Herrick, Feinstein LLP offers a strong sports practice with capabilities spanning the full spectrum of transactional mandates, including corporate, real estate, and tax matters. The firm brings this transactional expertise to bear for a wide range of clients, from major league sports teams to financial institutions. The practice is co-chaired by the ‘extremely knowledgeable’ Irwin Kishner, who routinely guides clients through minority acquisitions of teams, and Daniel Etna, whose expertise in stadium matters spans both development and naming rights issues. Eric Stabler is an authority on the financing of sports franchises, while Liliana Chang leverages her corporate expertise to advise on minor league expansions and equity investments. All lawyers mentioned are based in New York.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘Herrick Sports group is comprised of talented partner-level lawyers with expertise in a number of different key disciplines. This combination of skill sets is particularly useful to us given that many of our Sports investments involve significant complexity both pre-deal (e.g. structuring, governance) and post-deal (operational restructuring and management).'
'Our firm has a highly flexible capital mandate, and we often evaluate opportunities that would see us invest in two or more different securities simultaneously, with rather different risk/reward profiles. Herrick's team is very well suited for our needs in this regard.’
‘Sean O'Donnell is the quarterback of this team, and is the glue that brings together the skills of each of the individual lawyers. Sean himself is a terrific lawyer, with particular skill in deal structuring and in crafting governance rights that protect our interests while operating within league parameters.'
'Justin Blass is very commercial in his approach. He also has excellent attention to detail, with a well-honed sense of market norms.’
‘Strong transactional practice, extremely responsive, and possess significant subject matter expertise.’
‘The firm is composed of hardworking, thoughtful, and commercially focused attorneys. They deliver practical solutions and advocate for clients in a strong yet respectful manner. The team is particularly adept at handling uncommon and complex transactions.’
‘We've worked with Herrick on a range of matters in sport this year. Working alongside them for a range of clients on sponsorship, broadcasting and financing matters. And acting on the other side of the table from them on corporate and financing matters. I appreciate their strong core capabilities, allied with their genuine knowledge of and experience in the sports industry.’
‘The lawyers I would recommend are Irwin Kirshner, Justin Blass, Megan Thompson, Sean O'Donnell.’
‘Irwin Kishner is outstanding. He is friendly, accessible, and very knowledgeable relative to my needs.’
‘Irwin Kishner has been extremely knowledgeable on my specific needs relative to M&A activity. I would highly recommend his services to anyone.’

Key clients

New York Yankees; Yankee Global Enterprises LLC; Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network
Legends Hospitality Management, LLC
New York Racing Association
LIV Golf
New York Islanders Hockey Club
New York Mets; Sterling Equities; Sterling Entertainment Enterprises
Avenue Capital Group
Authentic Brands Group
D.C. United
Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority

Work highlights

Represented longtime client Mitchell Rechler, as Principal Owner and Chairman of Major League Soccer (“MLS”) NEXT Pro’s newest independent club to the League, The Island F.C., in the team’s launch.

Represented Three Space City Holdings, LLC in the acquisition of a franchise in BIG3, a three-on-three men's basketball league, in connection with the league's first sales of teams to third party investors.

Represented Avenue Sports Fund, an affiliate of Avenue Capital Group, respecting its equity investment in Mercury13, a multi-club ownership group focused on women’s football clubs in Europe and South America, which currently owns FC Como Women of Italy’s top-tier Serie A Femminile.