Sports/Entertainment
Straight Talk @ Center Stage
Sports and entertainment are multibillion-dollar enterprises that require business judgment and legal skills to support unique creative endeavors. Andrews Kurth represents individual performers, multinational entertainment companies, public sports authorities and other governmental entities and private developers with practical counsel that protects their interests.
Andrews Kurth sports and entertainment lawyers work closely with firm-wide colleagues practicing in corporate, intellectual property, labor, public finance, construction, hospitality and real estate law to tailor solutions to clients’ specific concerns. Our practice includes:
- Contract Preparation and Counsel
- Intellectual Property Protection
- Stadium Development and Operations
Sports and Entertainment Clients
Working across the full spectrum of sports and entertainment, we represent performing artists, producers, production companies, broadcasters, Internet and technology companies, and publishers.
Our clients work in a wide range of media including in motion pictures, music, broadcast and cable television. Andrews Kurth lawyers advise a number of companies in new media fields, including Internet and multimedia ventures, online gaming and entertainment software.
For professional sports franchises, athletic associations, management firms and individual athletes, we counsel across a variety of endeavors. We have particular strength in counseling regarding developing, financing and operating stadiums, arenas and similar facilities. Andrews Kurth regularly advises sports facility management companies, governmental authorities, and sports and entertainment promoters and producers on these projects.
Contract Preparation and Counsel
Andrews Kurth has in-depth experience in the unique issues that arise in sports and entertainment contracts. We advise, negotiate, draft and enforce contracts and agreements that protect and promote our clients’ interests, including:
- Agency agreements
- Booking contracts
- Domestic and foreign distribution deals
- Entertainment finance structures
- Facility use and development agreements
- Licensing agreements
- Management agreements
- Music, film and television contracts
- Performance agreements
- Player contracts
- Sales and acquisitions of sports franchises
- Securitization of music royalties
- Sponsorship and marketing arrangements
Intellectual Property Protection
Because IP plays such a critical role in the business of sports and entertainment, we provide a big picture perspective and deep resources on protections and enforcements.
We represent corporations, media companies, celebrities and others. We counsel them on extending and safeguarding their brands through licensing, sponsorship and endorsements of events, products, services and Web sites. With the global reach of the entertainment business, our lawyers also regularly create international joint ventures to distribute varied entertainment content and products.
Our IP counseling and litigation experience includes music copyrights, rights of publicity, and protection of celebrities and their estates. We have a wealth of experience representing broadcasters and publishers in issues involving music and film rights, literary works and game designs. Counsel to clients on copyright and trademark matters, including trademark disputes, are substantial areas of our practice.
Stadium Development and Operations
From project inception and financing through construction and operation agreements, Andrews Kurth provides top-to-bottom counsel to management companies and public authorities that develop and operate sports stadiums and similar facilities.
We have represented the Houston Sports Authority in the development of Reliant Stadium, Minute Maid Park and the Toyota Center. Our lawyers are skilled at handling the transactional details of stadium operations involving:
- Concessions
- Event licensing and production
- Facility management
- Leasing
- Operations and maintenance
- Sponsorship and marketing
