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ARTICLE · 10 SEPTEMBER 2025

The Final Denver Broncos Right Of First Refusal Case (ROFR): A Masterclass In Complex Trust Litigation And Media Management

Fennemore Craig, P.C.
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When the Denver Broncos transitioned ownership following Pat Bowlen's death, it triggered an intriguing intersection of complex trust law, fiduciary duties, and media scrutiny.

United StatesLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Daniel Reilly
Daniel Reilly

When the Denver Broncos transitioned ownership following Pat Bowlen's death, it triggered an intriguing intersection of complex trust law, fiduciary duties, and media scrutiny. The legal battles over the team's sale and the Right of First Refusal (ROFR) alleged to be enforceable by a Kaiser family trust offered valuable lessons for litigation teams managing high-profile, high-stakes cases.

We checked in with Dan Reilly, Director Business Litigation, Fennemore Denver who served as the Denver Broncos outside trial counsel for nearly 20 years. Dan was lead counsel on multiple Broncos' cases including the Final Right of First Refusal that cleared the sale of the Denver Broncos' for a record-breaking $4.65 billion sale, the then highest price in NFL history.

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