Balch Sports - Corporate & Compliance

Balch Sports’ Corporate & Compliance team addresses the growing number of legal issues facing the sports industry, including rights negotiations, audits, compliance, and corporate governance. Our accomplished team, led by Partner, Jonathan Hoffmann, is adept at determining issues and addressing them effectively because we take the time to understand our clients, their challenges, and their strengths in order to provide tailored, practical, and effective advice that is translated into actionable, plain English. 

We excel at advising large multi-sport events, having served as outside general counsel to host committees for the World Games, World Police & Fire Games and Transplant Games. Over and above contract negotiations regarding venues, sponsorships, and broadcasting, we have handled negotiations with international federations and rights holders. We are involved in strategic planning and provide advice on corporate governance, particularly in light of uncertainty and change. Additionally, Balch Sports' Corporate & Compliance practice has deep experience advising committees and organizations on intellectual property rights protection and monetization. 

Our extensive sports-related capabilities have been developed through the deep trust that we immediately gain with our clients. This has enabled us to handle a wide range of issues clients face, building and drawing upon experience related to collective bargaining, antitrust reviews, nationwide litigation management and strategy, existential budget shortfalls, lobbying and legislation drafting, and multimedia rights.

Balch Sports regularly assists non-profit sport organizations, as well as National Governing Bodies (NGBs) on policy auditing and investigations, training, risk mitigation, contract negotiations, and crisis management when necessary. Having formed NGBs and worked extensively with non-profits, we’re attuned to the unique needs of these organizations and context in which they operate. 

Core capabilities include:

• Rights Management & Negotiation
• Litigation Management & Mitigation
• Compliance Review
• Corporate Governance
• Intellectual Property & Technology
• Data Privacy & Management
• Audit & Investigation