Team)

• Purchase of Mobile Bay Bears (Minor League Baseball Team)

• Purchase of Boston Indoor Franchise of the National Lacrosse League

• Negotiation of Rights Agreement with MLB.com

• Negotiation of Rights Agreement with NASCAR

• Negotiation of Licensing Agreement with ESPN

• Negotiation of Licensing Agreement with ABC Sports

• Negotiation of Licensing Agreement with FOX Sports

• Negotiation of Licensing Agreement with Turner Sports

• General Counsel to Sportvision, provider of the 1st and Ten™ line and other sports broadcast enhancements, in its recent financing