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Overview
Decades of Experience with the Sports Industry
For over three decades, RWL has provided legal advice and counsel to professional sports teams, sports enterprises, regional sports networks, gaming and casino operators, and sports wagering enterprises. From facility acquisitions to the development of a regional sports network to the approval and development of sports and gaming enterprises, RWL has been in the forefront of legal, administrative and regulatory issues in these important industries. RWL was instrumental in the negotiations for a $375 million public/private partnership for the rebuilding of Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park, the approval and development of Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the acquisition and development of the Baltimore Orioles’ spring training facility in Sarasota, Florida, the formation and evolution of the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, media and sponsorship agreements, facility security and ADA-related matters, and a wide variety of other legal issues.
RWL has also been recognized for the past two years by Hackney Publications, the nation’s leading publisher of sports law periodicals, as one of a handful of law firms that are considered leaders in the sports law field in its annual “100 Law Firms with Sports Law Practices You Need to Know About.”
Experienced Advice and Counsel
RWL’s Managing Partner, Alan Rifkin, is nationally recognized for his experience in sports, facilities, media rights, and gaming law and he has often been asked to educate his peers and law school students on the evolving legal issues in this field, including the “Sports and the Law” class with Barry Gogel at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.
RWL’s decades of legal experience help our clients succeed in a range of sports-related actions and transactions, including:
- Professional sports association governance law
- Media rights
- Sports broadcasting networks
- Sports facilities
- Sports-related transactions
- ADA accessibility
- Sports and gaming facilities and venues approvals
- Governmental approvals, authorizations and assistance with legislation
- Sports and gaming facilities leases and land transactions
- Regulatory and administrative proceedings
- Sports entity financing
- Online lottery, instant ticket and monitor games
- Manufacturers of slot machines and other electronic gaming equipment
- Intellectual, trademark and copyright protection
- Intellectual property disputes
- Contract disputes
- Partnership litigation
- Complex commercial disputes
Contact us at 410.296.5066 or arifkin@rwllaw.com to learn about RWL‘s Sports Law, Gaming and Facilities practice.
Achievements
- Led a negotiating team for the Maryland Jockey Club, The Stronach Group and the Preakness Stakes® for a $375 million public/private partnership for the rebuilding of Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park
- Alan Rifkin represented the Maryland Jockey Club and the Preakness Stakes® in negotiations with Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert with respect to entry of horses under Mr. Baffert’s control in the 2021 Preakness® after doping allegations were made concerning Medina Spirit, the presumptive winner of the 2021 Kentucky Derby
- Served as outside counsel to the Baltimore Orioles and the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network on a wide variety of matters, including media rights, sponsorship agreements, facilities development, ADA compliance, facilities security under SAFETY Act, financing and other transactions
- Represented the Baltimore Orioles in negotiations with Major League Baseball concerning compensation for the Orioles in connection with the relocation of the Washington Nationals to Washington, D.C., including the formation and development of the Mid-Atlantic Sport Network
- Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic L.P. v. Baltimore Orioles L.P., et al., No. 260751-V (Md. Cir. Court for Montgomery County 2005) (affirmed, 391 Md. 577 (2006)) – defended professional sports franchise in pay television rights and contract dispute; case dismissed in favor of the Orioles
- Negotiated the Baltimore Orioles’ spring training stadium development authorization and funding with Sarasota City and County in Florida and matters related to the development of the Ed Smith Stadium and practice facilities
- Advised and represented Governor of Maryland and administration (before Maryland General Assembly and agencies) with respect to approval and funding for Oriole Park at Camden Yards
- Retained for advice and counsel to the Prince George’s County government with respect to discussions with the Washington Football Team and matters relating to the retention of the NFL franchise in the County and potential development of a new NFL stadium and practice facilities
- Represented the Washington Football Team on a variety of matters, including the proposed relocation of the franchise from Washington, D.C. to Maryland
- Represents the Maryland Jockey Club, owners of the Preakness Stakes® and Pimlico Racecourse in a wide variety of commercial, regulatory and litigation matters
- Advised in the transactions related to the development of The Ripken Experience™ at Walt Disney World®
- Represents Ripken Baseball and Tufton Professional Baseball
- Represented Caesars’ casino interests in securing a casino license for Horseshoe Casino and in regulatory and legislative matters since
- Represents various interests with regard to Maryland’s nascent sports wagering program
- Successfully defended casino interests against constitutional challenges
- Provide advice and counsel in the gaming and sports wagering sectors
- Provide advice and counsel with regard to intellectual property rights
- Represented entities providing online lottery, instant ticket and monitor games
- Represented manufacturers of slot machines and other electronic gaming equipment
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Arnold Weiner’s successful representation of Tartan Stable in the 1980 Preakness Stakes® has been noted in a new book by Jack Gilden, “The Fast Ride – Spectacular Bid and the Undoing of a Sure Thing” (Neb. Press, 2022). Arnold represented Tartan Stable, the owner of the racehorse Codex in a challenge of the 1980 Preakness Stakes® brought by the owners of the racehorse Genuine Risk. “After the race, Jacinto claimed foul and said that Cordero had interfered with his horse by whipping her in the face with his crop. The stewards upheld Cordero’s victory, but the case went to court anyway. Cordero’s brilliant Baltimore lawyer, Arnold Weiner, widely hailed as one of the very best barristers in the country, successfully argued from photographic evidence that Angel was too far away from Genuine Risk to have impeded her in any way. Weiner won the case, and Codex’s victory was assured.”
Professionals
Contact us at 410.296.5066 or arifkin@rwllaw.com to learn about RWL‘s Sports Law, Gaming and Facilities practice.
