Charles H. Baker

CHARLES BAKER co-chairs Sidley’s Entertainment, Sports and Media industry group. Chuck represents investors in professional sports businesses and teams and advises on sports and entertainment transactions.

With decades of experience in the sports industry, Chuck has represented franchise owners across multiple leagues, including the National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB), Major League Soccer (MLS), the National Basketball Association (NBA), the National Hockey League (NHL), the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), Liga MX, and multiple European football leagues. He advised on the record-breaking US$6.05B purchase of the Washington Commanders, the acquisition of the Charlotte Hornets, and the acquisition of the NWSL’s Chicago Red Stars. Chuck also represented the owners of Angel City FC and KC Current soccer franchises, in their expansion into the NWSL and Angel City’s sale to Willow Bay and Bob Iger. In 2023, he represented the owners of the Premier Hockey Federation, the top international women’s hockey league, in their sale to launch the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), as well as the Professional Fighters League (PFL), in their investment by SURJ Sports Investment of Saudi Arabia and the acquisition of Bellator MMA from Paramount Global.

Chuck has been highly recognized in the field of sports and entertainment law by multiple national publications. Law360 ranked him as an “MVP” for Sports & Betting (2024, 2020), and Sports Business Journal named him to their 2021 “Power Players” list. He was also listed in Who’s Who Legal: Sports & Gaming (2024, 2023), and The National Law Journal named him to its 2022 list of “Sports/Gaming/Entertainment Law Trailblazers.” In 2019, Chuck was named to The American Lawyer’s “Dealmakers of the Year” and Variety profiled him in “Dealmakers Elite New York” in 2018 and 2017. His extensive knowledge and experience have consistently earned him recognition by Chambers USA for Sports Law (2011–2025), where he has been described as a “very smart and astute transactional lawyer” and a “very strong practitioner” who is “well connected, incredibly bright and just able to get the deal closed” with “tremendous experience and know-how in the sports space.” Chuck’s work has earned him recognition in The Best Lawyers in America® for Sports Law (2026).

Chuck is a founder of Blue Crow Sports Group, a multi-club ownership group, which owns Leganés (La Liga), Cancún FC (Liga MX), and Le Havre (Ligue 1). He is an active board member for the March of Dimes and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Chuck is also an adjunct professor and advisory board member of the University of Miami School of Law’s Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. degree program and a distinguished lecturer at NYU’s Tisch Institute for Sports Management, Media, and Business. He was also a staff associate for former Senator Bill Bradley.

Prior to joining Sidley, Chuck was a partner at another international law firm, where he served as the co-chair of its sports industry group.

Sports Team M&A Experience

• Matt Hulsizer and Jenny Just, co-founders and managing partners of PEAK6 Investments LLC, in their investment in Austin FC.
• An investor in the consortium led by Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore, that acquired a controlling interest in the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and WNBA’s Lynx.
• Angel City FC (ACFC) and its ownership group, including in: (i) securing the expansion rights to launch the National Women's Soccer League's (NWSL’s 11th team in Los Angeles in 2022 and (ii) equity financing matters, including ACFC’s 2024 control sale transaction with Willow Bay and Bob Iger, that valued the team at US$250 million.
• Emirates Team New Zealand, America’s Cup Defender, in connection with agreement to launch the America’s Cup Partnership, an innovative venture that will operate the 38th Louis Vuitton America’s Cup and future editions of the event.
• World Sevens Football in connection with the creation and launch of new global 7-on-7 women’s soccer competition series.
• Heath Freeman, a media, sports, real estate, and hospitality executive, in the acquisition of the second-ever location-based BIG3 franchise in Miami.
• A diverse group led by Laura Ricketts and other prominent Chicago women business and civic leaders, in its acquisition of the Chicago Red Stars NWSL franchise, valued at US$60 million.
• Spanos Family, in sale of significant minority interest in San Diego Chargers to Tom Gores.
• Various investors in connection with minority ownership interests in NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills, and Las Vegas Raiders.
• American consortium on its investment into Paris FC and subsequent sale to LVMH’s Arnault family and Red Bull.
• Multiple investors, including Mitch Rales and Magic Johnson, in the Josh Harris-led consortium in the acquisition of the Washington Commanders of the NFL from the Snyder family.
• Eric Church as a member of the investment consortium in the controlling stake acquisition of the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets from Michael Jordan.
• Jeff Skoll, in connection with his minority investment in Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns and operates the Washington Wizards, Washington Capitals, and Washington Mystics.
• Private equity firm Arctos Sports Partners in minority investments in the National Hockey League (NHL) and National Basketball Association (NBA) franchises.
• Todd Boehly, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Eldridge Industries, LLC, in his acquisition of a minority interest in the Los Angeles Lakers NBA franchise.
• Minority investors in purchase of interest in MLB’s Cleveland Guardians.
• David Tepper, founder and president of global hedge fund Appaloosa Management, in his US$2.275 billion acquisition of the NFL Carolina Panthers.
• An ownership group led by wife and husband team Angie and Chris Long, in their successful expansion bid for the NWSL’s KC Current.
• Kevin Durant, in joining the ownership group of the MLS Philadelphia Union and a partnership with Thirty Five Ventures.
• David Tepper, in his acquisition of Charlotte FC, Major League Soccer’s 30th expansion team for Charlotte, NC.
• Investors in a 49ers Enterprises investment in EPL Club Leeds United.
• Investors, including Hollywood producers Jerry Bruckheimer, Harry Sloan, and David Nathanson, in David Bonderman and Oak View Group’s acquisition of the Seattle Kraken, the NHL’s most recent expansion team.
• Meg Whitman and Dr. Griff Harsh, in their acquisition of a minority interest in MLS’s Cincinnati FC.
• An investor group in the acquisition of a minority interest in MLS’s Seattle Sounders FC.
• An investor in connection with a controlling interest in the Brooklyn Nets NBA franchise.
• Joe Tsai and Blue Pool Capital, in the acquisition of the San Diego Seals, a National Lacrosse League expansion team.
• Private equity investors in the acquisition of MLS’s LAFC.
• Advised Palace Sports & Entertainment, in connection with its bid for an MLS expansion team for Detroit.
• Owners of Atlanta Hawks, in an auctioned sale of NBA team and operating rights to Philips Arena.
• Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur M. Blank, in the acquisition of the Atlanta United Football Club.
• Abu Dhabi United Group and Manchester City F.C., in their acquisition, with the New York Yankees, of the New York City Football Club, MLS’s 20th expansion club.
• Investors in the purchase of a minority interest in the Oakland Raiders.
• Investor groups in the potential acquisitions of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tennessee Titans, New York Mets, and Golden State Warriors.
• Atlanta Spirit Group, in the sale of the Atlanta Thrashers to True North Sports and relocation to Winnipeg, Manitoba.
• Stephen Ross, in the purchase of the Miami Dolphins football franchise and Hard Rock Stadium.
• Investors in the purchase of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils.

