1. Who did Shohei Ohtani seek help from when his interpreter allegedly embezzled $17 million from him?
2. Whose representatives helped Patrick Mahomes with L.A.’s bid for the 2028 Olympics, negotiated equal pay for Alex Morgan, and enabled college athletes to profit from their names, images, and likenesses?
3. Notable for swift action both on and off the field as well as in court, the sports lawyers on THR‘s initial power list orchestrate billion-dollar transactions involving arena naming rights and acquisitions of professional teams – a burgeoning business interest among Hollywood figures – and create deals for sports documentaries and Super Bowl half-time shows. The honorees were selected based on their client rosters, groundbreaking cases, the scale of their negotiations, and their standing among peers.
Jeff Austin & Phil de Picciotto
Octagon’s founder, de Picciotto, manages a client roster exceeding 1,000 high-profile athletes and broadcasters, such as tennis greats and sports commentators. He was instrumental in banning tobacco sponsorship from professional tennis. Moreover, he played a significant role in Amazon’s pioneering streaming of Thursday Night Football. Meanwhile, ex-tennis player Austin shares leadership of the basketball division, which represents over 40 elite players, including MVPs and NBA champions like Stephen Curry and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
MOST THRILLING SPORTS VICTORY
AUSTIN ”The Warriors’ 2022 NBA title win over the Celtics.”
Blair Berk & Andrew Brettler
When Shohei Ohtani discovered that his interpreter had stolen around $17 million from him due to a gambling addiction, he sought help from the law firm Berk and Brettler, known for handling intricate legal issues such as criminal defense and defamation. The team collaborated with a federal prosecutor to safeguard Ohtani’s rights as a victim of grand theft. As a result, the interpreter received a sentence of nearly five years in prison.
CHILDHOOD IDOL
I was a college student in Chapel Hill, specifically a junior, who regularly attended Michael Jordan’s practices at Carmichael Auditorium.

Chris Cabott
In his role as CEO, he’s successfully negotiated contracts worth over $1 billion, among them agreements with sports stars like Mahomes and Jerry Jeudy from the Cleveland Browns. Furthermore, he’s assisted numerous clients in finalizing deals with prominent companies such as Nike, Adidas, Amazon, Netflix, and Visa. Moreover, under his guidance, some of these clients have gained ownership stakes in franchises across Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, and the National Women’s Soccer League.
“One of My Most Exciting Sports Achievements” “I’ve been fortunate enough to have clients who won five straight Super Bowl titles. It’s a mix of immense joy for those on the winning side and a deep sense of sympathy for those on the losing team.
Christopher R. Chase & Marcie Cleary
Chase played a crucial role in shaping the intellectual property plans for the International Olympic Committee during the Tokyo Games of 2021, the Paris Games of 2024, and the upcoming Los Angeles Games in 2028. Before he became the head coach of the Lakers in 2024, JJ Redick relied on Cleary to set up the co-production agreement for ThreeFourTwo Productions with SpringHill Entertainment, which led to him co-hosting the Mind the Game podcast alongside LeBron James.
In this version, the meaning and style of the original text are preserved while making the language more accessible and easy to read for a general audience.
MOST AGONIZING SPORTS DEFEAT
I’m still feeling the sting from my cherished UNC alma mater’s defeat against Villanova in the 2016 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship!
Ethan Cohan
Through his work with leagues like the MLS and NFL, production companies such as Pro Shop Studios (supported by the PGA Tour) and Box to Box Films – a leader in sports documentaries – Brian Cohan offers audiences an intimate look into the professional athlete’s business world. From Netflix’s series “Full Swing” and “Quarterback”, Apple TV+’s “Onside” about MLS, and Amazon Prime’s “Faceoff” on hockey, viewers can thank Cohan for these fascinating insights into the sports world.
MOVIE THAT GETS IT RIGHT “Rocky is close enough — the best sports movie of all time.”
