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> Experience > Sectors and focus areas > Sports, talent and entertainment

Sports, talent and entertainment

Withers’ global multidisciplinary sports, talent and entertainment practice focuses on representing the interests of professional athletes, artists, entertainers, sports and entertainment businesses, investors, and organizations on a full range of legal services.

Withers' diverse team provides comprehensive, integrated legal counsel across a variety of jurisdictions for the full range of commercial, corporate, regulatory, and private client issues facing individuals and organizations in the sports and entertainment industries.

Our team is comprised of lawyers from across offices and a wide array of legal specialties including: corporate, intellectual property, labor and employment, litigation, real estate, tax, trust and estate planning, immigration, and family law. This broad experience fosters a broad and deep understanding of our clients and the complex and multifaceted issues and opportunities facing stakeholders doing business in the sports and entertainment industries.

Our clients include professional sports teams, owners, investors, sponsors, promoters, live event companies, founders, agencies and management companies, and talent across music, sports, fashion, beauty, arts, television, film, and social media. 

Our team regularly advises in the following areas:
  • Commercial contracts
  • Corporate finance
  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Venture capital
  • Labor and employment
  • Litigation and dispute resolution
  • Commercial and residential real estate
  • Reputation management
  • Intellectual property and technology
  • Data privacy and cybersecurity
  • Cryptocurrency and digital assets
  • Trust and estate planning
  • Wealth structuring
  • Philanthropy 
  • Corporate and personal tax 
  • Immigration
  • Family law
  • Sponsorships
  • Image/publicity rights

Track record

Acted for a client in connection with the baseball industry

Advised in connection with purchase of minority interests in major league baseball (MLB) franchises.
 

Acted for a client in negotiations with U.S. television network

Assisted with negotiating a long-term news anchor role with a major U.S. television network.
 

Acted for a global marketing agency

Advised global marketing agency on expansion into U.S., U.K., and Asia.
 

Acted for a golf tournament series

Advised Presidents Cup style golf event series on all legal matters, including debt and equity financings, tax, sponsorships, broadcast, and production agreements.
 

Acted for a sports tournament owner

Advised tournament owner and operator in connection with acquiring right to host and operate an LPGA event in North America, and subsequent advice in connection with sponsors, vendors, venues.
 

Acted for a successful family office

Advised on $100 million investment by a family office into a consortium that purchased the National Basketball Association's Charlotte Hornets.
 

Acted for a founder and influencer

Advised make-up artist / influencer / founder in securing ‘founder’s rights’ in connection with Series A financing of cosmetics company.
 

Acted for a U.S. music artist

Advised on structure of a catalog sale to achieve a tax advantaged result for US music artist.
 

Acted for a U.S. specialty service provider

Advised on the sale of leading U.S. specialty equipment, tool, staging and union labor solutions service provider for the entertainment and live events industry.
 

Acted for a well known DJ

Advised high-profile Canadian DJ on multiple investments and JVs with US companies.
 

Acted for a global marketing agency

Advised global marketing agency on expansion into U.S., U.K., and Asia.
 

Sale of majority stake in V8 Supercars

We are advising V8 team owners in relation to the sale of a majority stake in V8 Supercars to private equity.

The Youth Olympic Games

The Youth Olympic Games in Singapore as the official legal services sponsor, which covered a range of issues concerning the organisation and hosting of the games.

World Sports Group in relation to disputes

World Sports Group, Asia’s largest sports marketing, media and event management company, in relation to disputes pertaining to an agreement relating to the exploitation of commercial rights.

ASEAN Basketball League

Advising the League on the restructuring of its constitution and participation agreements and on its contract with a broadcaster.

International Table Tennis Federation

Assisting the International Table Tennis Federation with the establishment and operation of its marketing and Asia Pacific HQ in Singapore and continuing to provide ongoing advice on commercial and compliance matters.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Advising the Ultimate Fighting Championship (an American mixed martial arts promotion company) on compliance related matters for the staging of its first event in Singapore.

World Wrestling Entertainment

Advising World Wrestling Entertainment in relation to commercial media activity including the application of the television broadcast rules in Singapore.

Renault Group's acquisition of Lotus F1

Our London, Milan, Hong Kong and Singapore teams assisted Renault Group on the acquisition of Lotus F1 and its €1.5 billion investment in motorsport and technology. Renault extricated itself from engine supply agreements with F1 teams Red Bull and Toro Rosso, before embarking on the Lotus deal. The process took over nine months and involved staving off Lotus's multiple creditors, who were intent on putting the group into administration thereby saving Lotus's 512 skilled workforce from redundancy. Our corporate and insolvency teams achieved the unprecedented feat of adjourning four consecutive winding up petitions in court over the course of six months. This process added intense pressure to the deal, which was already complicated by the multi-party negotiations involving Mr Bernie Ecclestone, CVC, FIA, principal sponsors of Lotus, incoming and outgoing drivers of Lotus F1 as well as the outgoing minority shareholder of Lotus F1.

Acted for a global marketing agency

Advised global marketing agency on expansion into U.S., U.K., and Asia.
 

AC Milan on the sponsorship by Emirates airline

AC Milan, an Italian Serie A football club, on the sponsorship by Emirates airline, which included the San Siro stadium and the Milanello sporting complex.

