Paul Hastings launches sports M&A practice

Law firm Paul Hastings has launched a new global sports M&A practice, expanding its offerings in the sector. The practice will be spearheaded by Brandon Etheridge, former general counsel for the Baltimore Ravens, and Mark Zerdin, who previously advised TWG Motorsports on their Cadillac F1 team entry.

Firm Chair Frank Lopez stated that sports have evolved into a significant asset class, projected to reach trillions, and clients require sophisticated counsel. He added that Paul Hastings is well-positioned to meet this demand through its existing entertainment, sports, and media work, and its relationships with asset managers, sovereign investors, and prominent sporting entities.

The move by Paul Hastings follows a trend of law firms entering the sports M&A space, driven by increasing deal activity across various sports. The firm, which has London headquarters at 100 Bishopsgate and a main headquarters in Los Angeles, also hired Chidi Oteh, a former counsel for both Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer teams. Paul Hastings indicated it handles a wide range of sports-related matters, including traditional sports leagues, global football clubs, UFC, Formula 1, media companies, secondary ticket marketplaces, and gaming and esports firms.