Arent Fox Serves as Counsel to Brooklyn Nets on Media Rights Deal with YES Network

Arent Fox Sports leader Richard L. Brand and Jeffrey B. Gewirtz, Executive Vice President of Business Affairs and Chief Legal Officer of the Brooklyn Nets, supported Brooklyn Nets CEO Brett Yormark, who was the team’s lead negotiator. Arent Fox associate Kelli A. Scheid also worked on the transaction. Arent Fox has a longstanding relationship as counsel to the Brooklyn Nets and recently was involved with the team’s negotiations for a new multi-million dollar training facility in Brooklyn’s Industry City development.
 
The regional YES Network, owned by Fox Sports, has broadcast Brooklyn Nets games since its inception in 2002 and is now recognized as the nation’s number one regional sports network.
 
Earlier this year, Arent Fox was cited by the leading global referral guide Legal 500 as its “Sports Practice of the Year.” The firm is well known for its experience in representing both teams and arenas in naming rights and sponsorships transactions, as well as negotiating media and digital rights for teams.
 
Mr. Brand, recognized as a leading sports attorney by Chambers USA, Legal 500 and US News & World Report, is frequently featured on the Yes Network’s Forbes SportsMoney talk show and has appeared on CNN, Fox Sports and other national television and radio broadcasts. Mr. Brand represents numerous professional teams in all facets of their operations. He and his team focus on naming rights and sponsorships (on both the sponsor side and the team and arena side), media rights, acquisitions of professional sports franchises, arena/stadium licenses, executive contracts, concession agreements, suite and club seat licenses, and financings for teams and facilities.
 
From coast to coast, Arent Fox boasts one of the most experienced and diverse sports law practices in the country, with clients spanning individuals and team sports in major league, minor league and amateur sports. The group regularly advises companies and organizations in football, baseball, basketball, tennis, cycling, hockey, soccer, wrestling, collegiate and high school sports and the Olympics on a wide array of issues, including those involving acquisitions and sales of teams, property and event companies, financings, media and technology agreements, intellectual property matters, and naming rights and other sponsorship transactions.