Entertainment & Sports

/Overview

Entertainment and sports law sits at the crossroads of culture, commerce, and innovation. Nixon Peabody advises clients across these industries to structure deals, protect ownership, and seize emerging opportunities while navigating complex legal and regulatory demands. From film and television, music, and digital media to professional and collegiate sports and large-scale stadium developments, our sports and entertainment lawyers provide strategic counsel across the full lifecycle of creative and athletic ventures. Services span brand development and monetization, talent engagement, IP protection, advertising and sponsorships, facility construction and financing, media rights, new distribution platforms, and dispute resolution.

Drawing on deep industry experience and cross-disciplinary insight, including firsthand roles within entertainment and sports organizations, we help clients stay agile, compliant, and competitive in an ever-evolving, high-profile marketplace.

/Select representative experience

• Bay Area Host Committee: to maximize the economic and community benefits associated with hosting global sporting events, we are advising nonprofits on preparations leading up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Super Bowl LX, and other events. Our cross-disciplinary team is helping the organization on a range of issues, including implementing cybersecurity and privacy preparedness plans, and developing partnerships across sports leagues and Bay-area businesses to facilitate the Committee’s long-term growth. 
• Confidential Family Office: advised a private investment firm on fund governance, regulatory compliance, and investor onboarding in connection with the launch of a dedicated sports‑focused investment platform, supporting capital deployment into lower middle‑market operating companies 
• Content creators and talent: advise leading creators and creator production companies, including Unspeakable Media, Typical Gamer’s Jogo Studios, Youshaei Studios, Sam and Colby’s XPLR Studios, and others, across foundational talent partnerships, equity deals, brand and platform integrations, content ventures, and creator led company formation and financing. As early movers in the creator economy, we are trusted advisors to creators , managers, platforms, brands, and investors shaping the future of entertainment and consumer influence.
• Dropout Companies: a consumer products house building modern food brands designed to become long‑term category leaders. Its portfolio includes JAMS, a high‑protein frozen PB&J brand sold nationwide at major retailers; BRONCO, a modern frozen breakfast sandwich brand; and additional emerging consumer food ventures. We assist Dropout Companies and its portfolio brands with creator and athlete talent deals, as well as sports licensing partnerships.
• Jogo Studios, Inc: video game development company founded by leading content creator Andre “Typical Gamer” Rebelo on strategic growth initiatives, including formation and financing, commercial transactions, licensing, and intellectual property protection. Our work includes advising on strategic acquisitions, and original IP development and protection. 
• Night Media: advise leading digital talent management company Night Media across a wide range of matters and consumer product incubations, including advising in connection with their role as a founder of Feastables, MrBeast’s creator led consumer snack brand
• Professional sports stadiums: served as underwriters’ counsel on financings for major venues including Levi’s Stadium (49ers), Barclays Center (Nets), MetLife Stadium (Jets and Giants), Gillette Stadium (Patriots), Golden 1 Center (Kings), Target Field (Twins), and Fiserv Forum (Bucks); also represented the NYC Industrial Development Agency on the development, financing, and refinancings for Citi Field and Yankee Stadium 
• Professional athletes and educational institutions: represent a range of clients on Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) related matters, including licensing, endorsement, and appearance agreements, as well as joint ventures and broader commercial partnerships 
• Source Golf: a YouTube-first golf creator network across matters relating to its launch and creator-driven content aggregation and monetization strategy, including advising on its founding talent partnership with Bryson DeChambeau and related talent and commercial agreements supporting advertising sales and distribution on YouTube
• St Andrews Links: the oldest and most renowned golf course in the world, in trademark infringement matters 
• Unspeakable Media LLC: gaming and social media powerhouse across all matters relating to its YouTube production and consumer businesses, including advising on brand deals, distribution agreements, and merchandise licensing partnerships, its partnership with Blox Snacks, its launch of Bluprint, and global IP portfolio management