Several prominent legal and business professionals continue to shape the evolving landscape of the sports industry, representing athletes, teams, leagues, and related enterprises across a variety of legal and financial disciplines.

James Carlos McFall, partner at Foley & Lardner LLP, specializes in athlete rights, name, image, and likeness (NIL) compliance, and business litigation. A former collegiate athlete, McFall’s practice notably includes securing an injunction that allowed NBA player Anthony Black to compete in varsity athletics despite restrictions imposed by the University Interscholastic League in Texas. His work has established important legal precedents amid the NIL era, and he also plays an entrepreneurial role, co-leading ventures such as Lockerverse, a sports technology company participating in the Disney Accelerator program. Recently, McFall contributed to developing a new sports venture involving Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush.

At Covington & Burling LLP, Neema T. Sahni serves as partner and vice chair of the sports industry group. Sahni advises sports leagues, entertainment, and music firms on litigation risks and significant transactions. Drawing on prior experience at The Walt Disney Company, her current clients include the United States Tennis Association (USTA), which she represents in antitrust class-action litigation regarding player compensation. Sahni also played a central role in Covington’s defense of the NFL in litigation related to the Los Angeles Chargers’ relocation and was involved in negotiating the NFL’s $900 million “Thursday Night Football” rights deal with CBS and NBC. She secured a notable FCC trial victory for the Tennis Channel against Comcast and co-chairs Covington’s Entertainment and Media Industry Group as well as its Commercial Litigation Practice.

Thomas F. Smith, partner-in-charge of entertainment and music services at Prager Metis, oversees global tax, accounting, and business management for entertainment and sports clients. With over 25 years of experience, Smith advises clients on managing touring expenses, diversifying revenue, and implementing long-term financial strategies. He also leads cross-border service integrations, including through the firm’s London office, and has been recognized multiple times on leading industry lists for business managers.

Greenberg Glusker LLP features partners Eric Perlmutter-Gumbiner and Jesse Saivar, who bring extensive expertise in corporate transactions and intellectual property matters within the sports and media sectors. Perlmutter-Gumbiner has advised on high-profile sales and partnerships, including the Oakland Athletics' ownership sale, Barstool Sports’ transactions involving Penn Entertainment and founder Dave Portnoy, and strategic collaborations between media entities and professional sports organizations such as Major League Baseball and the NFL. Saivar leads the firm’s Intellectual Property, Digital Media & Technology Groups, with a portfolio covering complex IP negotiations for major athletes and sports media companies. His work includes overseeing IP matters connected to Steve Ballmer’s acquisition of the Los Angeles Clippers and negotiating deals involving the NFL, NBA, MLB, NFLPA, and Fanatics.

At MGO, business management partner Michael Meschures brings over two decades of experience in advising professional athletes in the NBA and MLB. Since joining MGO in 2017, he has helped clients reduce discretionary spending and optimize investments, with a focus on long-term financial returns. Meschures also serves on the board of a nonprofit advancing economic mobility for first-generation college students and remains active in his Los Angeles community.

Megan K. Smith of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is recognized for her work as a trial lawyer concentrating on sports, media, and California’s key industries. Smith advises franchise owners, athletes, and teams on litigation involving ownership disputes, labor matters, NIL contracts, and business conflicts. Her litigation practice spans diverse sectors including technology, finance, and entertainment. She holds memberships in organizations supporting women executives in media and entertainment and has received recognition from Benchmark Litigation and Legal 500 US.

Nima Mohebbi, a partner at Sidley Austin LLP, handles complex litigation at the nexus of sports, media, and gaming. He has represented the City of Pasadena and Rose Bowl Operating Company in disputes over UCLA’s proposed football relocation to SoFi Stadium, successfully preventing mandatory private arbitration. Mohebbi also represents Chess.com in agreements related to the inaugural Esports Nations Cup and defamation cases in the professional chess world that have garnered attention for a forthcoming film adaptation by A24. Additionally, he has represented NFL quarterback Tom Brady in legal actions concerning the unauthorized use of his name, image, and likeness in artificial intelligence applications.

Together, these professionals illustrate the multifaceted legal and financial challenges shaping modern sports and entertainment industries, navigating issues from athlete empowerment and IP rights to corporate transactions and complex litigation.