Richard Allan Rubano

Richard Allan Rubano

Partner
Global Chair, Media, Sports and Entertainment Sector
Richard Rubano stands out for his strong legal expertise, thoughtful approach, and reliability. He consistently provides clear, practical guidance, and his collaborative style and professionalism made the process genuinely enjoyable. His responsiveness and attention to detail make him a trusted and valued partner.
— Legal 500 US
New York
About

Richard Rubano has extensive experience advising clients worldwide on matters related to sports, media and entertainment, including buyers, sellers, financial investors (PE funds, sovereign wealth funds, etc) and sports franchises in the National Football League, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, and various European football leagues.

Richard has led some of the Media, Sports and Entertainment (MSE) sector’s most high-profile transactions, including structuring and negotiating mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, controlling and non-controlling equity investments and recapitalizations of premiere sports properties; as well as structuring bid groups, consortiums, industry-focused funds, and other complex joint ventures.

In addition to his work in the MSE sector, Richard has led numerous transactions in the broader private equity and merger and acquisition (M&A) markets; and acts as an advisor to the firm's clients on a wide range of general business law and governance matters.

Areas of FocusMedia Sports and EntertainmentCorporatePrivate EquityFinance
Bar admissionsNew York

EXPERIENCE

Richard's experience includes the representation of:

  • The Sarver ownership group in its sale of the Phoenix Suns and the Phoenix Mercury basketball teams for an NBA record-breaking enterprise value of $4b
  • The Mansour family in their acquisition of the expansion rights to San Diego FC for an MLS record-breaking expansion fee
  • Qatar Investment Authority in its investment in Monumental Sports and Entertainment (owner of the NBA’s Washington Wizards, NHL’s Washington Capitals and the WNBA’s Washington Mystics), the first investment by a sovereign wealth fund in a US sports franchise
  • Ares Management Corporation in its $150m preferred equity investment in Inter Miami CF, as well as its follow-on $75m preferred equity investment
  • The lead-investor in a consortium pursuing the acquisition of the Washington Commanders
  • The lead-investor in a consortium pursuing the acquisition of Chelsea 
  • Multiple franchises in connection with investments by private equity funds
  • Multiple limited partner investors in a consortium pursuing the acquisition of the Denver Broncos
  • AS Roma SPV, LLC, the majority shareholder of Italian soccer club AS Roma, in its sale of its controlling interest in the team and related assets
  • Tilman J. Fertitta in his acquisition of the Houston Rockets NBA franchise, including the operating rights to the Toyota Center Arena, for a then-record purchase price of $2.2b
  • Theodore Segal in his acquisition of the Houston Dynamo MLS franchise and the Houston Dash NWSL franchise
  • Bennett Rosenthal, Larry Berg and Brandon Beck in their acquisition of a controlling interest in Los Angeles Football Club
  • The ownership group of the Atlanta Hawks in its $700m+ sale of the NBA franchise and operating rights to the arena
  • Arthur M. Blank in the acquisition of the expansion rights to Atlanta United FC
  • Abu Dhabi United Group in the acquisition of the expansion rights to New York City Football Club
  • Stephen Ross in his acquisition of the Miami Dolphins football franchise and Dolphin Stadium
  • Northland Investment Corporation and Larry Gottesdiener in the acquisition of the Atlanta Dream WNBA franchise
  • Laura Ricketts and Laura Desmond in connection with the investment in the Chicago Sky WNBA franchise

Awards

Chambers USA

  • Band 4, Nationwide Sports Law, (2026)

The Legal 500 United States

  • Recommended, Construction (Including Construction Litigation), (2019)
  • Next Generation Partner, Sport, (2017)
  • Recommended, M&A Middle-Market ($500M-999M), (2016)
Additional Recognitions
  • The Best Lawyers in America
    • Best Lawyers in the New York Area, (2025)
    • Sports Law, (2023 – 2024, 2026)
  • Sports Rising Star, Law360, (2019)
  • 40 Under 40, Sports Business Journal, (2016)
Education
  • J.D., Fordham University School of Law
  • B.A., Fordham University
    summa cum laude

Media Mentions

My latest insights

News

Law360 names DLA Piper Sports Practice Group of the Year

21 January 2026

News

How PE firms are hoovering up sports media rights in Europe

21 November 2025

Past event

DLA Piper Sports Panel

13 February 2024 .1 minute read

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Connect

Phone

+1 212 335 4624
(Work, New York)
+1 914 494 1441
(Work)