Jeff provides sophisticated, solutions-oriented counsel and advocacy to clients facing complex business and financial challenges across various industries, including sports.

Overview

Jeff brings over 30 years of experience in Delaware and other jurisdictions, offering a unique blend of legal acumen and sage insight into industries and credit markets. He is highly regarded both inside and outside the courtroom for his advice and advocacy in creditors' rights, financial restructuring and corporate reorganization matters, as well as for his deep knowledge of the sports industry.

Jeff has counseled a wide range of clients in many of the largest U.S. restructurings, including representing senior debt holders in the Washington Mutual and Energy Futures cases. His diverse skillset allows him to effectively represent debtors, committees, trustees and purchasers. In addition, Jeff’s sports industry experience allows him to work on matters in that field, which often overlap with restructurings. In the Chapter 11 context, he has represented Major League Baseball (MLB), an affiliate of the owner of the National Football League's (NFL) Carolina Panthers' team, and a bidder for a National Hockey League (NHL) franchise. Jeff also counsels clients in the sports industry on various other business-related subjects. 

In addition to his presence in Tampa, Florida, Jeff maintains an office in Wilmington, Delaware, to support his work in that jurisdiction. 

Beyond his legal practice, Jeff is a thought leader in the sports industry, actively contributing as a writer and speaker. His ownership stake in a Minor League Baseball team underscores his direct engagement with the business side of sports. In addition, Jeff’s leadership and commitment in this area is demonstrated by his prior service as chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Business Law Section's Sports Committee.

Previously, Jeff was an equity partner and office practice leader at an AmLaw 100 firm. Earlier in his career, he was elected chairman of another firm and sat on its executive committee for many years. Before entering the legal profession, he gained valuable experience as an economics research associate at the Federal Reserve.

For the past decade, Jeff has shared his knowledge as an adjunct professor at William & Mary Law School.

Experience

Advised DT Sports Holdings LLC as the debtor-in-possession lender, senior secured creditor and plan sponsor in the filing by the NFL Carolina Panthers' affiliate in connection with the partially-constructed new team corporate headquarters and practice facility.

Engaged as Delaware counsel to the legal team representing Commissioner Bud Selig and MLB in the Chapter 11 proceedings of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Represented a potential bidder for an NHL franchise undergoing a court supervised restructuring.  

Participated in counseling a preeminent global energy provider in a multibillion dollar acquisition in one of the largest Chapter 11 cases ever filed in the United States.

Co-led the litigation effort to seek recoveries on behalf of a creditor trust, requiring the commencement of over 1,000 proceedings.

Advised a large media company in a large internal transaction, including counseling on corporate governance and valuation issues.

Pursued numerous federal appeals on various bankruptcy issues, with some reaching the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, which, in some instances, resulted in oft-cited precedent.

Represented various debtor-borrowers in diverse industries in Chapter 11 cases before the Delaware Bankruptcy Court as lead, co-counsel or Delaware counsel, including CDI, Global Power, iGPS, Joerns, Techniplas, Telephone Warehouse, Uniroyal, US One and WCI Communities.

Participated in representing various informal and statutory creditor committees, including in the Marvel Entertainment proceedings.

Advocated on behalf of an investment fund opposing a Chapter 11 plan in a three-week confirmation hearing in publicized proceedings before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.   

News & Insights

Speaking Engagements

Jeff has played a key role in shaping discussions on the business of sports, serving as a creator and organizer, as well as a moderator, for several impactful panel discussions.

Moderator, "Social Justice Intersecting with Sports: Is It Right?" ABA Business Law Section Spring Meeting, April 2022

Moderator, "Athlete Biometric Monitoring – Is It Worth the Gamble?" ABA Business Law Section, February 2019

Panelist, "Recent Legal Developments in Sports," ABA Business Law Section Spring Meeting, April 2018

Moderator, "Hoop Dreams and Sneaker Schemes: Where is the Internal Governance in College Athletics," ABA Business Law Section Spring Meeting, April 2018

Publications

Jeff frequently writes on a variety of topics related to the business of sports, as well as topics surrounding bankruptcy, financial restructuring and corporate reorganization.

"Beyond Bordeaux's Bankruptcy: A Lesson in Adapting to the Evolving Sports Media Landscape," The Bankruptcy Strategist, December 2024

"First State in Sports Gaming," Delaware Lawyer, Winter 2023

"Reorganizing Major League Soccer's Single-Entity Structure: Elevating Player Quality to Achieve Profitability," Master of Professional Studies in Sports Industry Management, Georgetown University, May 2022

"The Intersection of Sports, Social Justice and the Law," Business Law Today, March 2022

"Recent Developments in Sports-Related Disputes," Recent Developments in Business and Corporate Litigation, ABA Business Law Section, 2017 – 2019 Editions

  • Editor, Co-author

"At Bat in Bankruptcy Court," Delaware Lawyer, Winter 2012/2013

  • Editor, Sports & the Law

Recognitions

Recognitions

Rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell.

Ranked by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business in the area of bankruptcy/restructuring.

Professional & Civic Activities

Professional & Civic Activities

American Bankruptcy Institute

American Bar Association

  • Business Law Section
    • Sports Law Committee
      • Chair, 2020 – 2023
    • Sports-Related Disputes Subcommittee
      • Chair, 2017 – 2020

Christ Church Christina Hundred

  • Building and Grounds Committee
    • Former Chair

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

  • Former Member, National Advisory Board

DC Bar Association

Delaware Historical Society

  • Former Member, Board of Directors

Delaware Lawyer

  • Former Member, Board of Editors

Delaware State Bar Association

Florida Bar Association

Grand Opera House

  • Former Secretary, Board of Directors

Society of American Baseball Research

Sports Law Association

Westover Hills Civic Association

  • Former President, Board Member

William and Mary Law School Reunion Committee

  • Former Co-Chair

Admissions

  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Pennsylvania
  • District of Columbia
  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • United States District Court for the District of Delaware
  • United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas

Education

William and Mary, J.D.

Georgetown University, Master's degree in Sports Industry Management

University of Delaware, M.A.

University of Pennsylvania, B.A.

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