Michael A. Rueda

Head of US Sports and Entertainment | New York

Michael is the Head of US Sports and Entertainment.

Michael’s sports and entertainment practice focuses on providing personalized and holistic advice to today’s business minded athletes, entertainers and artists, that allows clients to focus on achieving success in their chosen profession and to launch successful secondary careers, often before their first ones come to an end. Michael advises clients on matters such as: brand management arrangements, including licensing, endorsement, sponsorship, and brand ambassador agreements; professional employment or service arrangements, including general employment, coaching and playing contracts; personal business and investment activities, including U.S. direct and fund investments, joint ventures, fund formation, structuring and forming new business entities and ventures, acquisitions and dispositions of businesses and assets; and media and reputation management.

Michael also represents sports teams, team owners and ownership groups, sports and entertainment agencies and management companies, athletic apparel and equipment brands, fashion brands, and film production companies, on a range of corporate and commercial activities.

Michael’s corporate practice focuses on representing companies and funds of varying sizes and across industries. He regularly advises on corporate governance matters; debt and equity financing transactions; mergers and acquisitions; and fund formation.

Michael is also a regular contributor to Forbes.

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Secretary Stacy Mathai

+1 203 328 2239
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Ridgway Barker and Michael Rueda, along with the entire Wither’s team, have been an invaluable resource to Global Lyme Alliance providing knowledgeable direction, insight and guidance across a broad range of legal areas. We are grateful and appreciative of their expertise and personal commitment to GLA’s mission.

Global Lyme Alliance - CEO Scott Santarella
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Michael Rueda at Withers Bergman advised us on many commercial policies related to our retailer relationships and internet sales, helping us avoid many future issues. His advice was easy to understand, logical and concise.

Peter Sachs, General Manager - LOWA Boots LLC
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Withers Bergman was integral in getting my business off the ground. Michael Rueda is an excellent and adept advisor. His guidance on a range of corporate and commercial issues was invaluable. We are a very small startup, but Michael, and the entire Withers Bergman team, treated us like their most important client.

Jasper Smith - Native Cider

Focus areas

Talent and creatives

Brands

Sport

South America

Private companies

Public companies

Sponsorship

Track record

Admissions

Publications

Talks

Represented investment fund in its private equity investment in restaurant operator and franchisor.

Advised Italian soccer player Andrea Pirlo and his agent in connection with his transfer from Juventus FC to Major League Soccer, negotiating on the player’s contract and image rights.

Securities counsel to special purpose acquisition company focused on consummating an initial business transaction in the Commonwealth of Australia, in connection with its initial public offering of $64 million of units.

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State of Connecticut, 2006

State of New York, 2007

‘NCAA Keeps Ball In Its Court With Review of Publicity Rules,’ __ Law360 - May 20, 2019, quoted

‘Crashing the Board,’ Forbes - April 18, 2019, author

‘How NBC Sports Analyst Kyle Martino is Shaking Up the American Soccer Culture,’ Forbes - March 22, 2019, author

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St. John’s University School of Law, LL.M. in International Sports Law Practice, New York - November 2015, guest lecturer

‘Practical Consideration When Bringing Players to Major League Soccer’, 2015 World Sports Law Report’s Sport Contracts conference, London - November 2015

Me in a minute

I love being able to combine my passion for sport with the law

Although I spent most of my early career serving as outside corporate counsel to both private and public companies, I now spend a significant part of my time also advising athletes and their agents, sports teams, and owners of sports properties or businesses. As a former competitive athlete, I love being able to combine my passion for sport with the law. Using my corporate experience to expand the firm’s US sports practice and service our sports clients is extremely rewarding as it has allowed me to service these sports clients in a number of capacities.

Education

Suffolk Law School, cum laude, J.D.
University of Connecticut, B.S.

Languages

  • English
  • Spanish

Dates

Joined

2015

New York

430 Park Avenue,

10th Floor,

NY 10022-3505

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Clients

Insight

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