Matt Dysart, Eric Perlmutter-Gumbiner & Jesse Saivar
Discuss collaboration: Saivar acts as legal advisor to media company Barstool Sports, while Perlmutter-Gumbiner and he supported Dave Portnoy’s acquisition of the company from Penn Entertainment for a precise $1. Additionally, Perlmutter-Gumbiner scored big with their client Jomboy Media by securing a new MLB partnership to create unique sports intellectual property. Dysart serves as legal counsel for news organization Front Office Sports, Teton Ridge (rodeo programmer), and Park Stories Productions, working together on an HBO docuseries about the World Cup next year.
MOVIE OR TV SHOW THAT GETS IT RIGHT
SAIVAR ”Friday Night Lights is one of the greatest TV series. This is fact, not opinion.”
Matthew Eisler & Michael Kuh
Over the last few years, I’ve been part of some pretty big sports deals, and Hogan Lovells has always been right there with me. For instance, Eisler and Kuh helped the Walton-Penner Family snag the Denver Broncos for a whopping $4.65 billion – that’s the second highest price ever paid for a pro team! The record holder? Well, that was in 2023 when Eisler advised Josh Harris’ group to pick up the Washington Commanders for an astounding $6.05 billion. Kuh also steered Ares Management towards buying MLB’s Baltimore Orioles for $1.725 billion and gave NBA star Russell Westbrook advice on acquiring a piece of Leeds United.
MOST AGONIZING SPORTS DEFEAT
Super Bowl XLVIII between the Broncos and Seahawks in 2014 was not so much a sporting event, but rather a court case seeking compensation for emotional distress. The Seahawks emerged victorious with a significant score of 43-8.
Eric Geffner & Irwin Raij
As a gamer speaking about my experiences, I recently had the privilege of being part of history-making deals in sports. For Angel City FC, I helped seal a groundbreaking $250 million transaction, making them the first majority female-owned and -managed professional soccer team led by Natalie Portman, Willow Bay, and Bob Iger. On another front, I assisted Monumental Sports & Entertainment, owners of Washington teams and Capital One Arena, in securing a strategic $515 million partnership for D.C.’s downtown stadium revitalization project. It’s an honor to contribute to such transformative moments in sports!
MOVIE OR TV SHOW THAT GETS IT RIGHT
RAIJ ”Anxious to see F1, but I watch The Sandlot with my kids all the time.”
David Greenspan, Jeffrey Kessler & Cardelle Spangler
As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but marvel at the groundbreaking work Kessler and Greenspan have done. Their tireless efforts in securing a $2.75 billion settlement for college athletes in June has truly reshaped the landscape of sports. This historic antitrust case paves the way for players to not only profit from their school’s revenue but also earn compensation for their name, image, and likeness. Over the next decade, athletes stand to earn an astonishing $20 billion!
Greenspan’s representation of MLB Players Inc. against online sports books DraftKings and FanDuel was a game-changer. He successfully asserted that these platforms were using player likenesses without consent. Meanwhile, Spangler’s relentless pursuit of justice led to a significant victory in the fight for equal pay. As part of a landmark class action lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation, stars like Morgan and Megan Rapinoe now receive equal pay with their male counterparts, including World Cup earnings.
CHILDHOOD IDOL
SPANGLER ”Nadia Comaneci. Her perfect execution was inspiring.”

Mike Hill, Andrew Nightingale, John Playforth & Peter Zern
Various sports organizations frequently seek out these lawyers due to their numerous accomplishments. For instance, Hill successfully negotiated a $2 billion deal for the U.S. Tennis Association, granting ESPN exclusive rights to broadcast the U.S. Open until 2037. Moreover, he advised the NCAA on its $900 million contract that gave ESPN global rights to 40 championships. Nightingale and Zern assisted Justin Ishbia in setting up a plan for acquiring a potential majority stake in the MLB’s Chicago White Sox. Additionally, they helped the NFL create new regulations enabling selected private equity firms to own up to 10% of a team. Lastly, Playforth’s efforts led to overturning a $4.7 billion verdict against the NFL in an antitrust lawsuit filed by “Sunday Ticket” subscribers.
CHILDHOOD IDOL
NIGHTINGALE “Don Mattingly, the reason to watch the Yankees during some dark years.”
