Overview
Brian Socolow, Co-Chair of Loeb’s Sports practice, represents professional and college athletes, teams, event owners, media companies, equipment manufacturers and others in the sports industry in complex commercial transactions and business disputes. Beyond the sports sector, Brian represents other clients in a broad range of corporate matters and transactions.
Brian has handled many sports transactions, including media broadcast and distribution agreements, sponsorship and naming rights agreements, trademark licenses, venue agreements and the purchase and sale of sports properties. Most recently, Brian represented Simmons Bank in connection with the naming rights of Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, now known as Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, in Memphis, Tennessee, and represented Frost Bank in connection with an agreement with the NBA basketball team, the San Antonio Spurs, for a naming rights partnership for the Spurs’ home arena, now officially known as the “Frost Bank Center.” He represented San Diego Wave FC in its stadium agreement and sale to a family office, and Cynisca Cycling, a women’s professional cycling team, in its commercial and regulatory matters.
Outside of his sports practice, Brian serves as outside general counsel for a number of closely held and family-owned businesses, advising and assisting them with a range of business transactions, including commercial agreements, business combinations and investments, joint ventures and other general corporate matters. He works with companies across a variety of industries, including media, retail, consumer goods, financial services and entertainment companies.
Within sports, Brian represents professional athletes in connection with endorsement deals, commercial transactions and investments, and general corporate advice, including Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams, NBA basketball players John Wall, Tristan Thompson and JR Smith, and professional golfers Rickie Fowler, Viktor Hovland, Brandon Wu and Rose Zhang.
Since the July 2021 lifting of the NCAA’s ban preventing college athletes from monetizing their names, images and likeness (NIL), Brian has also represented high-profile college athletes, collectives, brands and agencies in NIL transactions and endorsement deals.
In addition, Brian has provided leagues, event owners and media agencies with strategic counsel in podcast, television and radio broadcast agreements, internet distribution and marketing rights arrangements, exclusive ad partnerships and sponsorships.
I combined my passion for sports with my legal practice, and I look forward to each day and each new challenge helping clients compete in this dynamic industry.
Brian has a particular depth of experience in the rapidly growing sports technology and data sector. He advises manufacturers of wearable devices and other sports technology companies on data collection and use practices, security issues and licensing matters. In addition, Brian has developed a niche in the emerging sports market, helping new and developing sports properties in their media, licensing and commercial development.
Brian is a member of the Executive Committee of the Sports Lawyers Association and regularly comments on sports-related topics as a legal contributor for top-tier media outlets, such as CNN, ESPN Radio and The Wall Street Journal.
Outside the office, Brian is a percussionist and an avid runner. He has served on the advisory board for the New York chapter of Back on My Feet, an organization that combats homelessness through running, and was a commissioner of the New Castle Recreation and Parks Commission.
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“The Name Is The Game,” In the Know Series; New Developments in College Athlete Nil, Sports & Esports Alert
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"Structuring Student-Athlete NIL Agreements: Recent Decisions, Regulations, and Key Provisions," Strafford Webinar
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"Name, Image and Likeness for Brands and Agents," Loeb & Loeb Webinar
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"Working with Athletes," Sports Lawyers Association webinar with Morgan Stanley Global Sports & Entertainment
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"NIL In Real Time," Cardozo Law School
Education
- University of Virginia School of Law, J.D.
- Yale University, B.A., magna cum laude
Court Admissions
- New York State Courts
- U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Bar Admissions
- New York
- Connecticut
- Florida
- District of Columbia
Recognition
- Received Client Choice Award by Lexology in the Sports & Entertainment area in New York (2024)
- Named in Who’s Who Legal: Sports & Gaming (2021-2023) and in Who’s Who Legal: Sports & Entertainment (2013-2020), published by Law Business Research Limited
- Named in The Legal 500 US in Sports, published by Legalease Limited and John Pritchard (2017-2024)
- Named "Best Lawyer" in Sports Law (2020-2025) and Media Law (2023-2025) by The Best Lawyers in America, published by Woodward White, Inc.
- Named "New York Metro Super Lawyer" in Entertainment & Sports by Thomson Reuters (2009-2023)
Affiliations
- Secretary, Sports Lawyers Association (Board member since 2016)
- Commissioner, New Castle, New York Recreation and Parks Department
- Former President, Chappaqua Public Library
- Member, New York Advisory Board, Back on My Feet