Irwin P. Raij

IRWIN RAIJ co-chairs Sidley’s Entertainment, Sports and Media industry group. Irwin focuses his practice on the business of sports. Irwin has handled matters involving the European Soccer Leagues, Major League Baseball (MLB), Minor League Baseball, Major League Soccer (MLS), the United Soccer League (USL), Series A, LaLiga, the National Basketball Association (NBA), the National Football League (NFL), the National Hockey League (NHL), the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), and Formula 1 events. This includes representing clients in sports-anchored public-private partnerships for both professional and collegiate stadiums and related ancillary development, construction, and financing. His practice also includes representing both buyers and sellers of sports franchises in professional sports leagues, media rights, concessions and promotional and advertising agreements (including naming rights, merchandising, and operational agreements). Irwin also has experience handling RSN formation, sports technology counseling/ventures, stadium service agreements, ticketing arrangements, and television, radio, and media rights agreements. His clients include individuals, leagues, teams, universities, financial institutions, and local and state government.

Irwin has received a variety of awards for his experience in sports law and business. Chambers USA has recognized him for Sports Law in USA - Nationwide since 2014. He was recognized by Latino Leaders Magazine as a “Top Latino Lawyer” (2025) and was selected as one of Sports Business Journal’s “Power Players: Sports Lawyers & Outside Counsel” in 2016 and 2021. He was recognized by Legal 500 United States for his work in sports law in 2010 and 2014–2021, and for media and entertainment law in 2018. Who’s Who Legal: Sports and Gaming recognized Irwin in 2023. He was also recognized by Who’s Who Legal: Sports and Entertainment in 2015 and 2018–2019. Law360 named Irwin a “Sports & Betting MVP” in 2022 and 2023 and a “Sports MVP” in 2018. In 2011, Irwin was named in the Sports Business Journal Daily’s “40 Under 40” list.

Irwin’s other recognitions include being named one of The American Lawyer’s “Dealmakers of the Year” in 2019 and as a “Dealmaker” in Variety’s Dealmakers Elite: New York in 2017 and 2018. He was also recognized by the South Florida Daily Business Review as the 2012 “Top Dealmaker of the Year” in the Corporate Domestic category, and by the Washingtonian’s list of “Washington’s Top Lawyers” in 2011 and 2013.

Prior to joining Sidley, he was a partner at another international law firm, where he served as the co-chair for its Entertainment Sports and Media industry team. Irwin also served as assistant counsel to the Gore/Lieberman presidential campaign, where he was responsible for compliance with Federal Election Commission regulations, drafting committee contracts and leases, conducting research, and providing other legal guidance. He also served as an attorney in the White House Office of Counsel to the President and later as associate counsel in the White House Office of Counsel to the Vice President. Irwin started his legal career as an adviser for the Department of Housing & Urban Development, and returned to that Department to serve as special assistant in the office of the general counsel and as acting managing attorney for the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Department.

Mergers & Acquisitions

• Represented a minority investor in connection with an investment of 5% in the New England Patriots NFL franchise, with a valuation of over US$9 billion. The historic sale represents the first time Patriots owner Robert Kraft has sold any part of the team since he acquired it for US$172 million in 1994, and it took place alongside a simultaneous 3% sale to private equity firm Sixth Street.
• Represented investors in the Josh Harris-led consortium in their record-breaking US$6.05 billion acquisition the NFL’s Washington Commanders.
• Represented co-lead investor Gabe Plotkin in the consortium purchasing the controlling stake of the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets from Michael Jordan. The transaction is valued at approximately US$3 billion.
• Represented David Tepper, founder and president of global hedge fund Appaloosa Management, in his US$2.275 billion acquisition of the NFL Carolina Panthers.
• Represented the Atlanta Braves on the sale of three of its minor league affiliates: the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers, the Double-A Mississippi Braves, and the High-A Rome Braves to Endeavor Group.
• Represented the Portland Sea Dogs in its sale to Diamond Baseball Holdings. 
• Represented SWB Investors LLC in its sale of the New York Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, to Endeavor Group.
• Represented David Tepper and Tepper Sports and Entertainment in their acquisition of Major League Soccer’s 30th expansion team for the City of Charlotte, NC.
• Represented The Friedkin Group, Inc., in its acquisition of a controlling stake in the professional Italian Serie A football club AS Roma.
• Advised the Oakland Roots Sports Club, a professional soccer team, on an agreement to become a member of the USL.
• Represented New Meta Entertainment, a Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment (HBSE)-controlled entity (owner of the New Jersey Devils and the Philadelphia 76ers), in forming an esports joint venture between HBSE, the Houston Rockets, and a number of third-party minority investors. In the transaction, the Rockets contributed to CC eSports, LLC, owner of the “Clutch Gaming” League of Legends franchise, and HBSE contributed to Dignitas Esports LLC, an esports company with holdings of six esports franchises.
• Represented New Meta Entertainment in its joint venture with social media owner and operator Wave.tv, to create entity 1337 Entertainment.
• Advised Palace Sports & Entertainment in connection with its bid for an MLS expansion team for Detroit.
• Represented Albert Friedberg in connection with the acquisition and ultimate sale of a minority interest in Orlando City SC.
• Led the team that represented Guggenheim Baseball Management (headed by Mark Walter, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Stan Kasten, and Peter Guber, among others) in the acquisition of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
• Represented Rangers Baseball Express (the investment group led by Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan) in its acquisition of the Texas Rangers.
• Represented former Milwaukee Bucks president and owner Herbert Kohl in the US$550 million sale of the basketball franchise to New York investment firm executives Marc Lasry and Wesley Edens.
• Represented the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation in negotiations for its new management agreement and related sale option of the Citi Open with Washington, D.C.-based venture capitalist and entrepreneur Mark Ein.
• Multiple additional representations of individuals seeking minority or majority interests in professional teams in various major leagues.

