EXPLORE
Overview
Over the years, lawyers at M&R have represented athletes, coaches, sports agents and agencies involved in most every league (the NFL, NBA, and NHL included), providing a level of service to sports professionals typically reserved for ownership and management. Our work also extends to college athletes in the wake of the NCAA’s move allowing amateurs to benefit from the use of their names, images and likenesses (NIL).
M&R’s sports attorneys act on behalf of clients in the courtroom and at arbitration and offer counsel concerning transactional and corporate law, intellectual property and licensing issues, real estate, crisis management and criminal defense.
Areas of Expertise
Bankruptcy & Restructuring
Commercial & Business Litigation (including endorsement deals)
Corporate & Securities Law
Criminal Defense
Intellectual Property & Licensing
Real Estate Issues (including sales & acquisitions)
Representative Matters
Represented current NBA player in connection with lawsuit brought against him by a ticket broker for misuse of a personal credit card. Secured summary judgment on the complaint and cross-complaint for conversion.
Represented the National Football League Properties, LLP and a local National Football League franchise in multiple trademark infringement and false designation of origin matters against defendants in connection with their unlicensed use of trademarks and sale of merchandise. Through the rapid initiation and prosecution of legal proceedings, clients achieved favorable monetary settlements and consent decrees prohibiting similar future conduct by defendant.
Represented former NHL player in connection with NHLPA dispute regarding career-ending injury. Filed an action against local hospital and its doctors and nurses which culminated in a three-week jury trial that ended in directed verdict against client, reversed on appeal and retried, resulting in significant settlement by several parties. Case was retried before a Los Angeles County jury in a two-week trial that resulted in a split verdict on liability. Matter was ultimately settled on a confidential basis.
Successfully represented a prominent NHL player at arbitration under the former NHL collective bargaining agreement. The player was sued by his former agent for breach of contract and fraud based on a standardized contract he did not understand. After vacating a default judgment, we successfully moved for binding arbitration and obtained a favorable resolution for the player.