Jason Karlov
This year, Karlov negotiated the arrangement for Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl half-time performance, while last year he did the same for Rihanna’s show which unveiled her second pregnancy with A$AP Rocky. Notably, Karlov manages music rights across over 60 sports clubs, including those in the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, and MLS.
MOST THRILLING SPORTS VICTORY “Kerri Strug. Olympic moments are hard to beat.”

Arash Khalili & Brian Socolow
In Salt Lake City’s successful bid for the 2034 Winter Olympics, Khalili played a key role, not only supporting the event but also assisting Dwyane Wade in acquiring a share of the NBA’s Utah Jazz and WNBA’s Chicago Sky. Moreover, he represents eSports player Tyler “Ninja” Blevins. Meanwhile, Socolow has been instrumental in securing Simmons Bank’s naming rights for Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium and Frost Bank’s partnership with the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs. Additionally, he serves as a trusted advisor to Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, golfers Rickie Fowler and Rose Zhang, and Rob McElhenney’s More Better Industries, which jointly owns Wrexham AFC with Ryan Reynolds.
MOST THRILLING SPORTS VICTORY
The match-clinching touchdown pass thrown by Joe Montana in Super Bowl XXIII, which saw the San Francisco Niners defeat the Cincinnati Bengals with a final score of 20-16.
Adam Klein & Daniel Render
Klein has provided assistance to numerous teams across various sports leagues such as the Chicago Bulls and White Sox, Golden State Warriors, and Philadelphia Phillies, among others. His expertise extends to counseling a diverse array of MLB, NBA, NHL, and MLS clubs, stadiums, and investors on deals related to broadcast and sponsorship. Known as an authority in acquisitions and sales, Klein recently facilitated the 20-year partnership between the Browns and Huntington Bank, which includes the naming rights for Huntington Bank Field. Additionally, he assisted Blue Owl Capital Inc. in acquiring a majority stake in the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning.
MOVIE OR TV SHOW THAT GETS IT RIGHT
KLEIN “Hoosiers.”
Jason Krochak & Jon Oram
Present Krochak with the earnings! Krochak has been instrumental in some of the most significant recent sports transactions, such as representing the Patrick D. Bowlen Trust during the $4.65 billion sale of the Broncos, and counseling a limited partner in the Harris group’s $6 billion acquisition of the Commanders. Oram assisted Tom Brady and Tom Wagner with their investment in the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders. Collectively, they represented MLS in its contractual arrangements with Lionel Messi to play for Inter Miami FC.
MOVIE OR TV SHOW THAT GETS IT RIGHT
ORAM ”There is nothing wrong about Rudy.”
Mitchell Ostrove
As a dedicated enthusiast, I proudly stand as the representative for the L.A. Lakers and their esteemed Governor, Jeanie Buss, in off-court entertainment agreements. Recently, I’ve had the privilege of negotiating executive producer contracts for Jeanie Buss and Linda Rambis on Netflix’s hit show, “Running Point,” which has just been renewed for a second season. On top of that, I’m an accredited NFL agent for top-tier college athletes, ensuring they secure the most advantageous deals in the rapidly changing Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) landscape. Additionally, my clientele includes notable figures from the NASCAR community.
RIDE-OR-DIE TEAM “The Lakers, obviously!”
Frank Saviano, Adam Sullins & Chris Yates
Saviano provided guidance to Mark Cuban regarding the sale of his majority stake in the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks and facilitated a crucial agreement between Redbird Capital and the NFL for the creation of EverPass Media, a service that disseminates live sports content to commercial establishments. Sullins acted as legal counsel for Fubo during its merger with Disney’s Hulu Live TV, resulting in a sports-focused streaming multichannel video service that trails only YouTube in size. Simultaneously, Yates, an expert in sports antitrust lawsuits, is defending NASCAR against charges of monopolization brought by two racing teams, including one owned by Michael Jordan – a case that could significantly alter the future of stock car racing (it’s scheduled for trial in December).
RIDE-OR-DIE TEAM
YATES ”Arsenal, the pride of North London. My dad was from England.”
You can find this article in the July 9 edition of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Consider subscribing for more updates like this.
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