Acquisition of Queens Park Rangers

Investors on the purchase of Queens Park Rangers FC, an English football club and subsequent investment by the Mittal Group as well as advising on successive rounds of equity and debt financing.

İlkay Gündoğan on his transfer Manchester City

İlkay Gündoğan on his transfer to English Premier League team Manchester City FC. Midfielder Gündoğan moved from German Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund and also plays for the German national team.

Manolo Gabbiadini on his £17 million transfer Southampton

Manolo Gabbiadini on his £17 million transfer to English Premier League team Southampton FC. Manolo moved to the UK club from Serie A club SSC Napoli and also plays for the Italian national team.

Roberto Donadoni on contract extension

Roberto Donadoni and his assistant coaches for their contract extensions with the Serie A club Bologna F.C. Withers are proud to have advised on the extension of the new employment agreements.

Wojciech Szczesny's on his £10 million transfer to Juventus

Wojciech Szczesny's on his £10 million move to Italian champions Juventus. The Polish international has made the move after 132 appearances for Arsenal FC having spent eight years at the club, and the last two seasons on loan at AS Roma.

Football Foundation's framework agreement

Developing a framework agreement and call-off-contract documents in respect of three procurement exercises undertaken on behalf of the Football Foundation, UK's largest sports charity, and related parties.

Sport England's framework agreement

Developing a framework agreement and call-off-contract documents for Sport England's specialist design consultancy panel.

Renault Group's acquisition of Lotus F1

Our London, Milan, Hong Kong and Singapore teams assisted Renault Group on the acquisition of Lotus F1 and its €1.5 billion investment in motorsport and technology. Renault extricated itself from engine supply agreements with F1 teams Red Bull and Toro Rosso, before embarking on the Lotus deal. The process took over nine months and involved staving off Lotus's multiple creditors, who were intent on putting the group into administration thereby saving Lotus's 512 skilled workforce from redundancy. Our corporate and insolvency teams achieved the unprecedented feat of adjourning four consecutive winding up petitions in court over the course of six months. This process added intense pressure to the deal, which was already complicated by the multi-party negotiations involving Mr Bernie Ecclestone, CVC, FIA, principal sponsors of Lotus, incoming and outgoing drivers of Lotus F1 as well as the outgoing minority shareholder of Lotus F1.

Acted for a client in connection with the baseball industry

Advised in connection with purchase of minority interests in major league baseball (MLB) franchises.
 

Acted for a client in negotiations with U.S. television network

Assisted with negotiating a long-term news anchor role with a major U.S. television network.
 

Acted for a global marketing agency

Advised global marketing agency on expansion into U.S., U.K., and Asia.
 

Acted for a golf tournament series

Advised Presidents Cup style golf event series on all legal matters, including debt and equity financings, tax, sponsorships, broadcast, and production agreements.
 

Acted for a sports tournament owner

Advised tournament owner and operator in connection with acquiring right to host and operate an LPGA event in North America, and subsequent advice in connection with sponsors, vendors, venues.
 

Acted for a successful family office

Advised on $100 million investment by a family office into a consortium that purchased the National Basketball Association's Charlotte Hornets.
 

Acted for a founder and influencer

Advised make-up artist / influencer / founder in securing ‘founder’s rights’ in connection with Series A financing of cosmetics company.
 

Acted for a U.S. music artist

Advised on structure of a catalog sale to achieve a tax advantaged result for US music artist.
 

Acted for a U.S. specialty service provider

Advised on the sale of leading U.S. specialty equipment, tool, staging and union labor solutions service provider for the entertainment and live events industry.
 

Acted for a well known DJ

Advised high-profile Canadian DJ on multiple investments and JVs with US companies.
 

Our team

Michael A. Rueda

Michael A. Rueda

Partner | Head of US Sports and Entertainment | New York

Michael A. Rueda

Partner | Head of US Sports and Entertainment | New York

Corporate

Luca Ferrari

Luca Ferrari

Partner | Milan

Luca Ferrari

Partner | Milan

Corporate

Libby Payne

Libby Payne

Partner | London

Libby Payne

Partner | London

Employment

Alan M. Witlen

Alan M. Witlen

Partner | Los Angeles

Alan M. Witlen

Partner | Los Angeles

International corporate tax

Alex Taylor

Alex Taylor

Partner | London

Alex Taylor

Partner | London

IP, commercial and technology

Charles S. Kolstad

Charles S. Kolstad

Partner | New York

Charles S. Kolstad

Partner | New York

Private client and tax | Corporate

Barry A. Brust

Barry A. Brust

Special Counsel | Los Angeles

Barry A. Brust

Special Counsel | Los Angeles

Corporate

Paolo De Jesus

Paolo De Jesus

Senior Associate | New York

Paolo De Jesus

Senior Associate | New York

Corporate

Andrew Fremlin-Key

Andrew Fremlin-Key

Partner | London

Andrew Fremlin-Key

Partner | London

Litigation and arbitration

Sharon Whitehouse

Sharon Whitehouse

Partner | London

Sharon Whitehouse

Partner | London

Corporate

Fiona Giordani

Fiona Giordani

Associate | Milan

Fiona Giordani

Associate | Milan

Corporate

Ceri Vokes

Ceri Vokes

Partner | London

Ceri Vokes

Partner | London

Private client and tax

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