DLA Piper bolsters Media, Sport and Entertainment offering onboarding Armstrong Teasdale team

Global law firm DLA Piper has announced the strategic hire of new partner Zane Shihab, along with his team comprising of James Thorndyke (Legal Director), Matt Santer (Associate) and Nick Bitel (Consultant) from Armstrong Teasdale. Zane and his team join DLA Piper in London, bringing with them significant sports sector and IP experience and market standing, aligning with the firm’s already notable Media, Sport and Entertainment offering.

Zane joins as a significant figure in the market having led the UK media, sport and entertainment, and IP practices at both Armstrong Teasdale, and at Kerman & Co. prior to the firms’ merging in 2021, as well as stints in-house at the BSkyB, and at specialist sports firm Max Bitel Greene. Nick Bitel is also the current CEO of the London Marathon and the former Chair of Sports England. Their practice spans the sports sector with significant commercial and IP experience at every level of the industry, from prominent bodies such as UEFA and The All England Lawn and Tennis Club, through high profile events like The London Marathon, to a team and individual player level such as Premier League transfers and FA disciplinary proceedings.

Paul Allen, Global Co-Chair of DLA Piper’s IP and Technology practice, comments: “Our international IPT platform has built a market-leading reputation on our ability to provide strategic and commercial advice through the application of deep sectoral knowledge, across our clients’ key jurisdictions. Zane and his team are highly regarded in their ability to do just that, and we look forward to our clients benefitting from their accomplished sports and media capabilities.”

Frank Valentin, Global Co-Chair of DLA Piper’s Media, Sport and Entertainment sector, comments: “The addition of Zane and his impressive team into our thriving Media, Sport and Entertainment mix is an exciting prospect. Their experience working on headline mandates with significant sports entities aligns completely with the prominent practice we’ve built at DLA Piper, and I’m sure they will be able to leverage our collaborative, cross-border group as a springboard for continued success.”

Nick Fitzpatrick, UK Head of DLA Piper’s Media, Sport and Entertainment sector and Co-Lead of the Sport & Sport Finance subsector said: “We couldn’t be happier to welcome Zane, Nick, James and Matt to our London team. Our UK Sport practice is a jewel in the crown of our peerless global sports team. We are very proud of what we have accomplished, and our new joiners add significant bench strength, great clients, deep experience across a number of sports and numerous complementary skill sets. This is a simply a great match and we look forward with excitement to what we will achieve together”.