Hirschler Fleischer counsels professional athletes, entertainers, sports associations, teams and leagues, sports and entertainment venues, athletic vendors, sports personnel and managers, race car drivers, gamers, musicians, artists, media personalities, filmmakers, and others in the sports and entertainment business. We help our clients make sound business and legal decisions that minimize exposure, protect their marketability, and facilitate their future successes. We draw from a cross-section of areas including litigation, commercial transactions and finance, securities, employment, real estate, bankruptcy and workouts, intellectual property, tax, estate planning and wealth management.
Team and League Representation
Our firm provides an array of legal services to major and minor sports leagues and teams, their owners and executives, and their marketing and media affiliates. We advise our clients on the industry-specific and increasingly complex legal issues facing owners, teams and leagues in today's global markets, including franchising, licensing, the purchase and sale of teams, complex financing, league and entity formation, complex contract negotiations, NCAA amateurism rules, bankruptcy and restructuring, insurance, government affairs, venue and facility construction or leasing, and employment issues.
Facilities and Venues
Widely recognized as a leader in commercial real estate law, Hirschler Fleischer has extensive experience in real estate issues related to world class sports and entertainment venues and facilities, including land acquisition/ground leasing, zoning, environmental, government affairs, development, construction, financing (private & public), tax, site and facility leasing/licensing, entity formation, tax credits, and operations. For example, we represented the owners of Colonial Downs in the development of a world class pari-mutuel horse racetrack in New Kent County. We guide developers, contractors, financiers, bond trustees, sports leagues/teams/non-profits, colleges/universities, corporate sponsors, and other clients through the maze of legal issues involved with development and operation of mixed-use projects and facilities.
Talent Representation
Hirschler Fleischer advises athletes, coaches, and entertainers on legal issues with the goal of helping to protect their valuable tangible and intangible assets now and in the future. We help to guide wise decision-making discreetly and confidentially by utilizing our experience in the issues facing high-net worth individuals, such as agent agreements, contract negotiations, licensing, estate planning, federal/state/multi-state tax, family law/pre-nuptial/post-nuptial, NCAA eligibility, private equity investing, immigration, endorsement agreements, charitable foundations, workers comp/personal injury litigation and salary arbitration. Specifically, our work includes representation of NBA players, NFL players, NASCAR drivers, television personalities, coaches, filmmakers, musicians, and authors.
Intellectual Property
Our protection of high-profile individuals and organizations continues into the intellectual property arena, whereby we handle copyright and trademark registrations, software licensing, distribution agreements, franchise agreements, Internet commerce and social media counseling. When necessary, we litigate in response to disputes pertaining to intellectual property rights.
Financing
We help clients navigate the complex maze of financing options for sports and entertainment projects, including lender financing, grants and bonds, state and local economic development incentive programs, private equity financing, and tax incentives.
