Practice Capabilities

Whether you are a player, an owner, or a tournament sponsor, you know that the sports industry is big business. As a natural extension of Loeb & Loeb’s deep roots and unparalleled expertise in the media and entertainment sectors, the firm has extensive experience and an in-depth understanding of the unique legal issues related to sports. In addition to broad litigation and transactional capabilities, our Sports Group offers a unique combination of complex entertainment and intellectual property acumen to create a dynamic service platform for a wide range of sports-related clients.

We counsel sports clients across a variety of disciplines in a broad array of matters. From the negotiation of cutting-edge media rights and mobile communication agreements to advertising and sponsorship deals with professional athletes, from apparel and equipment licensing and distribution to the acquisition or sale of sports franchises or teams, and from sport-related dispute resolution to complex commercial litigation, we develop scenarios that help our clients meet their business objectives.

In order to provide a full range of integrated services for our sports clients, Loeb & Loeb draws upon the expertise of attorneys and professionals from our Corporate, Real Estate, Commercial Finance, Mergers and Acquisitions, and Advertising and Promotions groups, among others. This diverse team works closely and collaboratively to advise and counsel sports clients on issues concerning:

Corporate/Transactions 

• Sponsorship and endorsement opportunities 
• Purchase and sale of assets 
• Event operations and risk management 
• Advertising and promotions 
• Financing deals 
• Organization and administration of charitable foundations and other tax-exempt entities 

Media 

• Negotiation, implementation and regulation of media arrangements for local and network TV and radio broadcasts 
• Licensing and syndication of digital and interactive media rights 
• Broadband and mobile technology deals 
• Production and distribution agreements 

Intellectual Property 

• Adoption, use, and protection of trademarks, service marks, trade names, Internet domain names, and trade dress 
• Copyright protection and licensing 
• Trademark licensing opportunities 
• Combating ambush marketing tactics and enforcement of marketing rights 

Litigation and Dispute Resolution 

• Intellectual property 
• Advertising and promotions 
• Contracts

Our experience also extends to matters involving state athlete-agent laws, agent regulations, and collective bargaining agreements, as well as sports administration matters such as Title IX implementation, drug testing, and NCAA eligibility.

Clients and Industries

In addition to famous athletes, including NBA and NFL players, professional teams, and sports organizations, we represent managers, leagues, tournaments, corporate sponsors, sports marketing agencies, broadcasters, equipment manufacturers and other clients in sports-related matters. Our clients include: 

Acura Classic	Major League Baseball
Association of Tennis Professionals	Major League Soccer
Association of Volleyball Professionals	New York Rangers Alumni Association
Atlanta Spirit	New York Road Runners, Inc.
Boston Red Sox	NBA Properties
Burton Corporation	National Collegiate Athletic Association
Churchill Downs	PGA Tour
Entertainers and Athletes Group Inc.	Sacramento Kings
Fantasy Sports Ventures	Silver Chalice
Fútbol Club de Barcelona	Tom Collins Champions on Ice
Hillerich & Bradsby Co.	United Football League, LLC
Los Angeles Dodgers	USA Sevens LLC
Madison Square Garden	WME Entertainment

Leadership in Law

Loeb & Loeb’s Sports Group is comprised of attorneys who are at the forefront of cutting-edge changes in the industry. Attorneys in the group are frequent lecturers and contributors to publications on topics ranging from intellectual property to marketing. Our Sports Group leader, Brian Socolow, has authored articles in publications such as OverTime, SportBusiness International, and Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal. In addition, Mr. Socolow and other attorneys in the group are involved in the Sports Lawyers Association and have been interviewed on numerous television and radio programs on a variety of sports law issues.

The firm has also been recognized for its charitable and pro-bono contributions to the sports industry. The Women's Tennis Association honored Loeb & Loeb for its work with the not-for-profit Youth League Tennis at a WTA tournament at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Youth League Tennis organizes after-school tennis leagues for children around the country.