Bruce Wilson

Bruce Wilson is a senior corporate and M&A lawyer with extensive transactional experience in the sports, life sciences, media and branded consumer goods sectors. He has represented clients around the globe in a wide range of cross-border acquisition, financing, marketing initiatives and other commercial transactions. Mr. Wilson has advised public and private companies in acquisition matters and the structuring of responses to hostile takeover bids; has directed global post-closing merger integration efforts; and has extensive experience in media and brand development transactions and technology licensing. He is also a principal transaction advisor to international companies operating in the Middle East and North Africa, and to professional sports leagues, including the National Football League, NASCAR, National Hockey League, and the National Basketball Association. REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS Represented OCP, S.A. of Morocco in the negotiation of US, Indian, Indonesian, South American, and Canadian joint venture and commercial supply arrangements. Represented Barclays Bank in the negotiation of facility naming rights and sponsorship transaction with the New Jersey Nets for the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn New York. Represented the Economic Cities Authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the development of legal and regulatory infrastructure for the Kingdom’s Economic Cities project. Represented the independent directors of Certegy, Inc., and Beverly Enterprises, Inc. in connection with sell-side merger transactions. Negotiated multi-year broadcast rights and sponsorship agreements with ESPN, CBS, NBC, FOX Sprint/Nextel, Yahoo, and Sirius Satellite Radio on behalf of the National Football League. Represented NASCAR in media negotiations with ESPN, Turner, FOX and other television broadcast and new media partners. Advised New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson on his purchase of the New Orleans Hornets franchise of the National Basketball Association. Negotiated the relocation and stadium development agreement with Major League Baseball and the former Montreal Expos on behalf of the Washington, DC, Sports and Entertainment Commission. Handled the bankruptcy sale of the Buffalo Sabres hockey franchise to Tom Golisano on behalf of the National Hockey League. Negotiated on behalf of the NFL, a five-year interactive media rights agreement with America Online, CBS, and Sportsline, Inc. PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE Bacardi Limited, General Counsel (1995-1997) Rep. Steven L. Neal, U.S. House of Representatives, Legislative Assistant (1981-1983) HONORS AND RANKINGS The Best Lawyers in America, Washington Sports Lawyer of the Year (2012) Best Lawyers in America, Mergers & Acquisitions (2013); Sports Law (2009-2013) Chambers USA, Sports Law (2006-2012) Washington DC Super Lawyer, Entertainment & Sports (2010-2013) PLC Which Lawyer? Highly Recommended, Corporate/M&A (2008) Recognized in Legal 500 US for Sports (2007-2008) PUBLICATIONS AND SPEECHES Mr. Wilson is quoted in "What's In A Name," PanStadia (Spring 2007). "The European Financial Crisis," Covington E-Alert (12/16/2011), Co-Author