"[Brings] great experience, is thorough, most responsive, a balanced negotiator and overall very good at managing process and people."
The Legal 500 US 2024
Leading Lawyer ‒ Sport
The Legal 500 US 2024
"Adam Sullins is an exceptional transactional lawyer. In addition to his outstanding technical legal skills, he’s a highly effective negotiator who is able to engage with counterparties to find practical solutions and close deals."
The Legal 500 US 2023
"Great at entertainment transactions and extremely helpful on the commercial side."
The Legal 500 US 2023
"Adam is an outstanding transactional attorney. In addition to extensive technical legal skills, he is extremely effective and engaging."
Chambers USA 2023
"He is outstanding in every way."
Chambers USA 2022
MVP of the Year – Sports & Betting
Law360 2020, 2022
"It's great having someone that has specific industry expertise."
Chambers USA 2021
Profile
Adam Sullins is Global Co-Chair of the firm's Entertainment, Sports & Media Practice and Industry Groups. He represents sports teams, owners and investors, media companies, corporate sponsors, as well as leagues, players associations, governing bodies, and athletes on a full spectrum of matters across the sports industry.
With many years of sports industry experience, Adam regularly advises on:
Acquisition and sale of ownership stakes in sports franchises (including expansion efforts) and other companies
Broadcast and new media deals
Corporate sponsorship, endorsement, and other commercial deals
Strategic ventures
Licensing
League ownership rules and regulations
esports transactions
Experience
Sponsorship & Naming Rights
Hard Rock Digital in new sponsorship agreements with the Florida Panthers of the NHL, NASCAR, and the Daytona International Speedway
GOAT on a multiyear global partnership with Paris Saint-Germain FC to become the new official sleeve partner
Intuit in an exclusive naming rights partnership with the LA Clippers
Caesars Entertainment in an exclusive naming-rights partnership with the New Orleans Saints to rebrand their stadium as the Caesars Superdome
Caesars Entertainment in a multi-year agreement integrating Caesar's partner, William Hill, across ESPN digital platforms
Postmates in an exclusive multi-year sponsorship agreement with the NFL
Meta on its appointment as sponsor of the Rugby World Cup France 2023
888 Holdings in an exclusive US sports betting and gaming partnership with Authentic Brands Group’s Sports Illustrated
Self Financial on team jersey sponsorships with the San Antonio Spurs
National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in its league-wide corporate sponsorship agreement with A&E Networks
Caesars Entertainment in various sponsorship and hospitality deals with sports leagues and NFL, MLB, and MLS teams
Sports & Media Rights
All Elite Wrestling on its multi-year, multi-platform media rights agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery
Amazon Prime Video in connection with its landmark media rights deal with the NBA
Buzzer in short form live content agreements with the PGA TOUR and for National Hockey League games
National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in its national media rights deal with A&E Networks
DraftKings, Inc. in its broadcast commercial agreements with ESPN, Fox, and the NFL Network
The NCAA in its eight-year, US$8.8 billion multimedia rights agreement with CBS Sports and Turner Broadcasting for the Division I Men’s Basketball Championship
Facebook in its acquisition of sports distribution rights across the globe, including for events such as UEFA Champions League, CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores, La Liga, and ICC
Arizona Diamondbacks on its multi-year broadcast and media agreement with Fox Sports and related matters
Univision Communications on various types of sports matters, including its exclusive Spanish language broadcast rights for FIFA, UEFA, USSF, MLS, and CONCACAF
Tencent Holdings Limited in various media agreements with the NBA, FIBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, and ESPN
US Figure Skating Association in a broadcast agreement with NBC Sports
Dapper Labs on a long-term renewal with the NBA for the NBA Top Shot NFT product and related equity grants
Greenfly, Inc., a provider of online engagement apps, in various licensing agreements with Nike, Manchester City Football Club, Liverpool Football Club, Paris Saint-Germain Football Club, the NBA, NBC Sports, and others
Anaheim Ducks on its multi-year broadcast and media agreement with Fox Sports
Other Commercial Rights
World Surf League in its agreements to bring WSL tour events to a newly built man-made wave venue in the UAE
World Surf League in a licensing agreement for us of WSL intellectual property and branding
FIFA in connection with the host city selection for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and related matters
FIFA and the United States Soccer Federation in the host city selection process for the 2026 World Cup hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico
The General Sports Authority on hosting new World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) events in the Middle East, as well as related broadcasting and sponsorship rights, as well as related broadcasting and sponsorship rights
Team M&A and Strategic Investments
Nicole Padgett in the acquisition of an ownership interest in the Tampa Bay Lightning of the NHL
Connecticut Sports Group’s MLS NEXT Pro Expansion Team
Blue Owl HomeCourt Partners purchase of a majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets
Tom Brady in his acquisition of a minority stake in the Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA
A consortium led by Todd Boehly, chairman and CEO of Eldridge, and Clearlake Capital Group, L.P., on its acquisition of Chelsea Football Club
Acquisition by Stormlight Holdings of a minority stake in Swansea City A.F.C., a Wales-based football club
Silver Lake on its US$500 million strategic investment in City Football Group
Dyal Capital in its acquisition of a minority stake in the Sacramento Kings
The Silverstein Family in its investment in DC United
NWSL in a transaction involving investment in the league by A&E Networks, including the formation of a new strategic joint venture
Sports and Media Strategic M&A & Joint Ventures
Skydance Media in its partnership with the NFL and NFL Films to create the premier global multi-sports production studio in the industry, Skydance Sports
Howard Hughes Holdings in certain MLB matters in connection with the spinoff of the Las Vegas Aviators into a new publicly-traded entity
Endeavor in connection with the sale of various sports businesses to TKO
Amazon in its investment in Diamond Sports Group
NFL Players Association in the initial formation of a joint venture with Redbird Capital, and subsequent recapitalization with OneTeam Partners
Silver Lake on its investment in the new trading cards business launched by sports retailer Fanatics Trading Cards
Endeavor in its acquisition of On Location Experiences, a provider of ticketing, hospitality, live event production and travel management services to the sports and entertainment industries
Sinclair Broadcast Group in its acquisition of 21 Regional Sports Networks from The Walt Disney Company
Sinclair Broadcast Group in the formation of a joint venture (Marquee Sports Network) with the Chicago Cubs, and license by the network of broadcast rights to Cubs games and programming
Sinclair Broadcast Group in the acquisition of YES Network, along with the New York Yankees and other equity partners
Global Co-Chair of the Entertainment, Sports & Media practice and Vice Chair of the Entertainment, Sports & Media Industry Group honored for securing Caesars Entertainment the naming rights to the Superdome in New Orleans and helping the US secure its bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Entertainment, Sports & Media partners Adam Sullins and Frank Saviano discuss with Bloomberg Law how private equity investments in non-traditional sports are driving significant M&A activity in the sector.
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