Road to LA28
At Sidley, some of our lawyers know what it takes to compete on the world stage, not just in the courtroom. Over the years, the firm has been home to talented lawyers and athletes who have worn the colors of Team USA at the Paralympic Games, carrying the same determination, focus, and competitive spirit into their legal careers.
For San Francisco-based partner Beth Hardcastle, that journey began in an unexpected way. After a car accident at age 14 left her partially paralyzed, Beth took up swimming as part of her rehabilitation. What started as a way to recover quickly became a passion that ultimately took her to the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games, where she competed for Team USA in the 50- and 100-meter freestyle and backstroke events. Today, she draws on that dedication and discipline in her work in Sidley’s Healthcare practice.
Managing associate Matthew Simpson discovered his love for goalball at just 10 years old. Born with a condition that affected his vision from an early age, Matthew found a sport that would take him around the world. He earned a silver medal with Team USA at the 2016 Rio Paralympics before competing again in Tokyo in 2021. At the time, he was also a first-year associate at Sidley, balancing the demands of training and international competition with the start of his legal career. He returned to the Paralympic stage for a third time in Paris in 2024 while building his transportation practice at the firm. That competitive spirit extends to another managing associate Brandon Bryer, a former collegiate rifle athlete who earned five all-conference honors and competed individually at the U.S. Junior Olympics and the 2019 NCAA Division I National Championship.
Through the firm’s Pro Bono Fellowship Program, three Sidley lawyers have also worked directly with LA28, the organizing committee preparing to bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games to Los Angeles in 2028. Alongside LA28’s cross-functional and commercial sponsorship teams, they have provided legal counsel on transactional matters, key agreements, and other initiatives leading up to the Games.
Each of these experiences tells a distinct story, but they share a common thread: a commitment to athletics, perseverance, and making an impact beyond the day-to-day practice of law. As Los Angeles prepares to welcome the world in 2028, we’re proud to be an Official Legal Services Provider of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Team USA, building on our longstanding connection to the Olympic and Paralympic movements — in and out of the courtroom.
