Simpson Thacher & Bartlett is expanding its sports M&A practice with a trio of partner hires from Hogan Lovells, Sidley Austin and the National Basketball Association.
The incoming threesome are Michael Kuh and Eric Geffner, who have joined as co-heads of the firm’s sports group, while Matthew Carpenter-Dennis is due to join the team at a later date. Kuh and Carpenter-Dennis are based in New York, while Geffner is based in Los Angeles.
The trio will advise on a range of sports-related deal matters.
Alden Millard, chair of Simpson Thacher’s executive committee, said: “The sports landscape continues to evolve, and we are seeing significant momentum from our alternative asset manager clients who are expanding their investments into multi-club platforms, real estate and infrastructure assets, and adjacent experiential businesses. Mike, Eric and Matt are well known for their industry and business expertise spanning game-changing deals involving alternative asset managers.”
Kuh was previously a partner at Hogan Lovells for more than six years, where he was managing partner of the New York office. He previously spent 16 years at Latham & Watkins, where he was a counsel. His client list includes some of the world’s biggest sporting organisations. Earlier this year, he was on the Hogan Lovells team that advised Sportsology Capital Partners on its minority investment in Major League Baseball team Texas Rangers. He also represented Canada, Mexico and the US on their successful bid to host this year’s FIFA World Cup.
Geffner spent just under four years at Sidley in its Century City office, the majority of them as a partner. He had earlier spells as counsel at O’Melveny & Myers and as an associate at Latham & Watkins. He advises on M&A, co-investments and joint ventures in the sports, entertainment and media sectors. He also advises professional sports teams on sponsorship, licensing and stadium deals, among other matters.
Carpenter-Dennis, meanwhile, joins after more than a decade at the NBA, the past four years as assistant GC. He was previously an associate at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton. At the NBA, he oversaw team ownership transactions, capital structuring, arena financings and leasing, and other investment matters.
Eric Swedenburg, global head of Simpson Thacher’s M&A practice, said: “Sports has become an increasingly active frontier in M&A, and this team will provide clients with unparalleled insight into the commercial, operational and investment dynamics shaping the global sports industry, as well as seamless transactional execution.
“Mike and Eric have quarterbacked several prominent and complex sports transactions from private practice, while Matt brings an insider edge honed through his years at the NBA, making them ideal additions to our preeminent global M&A team.”
Last October, former Mishcon de Reya lawyers Simon Leaf and Tom Murray launched a London-based boutique – Three Points Law – targeting sports, tech and commercial work.
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