Kendall Johnson > Latham & Watkins LLP > Century City, United States > Lawyer Profile

Latham & Watkins LLP is praised as ‘the preeminent law firm in media, entertainment and sports’, boasting a strong team of media and entertainment and finance specialists based in Los Angeles. The firm advises a wide range of clients from independent production companies and major motion picture studios to financial institutions, investment funds, music companies and talent agencies. The firm regularly assists with major M&As and strategic investments as well as IP and content deals and media and entertainment financing. Practice head Rick Offsay is an expert in handling complex media and entertainment M&As, joint ventures, capital raises and financings. Nancy Bruington is the go-to for producers, private equity funds and investment banks looking for experience in structuring and negotiating media transactions. Other notable team members include Kendall Johnson who excels in handling sports-related transactions, Jonathan D. West who represents celebrities and companies in joint ventures and IP issues, and Liliana Paparelli Ranger who focuses on representing film & TV studios, streaming platforms and independent production companies in entertainment M&As, equity and debt financings and content production. Justin Hamill sits in New York and is well-versed in M&As and private equity deals.

Consulting a varied roster of sports bodies, leagues, governing bodies, federations, teams, and media companies, as well as private equity firms, Latham & Watkins LLP particularly stands out for high-profile antitrust and other litigation for sports governing bodies. The group continues to represent US soccer in a high profile antitrust action brought by the North American Soccer League (NASL), demonstrating its strength in this area of sports law litigation. The group also excels in large M&A deals in the sports industry, particularly in private equity investments of sports teams, and asset acquisitions for portfolio companies. Notably, the group was involved in high value, majority stake acquisitions of Premier League clubs or NBA franchises in 2024. Century City-based Adam J. Sullins heads up the team, alongside Frank Saviano in New York and Chris Yates in San Francisco, who are well supported by Justin Hamill in New York, a key name for large scale mergers and acquisitions in sport. At associate level, Adam Rosenthal is a key name in the group, and can be highlighted for his experience in sports league governance and rules. Kendall Johnson is notable for media rights deals.