Entertainment, Sports and Media Experience

• The Greg Norman Company, in LIV Golf Investments’ joint venture with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund.
• Ariel Investments Project Level, in its investment in the NWSL’s Denver Summit, the league’s 16th franchise set to debut in 2026.
• Ariel Investments Project Level, in its investment in League One Volleyball (LOVB), a pioneering organization building a nationwide network of youth volleyball clubs and professional leagues.
• Chess.com, in a multiyear partnership agreement with the Esports World Cup Foundation, the organizer of the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC), an affiliate of the Saudia Arabia Public Investment Fund.
• Owners of the Premier Hockey Federation, the top international women’s professional hockey league, in the launch of a new North American women’s professional hockey league.
• The Professional Fighters League (PFL), in the acquisition of Bellator from Paramount Global.
• Monarch Collective, a new US$100 million investment fund focused exclusively on women’s professional sports, that will make investments in women’s sports teams, leagues, and related revenue streams, such as licensing and media.
• Mercury 13 Holdco, Inc., in its launch of a US$100 million fund to acquire controlling stakes in women’s professional sports teams in Europe and Latin America.
• fuboTV, the leading sports-first live TV streaming platform, in its acquisition of Molotov SAS, France’s number-one live TV streaming company.
• Genius Sports, in its acquisition of Second Spectrum, a leading provider of cutting-edge data tracking and visualization solutions.
• ReKTGlobal, Inc., an esports company, in the acquisition of Rogue, a Steve Aoki-backed, Las Vegas-based esports team, and a European Riot Games League of Legends franchise.
• Leading online youth sports media company STACK Media, Inc., on its sale to Genstar-backed Blue Star Sports.
• Fila Korea, in its acquisition of the global footwear and apparel business from Cerberus Capital.
• Genius Sports, in its multiyear partnership with the NFL to become the exclusive distributor of the League’s official sports betting data feed to media companies and sports betting operators globally.
• Genius Sports, in a landmark strategic partnership with the CFL, the second-largest football league globally.
• ReKT Global, in its US$470 million merger with metaverse pioneer Infinite Reality.
• Sorare, Inc., in a partnership agreement with MLS as the League’s official non-fungible token (NFT) fantasy game.
• Sportstek Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), in its formation and initial public offering.
• game1, a cutting-edge sports content studio, in a Series A equity raise, and commercial matters, including production and other entertainment deals.
• Athletes Unlimited and its co-founders Jon Patricof and Jonathan Soros in league formation, an equity raise, and a strategic plan to disrupt women’s league structures and athlete empowerment with an innovative model of competition and ownership.
• A.S. Roma Football Club and Raptor Sports Group, in a majority equity capital raise.
• Manchester City F.C., in a kit sponsorship deal with Nike Inc.
• fuboTV, the leading sports-first live TV streaming platform, in its investment in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships, Inc.

Non-Sports Matters

• Eldridge Industries, a leading investment firm and partner in Fulwell 73, in its merger with the SpringHill Company.
• Eldridge Industries, in its acquisition alongside Dick Clark Productions, of the Golden Globes’ from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
• Union Square Hospitality Group, in connection with a Food and Beverage Operating Agreement with the King & Grove hotel chain.
• Frame Denim, in its sale to private equity investors.
• Dubai World, in its minority investment in MGM Mirage and joint venture in the Las Vegas CityCenter development project.

Some of the above matters were handled prior to joining Sidley.

• Law360 Sports & Betting Editorial Advisory Board
• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Executive Officer and Director
• March of Dimes, Board of Trustees, Sports Luncheon Committee
• Sports Data Lab, Advisory Board
• Horizm, Advisory Board
• Brand Velocity Group, Advisory Board
• University of Miami School of Law, Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Board
• USA Triathlon, Independent Director, Board of Directors (previous)