Jared F. Bartie
Partner, Corporate & Financial Services
Jared Bartie is a partner in the Corporate & Financial Services Department and chair of the firm's Sports Transactions Practice. A sports industry veteran, Jared represents domestic and international clients on an array of complex matters, including professional sports team investments, stadium and arena transactions, facility naming rights and sponsorship transactions, media rights agreements and investigations. His clients have included professional sports leagues, college conferences, professional sports teams, media entities, hospitality companies and family offices.
In addition to his traditional sports practice, Jared is also a leading lawyer in the esports industry. He has advised global publishing companies, investors, teams and venues regarding various matters.
Jared is recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Top 200 Lawyers (2024). Chambers USA (2024) ranks Jared in the Sports Law and Esports categories and he is recognized by The Legal 500 U.S. as a Leading Lawyer in the area of Sports. Jared was named by The Hollywood Reporter on the "2024 Power Lawyers" and "2023 Power Lawyers" lists as one of the top dealmakers in the sports and entertainment industries. He has also been identified by Law360 as a Sports & Betting MVP (2023).
Experience
Jared has extensive legal and business experience across the professional sports and entertainment industries. Among his various roles, he has served as General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer of the NBA Charlotte Bobcats; an executive in the National Basketball Association's Team Marketing and Business Operations group; Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel of the United States Tennis Association (USTA); and Acting Chief Counsel of Productions at Black Entertainment Television.
- America’s Top 200 Lawyers (2024)
Chambers USA
- Sports, Nationwide (2024)
- Esports, Nationwide (2020-2024)
The Hollywood Reporter:
- New York Power Lawyers (2024)
- New York Power Lawyers (2023)
The Legal 500 US
- Leading Lawyer, Sport (2022-2024)
Savoy Magazine
- Most Influential Lawyers (2024)
- Most Influential Black Lawyers in America (2018, 2022)
Law360:
- Sports and Betting MVP (2023)
Sports Business Journal:
- Power Players: Outside Counsel (2016, 2021)
The National Law Journal
- Sports/Gaming Entertainment Trail Blazer (2021)
Variety’s Dealmakers Elite: New York
- Deal Maker (2017, 2018)
National Bar Association
- Sports Attorney of the Year (2016)
- Chair, Law Board, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
- Sports Editorial Advisory Board, Law360 (2023, 2016)
- Presidential Appointee, Executive Committee, United States Tennis Association (2017, 2018)
- Founding member of the African American History and Culture Endowed Scholarship at the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
- Founding donor of the Bartie-Greer Opportunity Scholarship at the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
- Moderator, “Sports Investment”, 2024 Wharton Sports Business Summit (November 2024)
- Moderator, “Investigations Playbook: Rules of the Road in Conducting Sports Investigations”, Sports Lawyers Association (May 2023)
- Moderator, “eSports the Next Big Thing,” Sports Lawyers Association (May 2019)
- Panelist, “The Reality of Esports - Deploying Capital in an Emerging Industry,” City National Bank (May 2019)
- Panelist, “Growth and Future of eSports,” Fordham Sports Law Symposium (February 2019)
- Panelist, “Investing in Sports and esports: Engaging Today’s Fan,” NYSSCPA Family Office Committee (March 2018)
- Co-Presenter, “Sports Deals 101,” Lawline.com (February 2018)
- Panelist, “Buying and Selling Sports Teams and Entertainment Businesses,” ABA Entertainment and Sports Conference, Las Vegas (October 2017)
Prior to joining Willkie in 2022, Jared was a partner and Co-Chair of the Sports Industry Group at O’Melveny & Myers LLP.
His significant representations include the following matters:*
Sports Matters
- Represented the Mountain West Conference in connection with its scheduling agreement for the 2024 football season.
- Represented Myles Garrett, an All-Pro player for the Cleveland Browns, in his purchase of a minority stake in the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team.
- Represented J. Cole and Damian Mills, as part of a buyer group, in the acquisition of a majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets from Michael Jordan
- Represented the National Basketball Association's Utah Jazz in its multi-year arena naming rights transaction with Delta Airlines
- Represented Overtime Elite in its exclusive multiyear media rights agreement with Amazon
- Represented a professional sports team in connection with a highly publicized workplace investigation
- Represented a professional esports league in connection with a publicized work place investigation
- Advised the City of Atlanta and Fulton County Recreation Authority regarding an arena operating agreement and non-relocation agreement in connection with the $192 million State Farm Arena (formerly Philips Arena) renovation project
- Represented Washington Convention and Sports Authority t/a Events DC on a number of commercial transactions, including its bid to serve as a host city in connection with FIFA World Cup; a multi-venue pouring rights transaction
- Represented USA Volleyball in connection with a multiyear footwear, apparel and accessory agreement with Adidas
- Represented the National Basketball Association Detroit Pistons regarding a practice facility naming rights transaction with Henry Ford Health Care System
- Represented MP & Silva in a naming rights agency engagement with a US sports and media organization
- Represented Under Armour in a multiyear global sponsorship and apparel transaction with the NBA
- Represented Under Armour in various professional athlete endorsement agreements, as well as professional sports league and college sponsorship agreements
- Represented Pac-12 Conference in connection with various multimedia and commercial transactions
- Represented Major League Soccer DC United, and its majority ownership group, regarding various corporate transactions, including stadium financing related to Audi Stadium
- Represented a lead investor in separate bids to acquire the National Hockey League New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders
- Represented a minority investor group regarding a final round bid to acquire the National Basketball Association Atlanta Hawks
- Represented an investment group regarding the successful bid to acquire the Premier League’s Swansea City A.F.C.
- Advised Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment, owner of the National Basketball Association's Utah Jazz, regarding a multiyear arena naming rights transaction with Vivint Smart Home Arena
- Advised the National Basketball Association Portland Trail Blazers regarding a multiyear arena naming rights transaction regarding the Moda Center
- Represented Legends Hospitality in various concessions services, sponsorship and sales and marketing matters
- Advised Palace Sports & Entertainment regarding a radio broadcast rights agreement
- Advised USA Track & Field in various commercial matters, including its subscription content streaming platform
- Represented USA Track & Field in negotiations related to operating USA vs the World at the Penn Relays
Esports Matters
- Represented Riot Games in connection with various corporate esports administrative matters
- Led the representation of The Washington Justice (formerly Washington Esports Ventures) in connection with entry into Blizzard Entertainment’s Overwatch League
- Represented Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and the Jones family in connection with the Goff family in the acquisition of esports entity, compLexity Gaming
- Represented esports organization, Envy, in connection with its entry into the Blizzard Overwatch League and its Series A, Series B and Series C financings
- Represented FlyQuest and owner Wesley Edens, in its esports launch efforts, including the development of its standard player contract, merchandise arrangement and in connection with intellectual property matters
- Represented FlyQuest, in connection with entry into Riot’s North America League of Legends Championship Series
- Represented Gen. G (previously KSV esports International) in connection with its entry into the Blizzard Overwatch League, and related Series A financing
* Jared advised on these matters prior to joining Willkie.
Credentials
Education
Northwestern University, J.D. American University, B.A.