Sports
Jackson Walker’s sports attorneys have played an important role in shaping the sports industry. Members of our award winning team are regularly recognized by U.S. News–Best Lawyers® as some of the leading sports lawyers in the country.  We offer clients first-hand knowledge of the complex facets of the industry and a commitment to roll up our sleeves and work side by side with them to evaluate opportunities, identify potential issues, and plot strategies for the future.
Our broad roster of clients spans the spectrum of the sports sector, including:
- Professional, Olympic, collegiate, and high school athletes
- Collegiate and professional sports teams and their owners
- Sports franchises and governing bodies
- Olympic organizations
- Sports facilities
- Investor syndicates
We routinely counsel sports clients on a wide variety of legal matters that focus on:
- Player eligibility, discipline, anti-doping measures, defamation, and gender issues
- Contracts, endorsements, and sponsorship deals
- Investments in professional teams and clubs
- Intellectual property including trademark and copyright licenses, purchases, and consent agreements
- Media, content distribution, syndication, and rights negotiations
- Civil litigation, including defense of injuries on the playing field and advocacy of the sports activity doctrine
- Negotiation of sports facilities
- Counseling of privacy, wealth management, and tax planning
- Immigration
Jackson Walker’s deep roots within the business of sports offers clients a perspective from various angles within the industry. This is further highlighted by leadership roles within national and international sports governing bodies, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and other highly regarded sports organizations.
- Preparation and negotiation of various industry agreements
- Preparation and negotiation of sponsorship and athlete endorsement deals
- Intellectual property rights management issues for athletes and sports teams, including copyright, trademark, and right of publicity
- Sports industry dispute resolution, including sports contract disputes, intellectual property disputes, and right to compete grievances
Jackson Walker Advises Mark Cuban and Dallas Mavericks in Sale Transaction
A Jackson Walker team led by Brian Lidji and Kyle Hooper represented Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks in the sale of a controlling interest in the team to the families of Dr. Miriam Adelson and Sivan and Patrick Dumont.
Client Results • January 5, 2024
Jackson Walker Represents Investor Group in Ownership Expansion of Major League Soccer’s Newest Team, Austin FC
A Jackson Walker team represented an investor group including Eddie Margain, Matthew McConaughey, Marius Haas, and Bryan Sheffield in their investment in the Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion club Austin FC.
Client Results • September 12, 2019
Jackson Walker Secures Victory in Upper Deck’s Effort to Enforce Publicity Rights of Famous Athletes
Edwin Buffmire and Eric Wong secured a victory for our client Upper Deck, a California company and one of the leading trading card manufacturers in the United States, in their continuing effort to enforce publicity rights of famous athletes such as Michael Jordan against companies that seek to use their names and/or likeness without permission or compensation.
Client Results • October 19, 2018
Jackson Walker Wins Summary Judgment Dismissing Dynamo Stadium in Civil Rights Case
Jackson Walker secured a dismissal for Houston’s Dynamo Stadium LLC, manager of Houston’s major league soccer venue, in a civil rights lawsuit involving the waving of a Palestinian flag by an attendee at a Honduras v. Israel soccer game.
Client Results • November 23, 2015
Jackson Walker Represents Roger Clemens in Defamation Settlement
Jackson Walker helped former Major League Baseball pitcher Roger Clemens successfully resolve a defamation lawsuit brought by his former trainer, Brian McNamee, in a high-profile legal battle that has spanned more than seven years.
Client Results • April 2, 2015
Demi Williams Coles Joins Sports and Entertainment Law Fireside Chat Celebrating Women’s History Month
Demi Williams Coles took part in an inspiring all-women fireside chat in celebration of Women’s History Month. Hosted by the SMU Dedman Sports and Entertainment Law Association, the event brought together leading female attorneys in the sports industry to share their stories, career advice, and insights.
Speaking Engagements • April 1, 2025
October Highlights: Demi Williams Coles Leads NIL Discussions
During the month of October, Jackson Walker senior counsel Demi Williams Coles participated in three NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) events, providing valuable insights into this evolving legal landscape.
Speaking Engagements • December 27, 2024
Paris Olympics: Elite Competition, Extraordinary Athletes Turn Cynicism into Celebration | The Texas Lawbook
In this article featured in The Texas Lawbook, Bob Latham reflects on the transformative power of the Olympic Games, having witnessed it firsthand in Paris 2024, his fifth Games. Amid initial skepticism from Parisians and logistical challenges, the city’s unique energy and unity quickly took hold.
Insights • September 27, 2024
Chip Babcock Profiled in Best American Baseball Experts Society
“Chip has earned a reputation as one of the nation’s top litigators and has garnered many awards from many distinguished trial groups along the way. There are likely more achievements to come as he continues to practice full-time, but the interesting storyline to me is that despite all of his success in a notoriously adversarial profession, Chip remains a down-to-earth, hail-fellow-well-met, in the truest sense of the terms. That is exceedingly rare in the modern world of Rambo litigation.”
Mentions • February 29, 2024
Jackson Walker Earns 25 National and 134 Metro Rankings in 2024 Edition of “Best Law Firms”
Jackson Walker proudly announces the firm’s inclusion in the 2024 edition of Best Law Firms® by Best Lawyers. This year, Jackson Walker observed notable improvements in the national rankings, including the rise of Appellate Practice to Tier 1, Banking and Finance Law and Litigation – Labor and Employment to Tier 2, and the addition of Energy Law and Environmental Law in Tier 3.
Spotlight • November 2, 2023
