O'Melveny Adds Leading Sports and Entertainment Lawyer in New York

NEW YORK, Jan. 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Charles Baker, a nationally acclaimed sports and entertainment lawyer whose practice includes mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and venture capital transactions, has joined O'Melveny's New York office. He will chair the firm's Sports Industry Group.

Baker has represented a wide range of buyers and sellers of sports franchises in every major professional league, including the National Football League, National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, and many European football leagues. He has guided the acquisition and sale of top professional franchises by investors in the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. In 2015, Baker represented the owners of the Atlanta Hawks in the sale of the NBA team, a transaction that Global M&A Networks recognized as the USA Deal of the Year.

A sought-after commentator on the business of sports, Baker appears regularly on Forbes Sports Money and other national broadcast media. Sports Business Journal recently named him to its inaugural list of "Power Players: Outside Counsel," which honors attorneys "who are doing meaningful work and playing significant roles in sports business."

"We welcome Chuck Baker to O'Melveny," said Bradley J. Butwin, the firm's Chair. "He is one of the country's top sports and media lawyers—a leader in an area that continually outperforms previous years. He adds a dimension to our practice that is both rewarding and exciting."

Matthew Erramouspe, Co-Chair of the firm's Entertainment, Sports & Media Practice Group, added: "Chuck will bring a 'best in class' sports practice to our existing 'best in class' entertainment and media practice. With Chuck's addition, we look forward to offering the sports industry a powerful combination of leading practitioners and a full suite of resources to service its needs on a comprehensive 360-degree basis."

Baker also represents investment banks and consulting firms on corporate finance advisory matters, and is recognized in both Chambers USA and Legal 500 United States for his M&A work and sports law experience. Clients tell Chambers that Baker "really understands the idiosyncrasies of sports transactions—and he really knows how to get a deal done."

"I am excited to join O'Melveny's highly respected sports, media, and entertainment practice," Baker said. "I have worked with many O'Melveny lawyers over the years, and look forward to working with them to seek creative solutions for our clients."

Baker received his J.D. from Cornell Law School in 1985 and is a Distinguished Lecturer at NYU's Tisch Institute for Sports Management, Media, and Business. He is also a member of  the University of Miami School of Law's Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law board.

He is active at the board level with the March of Dimes, the Challenged Athletes Foundation, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and USA Triathlon.

About O'Melveny

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