The United Fight Championship (UFC) has taken a strategic step in bolstering its legal team by hiring Francisco Arias, a legal professional with a unique background that perfectly suits the demands of the organization. Arias joins the UFC from Fifth Season, a Los Angeles-based film and TV production company, where he served as the chief…
Stevens & Lee, a prominent law firm, has expanded its footprint by opening a new office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This strategic move is highlighted by the firm’s recruitment of Travis Williams, a former executive of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins. Williams joins the firm as a principal, bringing a wealth of experience in corporate governance and…
Michele A. Roberts, the first woman to lead a major professional sports union in North America, has been appointed to head a new sports consulting practice. Roberts served as the executive director of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) from 2014 until her retirement in January 2022. During her tenure, she was instrumental in negotiating…
Tamika Tremaglio, former executive director of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), has joined Secretariat, a global litigation consultancy, as announced on Monday. Secretariat described her as “a globally renowned leader.” Tremaglio’s tenure at the NBPA began in January 2022, following her selection in September 2021 to succeed Michele Roberts. Prior to her role at…
In a significant development for the collegiate sports industry, a California federal judge has approved approximately $455 million in attorney fees as part of the NCAA’s $2.78 billion class action settlement. This landmark decision marks the first time revenue sharing will be implemented with college athletes, allowing them a share of the revenue generated through…
In a significant development within collegiate athletics, attorneys representing student-athletes in the antitrust lawsuit against the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) have been awarded over $475 million in legal fees, with the potential for this figure to exceed $725 million over the next decade. This decision follows the approval of a $2.8 billion settlement aimed…
The US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has upheld a New York statute enabling lawsuits against gun manufacturers and sellers, a decision that could have significant implications for gun litigation across the United States. The court’s ruling, issued by a three-judge panel, found that New York’s law does not conflict with the federal…
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP has announced the addition of David Markman as a partner in its Technology and Intellectual Property Transactions practice, based in Los Angeles. Markman joins from DLA Piper, where he co-chaired the Entertainment Transactions Practice. At DLA Piper, Markman focused on media, sports, and entertainment, as well as intellectual property and…
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear challenges to laws from West Virginia and Idaho that prohibit transgender athletes from participating in sports teams that align with their gender identity. This decision stands as another test of anti-trans legislation, especially following the Court’s decision earlier this term to uphold Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care…
The United States Supreme Court has officially agreed to hear two significant cases concerning state policies on gender-affirming participation in school sports. This decision will address the contentious issue of transgender students’ rights to partake in school-funded sports teams. The cases involve two transgender women, Lindsay Hecox and Becky Pepper-Jackson (BPJ), who have filed lawsuits…
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to examine the constitutionality of prohibitions that prevent transgender girls and women from participating on female sports teams at the high school and collegiate levels. This pivotal case is scheduled to be argued during the Supreme Court’s 2025-2026 term, commencing on October 6, with a decision expected by July…
The US Supreme Court has agreed to consider a significant legal question: whether states have the authority to ban transgender women and girls from participating in female athletic teams at schools. This decision, reported by Bloomberg Law, could have broad implications for LGBTQ+ rights across the United States. The cases come from Idaho and West…
The recent Supreme Court decision in United States v. Skrmetti has sparked significant attention within legal circles, discussing the boundaries of constitutional interpretation regarding sex-based classifications. In a 6-3 ruling, the court upheld Tennessee’s SB1 law, which prohibits certain medical treatments for minors, suggesting that these do not classify on any basis that would necessitate…
The United States Supreme Court has recently decided to hear two pivotal cases concerning transgender athletes, marking an important moment in the ongoing legal discourse around gender identity and sports. These cases, Little v. Hecox and West Virginia v. B.P.J., have been added to the court’s docket for the 2025-26 term. The court will examine…
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to address the contentious issue of whether states have the authority to prohibit transgender girls and women from participating in female school athletic teams. This decision follows recent rulings by the Supreme Court allowing states to ban puberty blockers and hormone treatments for transgender minors, indicating a direction towards…
In a significant development, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals has reinstated two conspiracy convictions connected to the FIFA bribery scandal. This ruling implicates a former 21st Century Fox executive and a media rights brokerage firm involved in major international sports tournaments. The court’s decision reverses previous actions by lower courts and clarifies that recent…
A court in Algeria has handed down a seven-year prison sentence to Christophe Gleizes, a French sports journalist, amid growing international concern over the country’s stance on press freedom. Charged with “glorifying terrorism” and “possessing propaganda publications harmful to the national interest,” Gleizes’ case has attracted widespread attention from global advocacy groups and foreign governments….
In a notable move within the sports industry, Mark Walter, CEO of Guggenheim Partners and owner of Major League Baseball’s LA Dodgers, has entered into an agreement to purchase a majority stake in the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers, valuing the storied franchise at $10 billion. This acquisition highlights a trend of high-value transactions in the…
ArentFox Schiff has expanded its presence in the sports and corporate legal sectors with the addition of Phillip Gharabegian to its sports industry group. As announced on Monday, Gharabegian has joined the firm’s Los Angeles office, reinforcing their corporate and securities practice. Gharabegian is renowned for his expertise in handling high-profile media rights agreements involving…
In a legal development that highlights the intersection of international labor rights and U.S. jurisdiction, a federal judge in Colorado has allowed a lawsuit to proceed against American construction firms involved in the FIFA World Cup projects in Qatar. Magistrate Judge Cyrus Chung ruled on Thursday that claims of forced labor filed by Filipino workers…
This past week has been eventful in the London legal scene, spotlighting various high-profile claims and lawsuits. The British Basketball Federation has come under legal scrutiny as members of the men’s professional basketball league have filed a lawsuit alleging breaches of competition law. This development adds to the growing landscape of sports-related legal challenges in…
David Berl, a partner and Co-Chair of Patent Litigation at Williams & Connolly, continues to make waves in the legal field with his notable work, including his successful representation of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. in a high-stakes patent case. The Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. v. Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. case stands out as a significant feat, underscoring Berl’s…
The fast-paced development of the GOP tax-and-spending package has generated a significant mobilization among Washington lobbyists, eager to sway the upcoming Senate legislation. Following the presentations of both the House and Senate versions, which propose renewals to much of the 2017 tax law, various stakeholders—from corporations focused on preserving clean-energy credits to universities aiming to…
Freshfields has secured another sports competition law case, representing the U.K.’s Super League Basketball in a legal battle against the British Basketball Federation and GBB League Limited (GBBL). This case, filed in London’s High Court, accuses the federation of breaching competition law and other misconducts concerning the professional basketball league licensing. The dispute emerged after…
The Supreme Court’s decision in U.S. v. Skrmetti offers critical insights for legal professionals grappling with the complexities of equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment, especially in contexts pertaining to transgender rights. The case revolved around Tennessee’s SB1, a legislative measure aimed at prohibiting certain medical interventions for minors seeking sex-transition. The federal government had…