Charles H. Baker

Sports M&A Experience

• Angel City Football Club in its sale to Willow Bay and Bob Eiger.
• Advised Eldridge Industries, a leading investment firm and partner in Fulwell 73, in its merger with The SpringHill Company.
• Multiple investors, including Mitch Rales and Magic Johnson, in the Josh Harris-led consortium in the acquisition of the Washington Commanders of the NFL from the Snyder family. 
• The Professional Fighters League (PFL) in the acquisition of Bellator from Paramount Global.
• Eric Church as a member of the investment consortium in the controlling stake acquisition of the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets from Michael Jordan.
  
• Owners of the Premier Hockey Federation, the top international women’s professional hockey league, in the launch of a new North American women’s professional hockey league.
• Monarch Collective, a new US$100 million investment fund focused exclusively on women’s professional sports that will make investments in women’s sports teams, leagues, and related revenue streams, such as licensing and media.
• Jeff Skoll in connection with his minority investment in Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns and operates the Washington Wizards, Washington Capitals, and Washington Mystics.
• Private equity firm Arctos Sports Partners in minority investments in the National Hockey League (NHL) and National Basketball Association (NBA) franchises.
• Mercury 13 Holdco, Inc. in its launch of a US$100 million fund to acquire controlling stakes in women’s professional sports teams in Europe and Latin America.
• Todd Boehly, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Eldridge Industries, LLC, in his acquisition of a minority interest in the Los Angeles Lakers NBA franchise.
• Minority investors in purchase of interest in MLB’s Cleveland Guardians.
• David Tepper, founder and president of global hedge fund Appaloosa Management, in his US$2.275 billion acquisition of the NFL Carolina Panthers.
• fuboTV, the leading sports-first live TV streaming platform, in its acquisition of Molotov SAS, France’s number-one live TV streaming company.
• Genius Sports in its acquisition of Second Spectrum, a leading provider of cutting-edge data tracking and visualization solutions.
• An ownership group led by wife and husband team Angie and Chris Long in their successful expansion bid for the NWSL’s KC Current.
• Kevin Durant in joining the ownership group of the MLS Philadelphia Union and a partnership with Thirty Five Ventures.
• David Tepper in his acquisition of Charlotte FC, Major League Soccer’s 30th expansion team for Charlotte, NC.
• Investors in a 49ers Enterprises investment in EPL Club Leeds United.
• Investors including Hollywood producers Jerry Bruckheimer, Harry Sloan, and David Nathanson in David Bonderman and Oak View Group’s acquisition of the Seattle Kraken, the NHL’s most recent expansion team.
• Meg Whitman and Dr. Griff Harsh in their acquisition of a minority interest in MLS’s Cincinnati FC.
• An investor group in the acquisition of a minority interest in MLS’s Seattle Sounders FC.
• ReKTGlobal, Inc., an esports company, in the acquisition of Rogue, a Steve Aoki-backed, Las Vegas-based esports team, and a European Riot Games League of Legends franchise.
• An investor in connection with a controlling interest in the Brooklyn Nets NBA franchise.
• Leading online youth sports media company STACK Media, Inc. on its sale to Genstar-backed Blue Star Sports.
• Joe Tsai and Blue Pool Capital in the acquisition of the San Diego Seals, a National Lacrosse League expansion team.
• Private equity investors in the acquisition of MLS’s LAFC.
• Advised Palace Sports & Entertainment in connection with its bid for an MLS expansion team for Detroit.
• Owners of Atlanta Hawks in an auctioned sale of NBA team and operating rights to Philips Arena.
• Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur M. Blank in the acquisition of the Atlanta United Football Club.
• Abu Dhabi United Group and Manchester City F.C. in their acquisition, with the New York Yankees, of the New York City Football Club, MLS’s 20th expansion club.
• Investors in the purchase of a minority interest in the Oakland Raiders.
• Investor groups in the potential acquisitions of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tennessee Titans, New York Mets, and Golden State Warriors.
• Atlanta Spirit Group in the sale of the Atlanta Thrashers to True North Sports and relocation to Winnipeg, Manitoba.
• Stephen Ross in the purchase of the Miami Dolphins football franchise and Hard Rock Stadium.
• Fila Korea in its acquisition of the global footwear and apparel business from Cerberus Capital.
• Investors in the purchase of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils.

Additional Sports Experience

• Genius Sports in its multiyear partnership with the NFL to become the exclusive distributor of the League’s official sports betting data feed to media companies and sports betting operators globally.
• Genius Sports in a landmark strategic partnership with the CFL, the second-largest football league globally.
• The Greg Norman Company in LIV Golf Investments’ joint venture with The Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund.
• ReKT Global in its US$470 million merger with metaverse pioneer Infinite Reality.
• Sorare, Inc. in a partnership agreement with MLS as the League’s official non-fungible token (NFT) fantasy game.
• Sportstek Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), in its formation and initial public offering.
• Angel City Football Club and its ownership group in its equity financing and commercial matters, including its Banc of California Stadium deal with LAFC.
• game1, a cutting-edge sports content studio, in a Series A equity raise and commercial matters, including production and other entertainment deals.
• Athletes Unlimited and its co-founders Jon Patricof and Jonathan Soros in league formation, an equity raise, and a strategic plan to disrupt women’s league structures and athlete empowerment with an innovative model of competition and ownership.
• A.S. Roma Football Club and Raptor Sports Group in a majority equity capital raise.
• Manchester City F.C. in a kit sponsorship deal with Nike Inc.
• fuboTV, the leading sports-first live TV streaming platform, in its investment in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships, Inc.

Non-Sports Matters

• Eldridge Industries, in its acquisition alongside Dick Clark Productions, of the Golden Globes’ from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
• Union Square Hospitality Group in connection with a Food and Beverage Operating Agreement with the King & Grove hotel chain.
• Frame Denim in its sale to private equity investors.
• Dubai World in its minority investment in MGM Mirage and joint venture in the Las Vegas CityCenter development project.

Some of the above matters were handled prior to joining Sidley.

• Law360 Sports & Betting Editorial Advisory Board
• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Executive Officer and Director
• March of Dimes, Board of Trustees, Sports Luncheon Committee
• Sports Data Lab, Advisory Board
• Sports Innovation Lab, Advisory Board
• The Player’s Impact, Advisory Board
• Horizm, Advisory Board
• Brand Velocity Group, Advisory Board
• University of Miami School of Law, Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Board
• USA Triathlon, Independent Director, Board of Directors (previous)