Growing Cross-Disciplinary Practice Handles Disputes and Transactions for Numerous Sports-Related Entities
NEW YORK, NY – September 21, 2009. Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP is pleased to announce the formal establishment of its interdisciplinary Sports Group. The firm's work in this area dates back decades and includes high-profile disputes and transactions involving professional baseball, basketball, hockey, tennis and golf, as well as the representation of sports-related media entities. Among other matters on behalf of various leagues, teams, and other sports-related entities, over the last several years our attorneys regularly have litigated complex commercial matters, handled sensitive internal investigations issues, and provided corporate, intellectual property and charitable giving advice both in high-profile transactions and as day-to-day legal advisors.
Our Sports Group attorneys' specific experience includes the representation of:
- A leading sports news network as a defendant in a case in which the plaintiff argued that fantasy sports games offered on its website constituted illegal gambling. The court dismissed this case of first impression with prejudice.
- Various investor groups as intellectual property counsel in their acquisitions and proposed acquisitions of Major League Baseball, National Hockey League and NASCAR teams.
- A professional sports league in an investigation of and issuance of a report concerning allegations made by a member team that a rival team violated the league's anti-tampering rules.
- A professional sports hall of fame as plaintiff in a trademark infringement litigation culminating in a successful settlement requiring a change to defendant's use of its mark.
- A major U.S. professional soccer league in its formation and launch.
- The seller of a Major League Baseball franchise in a breach of contract litigation with an investment bank.
- A leading regional sports network in connection with its broadcasting rights agreement to license professional baseball and basketball games to local television stations.
- A professional basketball team's foundation in connection with its charitable activities.
- A not-for-profit organization formed to further New York City's bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in connection with intellectual property matters.
Patterson Belknap's Managing Partner, Bob LoBue, said, "To provide maximum value to our clients, it makes sense to combine in a single working group the full range of skills and experience that the firm has to offer to our sports industry clients. We believe our broad experience advising these entities will be a great asset to them going forward in today's fast-paced and dynamic business environment."
The Sports Group includes leading Litigation, White Collar Defense and Investigations, Intellectual Property, Tax-Exempt Organizations and Corporate attorneys, including:
Litigation:
Peter C. Harvey is the former Attorney General of the State of New Jersey and the first African-American to hold that position. He is active in investigations and complex commercial litigation nationwide. His clients include sports-related and media and entertainment entities. Prior to becoming Attorney General, Mr. Harvey served as First Assistant Attorney General and the Director of the Division of Criminal Justice. He previously served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey.
Robert W. Lehrburger is a trial and appellate attorney who handles commercial and intellectual property matters, including false advertising, infringement (trademark, copyright and patent), licensing, unfair competition and other complex business disputes. He has written and lectured on a number of intellectual property and litigation topics ranging from deceptive advertising on the internet to domain name cybersquatting to trademark issues lurking in song titles and lyrics.
Daniel S. Ruzumna spent six years at the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, where he last served as Acting Chief of the Major Crimes Unit. His practice focuses on white collar criminal defense and related regulatory proceedings, internal investigations, and complex financial litigation. He has represented corporations and corporate executives in many recent high-profile criminal and regulatory investigations involving alleged violations of the securities laws, antitrust laws, and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Saul B. Shapiro is a nationally recognized litigator and veteran of several high-profile sports industry disputes and investigations. His work includes the representation of professional sports leagues and television networks. He is noted consistently as a leading practitioner in Chambers USA, as well as a "Litigation Star" in Euromoney / Institutional Investor's Benchmark: America's Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys. Mr. Shapiro is co-Chair of the firm's Media and Entertainment Practice.
Transactional:
Karen R. Berry focuses her practice on intellectual property counseling, transactions, and licensing matters, and has particular skill in internet and new media, including "virtual world" issues. She handles software licensing, trademark licensing and a broad range of other agreements for clients that include sports-related entities and individuals. Ms. Berry is a frequent speaker on intellectual property issues concerning for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.
William F. Gaske is a tax-exempt organizations lawyer advising on corporate structures and governance, corporate sponsorships, charitable contributions and solicitations and other tax, corporate and general legal matters. He also represents clients before the Internal Revenue Service in matters involving audits, private letter rulings and requests for technical assistance and assists clients with matters under review by the New York Attorney General's office.
Daniel C. Glazer is a nationally recognized intellectual property attorney who has handled several high-profile sports-related transactions. He frequently appears in the national media as a commentator on legal issues in sports (including on CNN, ESPN, NBC, FOX, MSNBC and NPR), has published numerous articles on sports law topics in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, and The Seton Hall Journal of Sport Law, and has been profiled in The New York Law Journal regarding his activities in the field. Mr. Glazer has been recommended by Legal 500 U.S. in the category of Sports Law.
Contacts for the Sports Group are Saul B. Shapiro (212-336-2163/sbshapiro@pbwt.com) for Litigation matters; Daniel S Ruzumna (212-336-2034/druzumna@pbwt.com) for Investigations; and Daniel C. Glazer (212-336-2523/dcglazer@pbwt.com) for Transactional matters.