Richard Allan Rubano

Richard Allan Rubano

Partner
About

Richard Rubano has extensive experience advising clients worldwide on matters related to sports, media and entertainment, including buyers, sellers and sports franchises in the National Football League, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, United Soccer League, and various European football leagues.

Richard's practice in the MSE sector encompasses (i) acquisitions and sales of controlling and non-controlling stakes in sports franchises and media and entertainment properties, (ii), stadium finance and development projects, (iii) formation of joint ventures through a variety of business entities, and (iv) other strategic transactions (including those related to emerging technologies, like over-the-top platforms and networks). 

In addition to his work in the MSE sector, Richard has led numerous transactions in other industries, including structuring and negotiating mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, controlling and non-controlling equity investments and recapitalizations in the broader PE and M&A markets. Richard also acts as an advisor to the firm's clients on a wide range of general business law and governance matters.

Bar admissionsNew York

EXPERIENCE

Richard's experience includes the representation of:

Major League Soccer
  • Theodore Segal in his acquisition of the Houston Dynamo MLS franchise and the Houston Dash NWSL franchise
  • Ares Management Corporation in its $150M preferred equity investment in Inter Miami CF
  • An MLS club in connection with an equity financing from third party investors
  • An investor group in their acquisition of a controlling interest in Los Angeles Football Club, Major League Soccer's 23rd expansion club
  • Los Angeles Football Club in connection with the financing of its new, 22,000-seat, soccer-specific stadium constructed in Los Angeles, California 
  • Arthur M. Blank in the acquisition of Atlanta United FC, Major League Soccer's 22nd expansion team
  • Abu Dhabi United Group in connection with its acquisition, together with the New York Yankees, of New York City Football Club, Major League Soccer's 20th expansion club
  • Ownership in the sale of a controlling interest in DC United to Black Eagle Investment Group, LLC
National Basketball Association
  • Tilman J. Fertitta in his acquisition of the Houston Rockets NBA franchise, including the operating rights to the Toyota Center Arena, for a record purchase price of US$2.2 billion
  • The former owners of The Atlanta Hawks in the US$700+ million sale of the NBA franchise to an ownership group led by Tony Ressler, co-founder of Ares Management
  • An investor in connection with his acquisition of a minority ownership interest in the Brooklyn Nets
  • An investor in connection with his acquisition of a minority ownership interest in the Memphis Grizzlies
  • An investor in connection with his prospective acquisition of a minority ownership interest in an undisclosed franchise
National Football League
  • Investors in the proposed acquisition of the Denver Broncos
  • San Diego Chargers in connection with their relocation to Los Angeles
  • New York Jets in connection with the restructuring of stadium-related debt
  • Investors in the purchase of a minority interest in the Oakland Raiders football team
  • Stephen Ross in his purchase of the Miami Dolphins football franchise and Dolphin Stadium
Major League Baseball
  • Chicago Cubs on various corporate and finance matters
  • Atlanta Braves in connection with their new stadium project in Cobb County, Georgia
  • Bidders in the proposed purchase of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team 
European Football Leagues
  • Bid group in the proposed acquisition of Chelsea FC
  • AS Roma SPV, LLC, the majority shareholder of Italian soccer club AS Roma, in its sale of its controlling interest in the team and certain related assets to The Friedkin Group, Inc.
  • AS Roma on various corporate and finance matters, including the financing and development of its new, 52,000+ seat, soccer-specific stadium to be constructed in Rome, Italy
  • Investors in the proposed acquisition of an English Premiere League club
WNBA
  • Northland Investment Corporation and Larry Gottesdiener in the acquisition of the Atlanta Dream WNBA franchise
Esports
  • Cox Enterprises in connection with (i) the acquisition of Overwatch League’s new Atlanta franchise, and (ii) the Call of Duty League’s new Atlanta franchise, through a new joint venture, Atlanta Esports Ventures, with Las Vegas-based advisory firm Province Inc.
United Soccer League
  • Sacramento Republic FC on the sale of the USL franchise to an ownership group led by Kevin Nagle
Media and Entertainment
  • AMC Networks in its acquisition of a majority ownership stake in Levity Live, a leading player in live comedy with an extensive network of premium comedy venues in the U.S., including the recently acquired legendary comedy brand The Improv
  • A global sports network in its development of an over-the-top offering
  • Al Jazeera Media Network in its strategic acquisition of Current TV
  • An investor in connection with its initial and follow-on equity investments in a news organization
  • Marvel Entertainment, Inc. in its acquisition by The Walt Disney Company for US$4 billion
M&A / Private Equity
  • Hyve Group plc in connection with its acquisition of Shoptalk and Groceryshop, two US-based market leading events companies focused one-commerce for the retail, grocery and consumer packaged goods industries 
  • Respida Capital in connection with the merger of Mi9 Retail, a prominent provider of omni-channel retail solutions, and MyWebGrocer, a top tier software and digital media company 
  • Haymaker Acquisition Corp, a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company, in connection with its business combination with OneSpaWorld, the preeminent global provider of health and wellness products and services onboard cruise ships and in destination resorts around the world
  • KBP Investments in connection with the sale of a major franchisee in the Yum Brands system to Colonel Investments, LLC, an affiliate of DNS Capital, LLC and the Pritzker Organization, L.L.C.
  • An affiliate of Ares Management in its acquisition of publicly traded Global Defense Technology & Systems, Inc., a mid-size defense contractor
  • Plateau Systems Ltd., a provider of Web-based software tools, in its acquisition by SuccessFactors, Inc. 
  • Trusted Computer Solutions, a provider of cross-domain, operating system and network security solutions, in its acquisition by Raytheon Company
Education
  • J.D., Fordham University School of Law
  • B.A., Fordham University
    summa cum laude

Awards

  • The Best Lawyers in America
    2023 - Sports Law
  • The Legal 500 United States
    2019 - Recommended, Construction (Including Construction Litigation)
    2017 - Next Generation Partner, Sport
    2016 - Recommended, M&A Middle-Market ($500M-999M)
  • In 2019, Richard was name a Law360 Sports Rising Star.
  • In 2016, Richard was named to the Sports Business Journal's 40 Under 40 list.

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