Former ESPN Chief Counsel to Join DLA Piper

February 25, 2016 - DLA Piper announced today that David Pahl will join the firm's Media, Sport and Entertainment practice early in 2016 as a senior counsel in New York.
 
Most recently Chief Counsel of ESPN, Pahl will retire from ESPN after having led a team of 40 attorneys and staff from offices in Bristol, Connecticut, New York City, London, Buenos Aires, São Paolo and Mexico City. In addition to overseeing all of ESPN's legal affairs, Pahl was involved in the structuring, negotiation and documentation of transactions for cable, satellite and content licensing; event and programming acquisition and licensing; event staging; major equipment and facilities acquisitions; advertising and sponsorship; and talent retention. He has also advised on legal issues associated with new network launches.

"David is one of the most respected executives in the sports industry," said Peter White, co-chair of the firm's global Media, Sport and Entertainment practice. "He has been integral to the growth of one of the world's iconic sports brands over a long and distinguished career. His experience is unparalleled."
 
In the litigation arena, Pahl has provided counseling and litigation management on copyright, trademark and rights of publicity infringement and licensing, as well as libel, defamation and First Amendment issues.

 "There are few lawyers with the depth of institutional knowledge, vision and talent in the sports, media and entertainment industry as David," said Roger Meltzer, DLA Piper's global co-chair and co-chair of the Americas. "He will be a great fit with our interdisciplinary approach to providing the full range of litigation, transactional and regulatory counsel for the sports, media and entertainment industries. Our clients, including sports teams, owners, investors, properties, and media, will benefit from his experience, and we are pleased to welcome him to the firm."
 
Pahl joined ESPN as an assistant general counsel in 1987 and rose through the ranks to become Chief Counsel in 1996. Earlier, he had been an associate with Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP and with Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP.  He earned his J.D. from the University of Michigan and his bachelor's degree from Beloit College.

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