Stadiums and Related Development

• Represented a financial institution in connection with an amended and restated credit facility to finance a Formula 1 race and related course improvements.
• Represented the State of New York/Empire State Development as lead counsel in its high-profile public-private partnership with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills to build a new US$1.54 billion state-of-the-art, 60,000-plus-seat stadium in Orchard Park, NY.
• Representing the City of Jacksonville in its negotiations with the Jacksonville Jaguars on stadium and ancillary development matters. 
• Representing the NFL Washington Commanders in connection with matters related to development of a new stadium and ancillary development, including relevant negotiations, financing, and leases.
• Represented U.S.-based private equity fund sponsor, a leading alternative asset management firm, in its joint venture agreement with Oak View Group, LLC for the renovation and operation of the Baltimore Arena.
• Representing NWSL Kansas City Current, Kansas City’s professional women’s soccer team, on its development of a new, 11,000-seater stadium, which will be the first stadium developed primarily for a women’s pro soccer team in the U.S.
• Represented Kansas City Current in its development of a new US$15 million training facility in Riverside, Missouri.
• Represented NFL Carolina Panthers and owner David Tepper in the development of a state-of-the-art training center, headquarters, and mixed-use development in South Carolina.
• Represented the City of Miami in its successful negotiations with new MLS franchise Inter Miami CF to build a 25,000-seat soccer stadium and ancillary development.
• Providing advice and counsel to the City of Portland’s local business community in connection with bringing an MLB franchise to the city, including a proposed acquisition, a related stadium, and ancillary development.
• Represented the state of Hawaii’s Aloha Stadium Authority in the development of a new Aloha Stadium and a related ancillary development project.
• Represented Syracuse University in sports facility development matters, including stadium financing and project management.
• Representing Tampa Sports Authority in its ongoing efforts to build a new ballpark for the Tampa Bay Rays.
• Representing multiple state and local governments regarding stadium development and financing matters related to development or renovation of stadiums.
• Advised IMG regarding an agreement with the Miami Dolphins to relocate the Miami Tennis Open to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
• Represented the West Villages Improvement District with respect to the development of a spring training facility for the Atlanta Braves in Sarasota, Florida.
• Represented the City of Atlanta and the Fulton County Recreation Authority regarding an arena operating agreement and a non-relocation agreement in connection with the US$190 million State Farm Arena (formerly Philips Arena) renovation, home to the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks.
• Represented the MLB in its successful efforts to relocate the Montreal Expos, now the Washington Nationals, to Washington, DC; and separately in all matters related to the construction of the new, more than US$600 million ballpark for the team.
• Represented the MLB in its successful efforts to facilitate the negotiation and approval of a new stadium for the Miami Marlins.
• Appointed by MLB Commissioner Bud Selig to serve on a three-person committee to determine the feasibility of developing a new stadium for the Oakland A’s in Northern California.
• Assisted with matters related to the development of the Milwaukee Bucks’ new arena and ancillary development.
• Counseled New York State in support of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s efforts to keep the Buffalo Bills in Buffalo, including the assessment of a new building and successfully negotiating a lease extension and non-relocation agreement.
• Represented the Orlando City Soccer Club with respect to stadium agreements for its original site.
• Served as a member of the Sacramento First Task Force, which assisted the city with evaluating options for the new Sacramento Kings arena.

Media, Sponsorship, and Licensing

• Represented Syracuse University in its successful efforts to negotiate a new naming rights partner for its on campus arena.
• Represented green financial services company Aspiration on its multiyear partnership with the LA Clippers to serve as the first Founding Partner of the Intuit Dome, the future home of the Clippers. Also represented Aspiration in its multiyear agreement with the Boston Red Sox.
• Represented the University of Miami on its basketball arena naming rights deal with Watsco.
• Represented Syracuse University in its negotiations for a new naming rights agreement for the campus arena.
• Advised the Kansas City Royals on a new multiyear media rights agreement with Sinclair Broadcast Group for FOX Sports Kansas City to continue as the television home of the Royals.
• Represented Combate Americas, the first U.S. Hispanic mixed martial arts sports franchise, in connection with a multiyear media rights deal with DAZN, the live-streaming service of Perform Group, in which DAZN will be the exclusive provider of Combate Americas’ English-language broadcasts in the United States and Canada.
• Represented LaLiga, the Spanish soccer league, in its joint venture with Relevent Sports to commercialize its media, sponsorship, and licensing rights in North America.
• Represented Guggenheim Baseball Management (the ownership group for the Los Angeles Dodgers) in the formation of American Media Productions, LLC (AMP), which launched SportsNet LA and the related media agreement between the Dodgers and AMP to air Dodgers games.
• Represented the University of Oregon in its US$57 million multimedia rights deal with IMG College.
• Represented Syracuse University in its negotiation with IMG College for its multimedia license agreement.
• Represented Combate Americas in its agreement with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to air events on UFC Fight Pass, UFC’s over-the-top digital streaming service.

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

• Member of Board of Directors of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation
• Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, Executive Leadership Program Certification, 2025
• Former member of National Board of Directors for the Development Corporation for Israel
• Board of Advisors for the University of Miami School of Law’s Graduate Program in Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law
• Former Board of Directors of the Washington DC Jewish Community Center and the Greater Washington Jewish Federation (2013 and 2014)
• Former member of the Jewish Federation of North America’s National Young Leadership Cabinet and the Israel Bonds New Leadership Board
• Former member of the National Alumni Association Board of the University of Miami, and member of Iron Arrow Honor Society
• Former member of the Board of Directors of Amigos for Kids®, a Florida nonprofit