Eric H. Geffner

Sidley is representing World Sevens Football (W7F) in connection with the inaugural North American edition of its tournament, which is scheduled to take place December 5–7, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; as W7F announced earlier today, it will include the Kansas City Current from the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and San Diego Wave FC. The World Sevens Football tournament features fast-paced 7v7 matches, a US$5 million prize pool—one of the largest in women’s football—and a broadcast partnership with DAZN. This tournament will mark a significant milestone for W7F as it continues to grow its global presence and bring world-class soccer to new audiences across North America. The participation of the NWSL clubs, alongside elite clubs from Canada, Mexico, and South America, strengthens W7F’s global presence and highlights its commitment to creating new opportunities for players across the globe and developing the sport internationally. “We are thrilled to have the support and trusted counsel of Sidley as we take another exciting step forward,” said Sarah Cummins, W7F’s CEO. “W7F’s expansion into North America is yet another validation point reflecting the increasing global enthusiasm for the sport and alternative formats.” Sidley has advised W7F since its formation and launch in 2024, including on various corporate, financing, and commercial matters. The Sidley team is being led by Eric Geffner and includes Dylan Sherwyn, Alyssa Levy, Jake Funk, Alexandra Piarino, and Antoinette Petkov, with support from Rachel Kleinberg, Jonathan Westreich, and Charles Baker.~~Sidley is representing World Sevens Football (W7F) in connection with the inaugural North American edition of its tournament, which is scheduled to take place December 5–7, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; as W7F announced earlier today, it will include the Kansas City Current from the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and San Diego Wave FC. The World Sevens Football tournament features fast-paced 7v7 matches, a US$5 million prize pool—one of the largest in women’s football—and a broadcast partnership with DAZN. This tournament will mark a significant milestone for W7F as it continues to grow its global presence and bring world-class soccer to new audiences across North America. The participation of the NWSL clubs, alongside elite clubs from Canada, Mexico, and South America, strengthens W7F’s global presence and highlights its commitment to creating new opportunities for players across the globe and developing the sport internationally. “We are thrilled to have the support and trusted counsel of Sidley as we take another exciting step forward,” said Sarah Cummins, W7F’s CEO. “W7F’s expansion into North America is yet another validation point reflecting the increasing global enthusiasm for the sport and alternative formats.” Sidley has advised W7F since its formation and launch in 2024, including on various corporate, financing, and commercial matters. The Sidley team is being led by Eric Geffner and includes Dylan Sherwyn, Alyssa Levy, Jake Funk, Alexandra Piarino, and Antoinette Petkov, with support from Rachel Kleinberg, Jonathan Westreich, and Charles Baker.

Oct 29

2 min

Sidley is representing Chess.com in connection with its agreement with the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) relating to the inclusion and operation of chess at the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026, set to debut in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this November. Chess will be one of the select titles featured at ENC 2026, with 128 players representing their countries and territories in one of the largest international chess competitions to date. The tournament will include regional qualifying events operated by Chess.com across seven global regions. Chess at ENC 2026 will field an unprecedented number of competitors, allowing new talents and underrepresented nations to compete on a major stage as the historically significant game grows its presence in the world of esports. The ENC is a biennial global competition created by EWCF to establish a recurring, large-scale platform for national teams in esports. The 2026 event will launch with a US$45 million funding commitment across all titles, further expanding the integration of chess into the global esports ecosystem and building on its successful debut at the Esports World Cup in 2025. The Sidley team includes Nima Mohebbi, Eric Geffner, and Dylan Sherwyn.

Feb 24

1 min

Sidley partners Eric H. Geffner and Irwin P. Raij have been named to The Hollywood Reporter’s inaugural 2025 Top Sports Lawyers list. Honorees were recognized based on their impressive client portfolios, notable legal cases, the scale of their deals, and strong professional reputation. Eric serves as a trusted advisor to clients, representing private companies and investors in connection with mergers and acquisitions, dispositions, co-investments, joint ventures, and other general corporate matters, with a focus on sports, entertainment, and media. He represents professional sports teams in a number of major U.S. professional sports leagues and sports-related start-ups, including in connection with day-to-day business operations, equity financings, sponsorship deals, licensing deals, stadium and practice facility deals, and other commercial matters. He also represents individuals, groups, and private equity firms on investments in, and acquisitions of, major professional sports and e-sports teams in the U.S. and abroad, including expansion teams. Irwin co-chairs Sidley’s Entertainment, Sports and Media industry group. He focuses his practice on the business of sports. Irwin has handled matters involving the European Soccer Leagues, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball, Major League Soccer, the United Soccer League, Series A, LaLiga, the National Basketball Association, the National Football League , the National Hockey League, the National Women’s Soccer League, and Formula 1 events. This includes representing clients in sports-anchored public-private partnerships for both professional and collegiate stadiums and related ancillary development, construction, and financing. His practice also includes representing both buyers and sellers of sports franchises in professional sports leagues, media rights, concessions and promotional and advertising agreements (including naming rights, merchandising, and operational agreements). Irwin also has experience handling RSN formation, sports technology counseling/ventures, stadium service agreements, ticketing arrangements, and television, radio, and media rights agreements. His clients include individuals, leagues, teams, universities, financial institutions, and local and state government.~~Sidley partners Eric H. Geffner and Irwin P. Raij have been named to The Hollywood Reporter’s inaugural 2025 Top Sports Lawyers list. Honorees were recognized based on their impressive client portfolios, notable legal cases, the scale of their deals, and strong professional reputation. Eric serves as a trusted advisor to clients, representing private companies and investors in connection with mergers and acquisitions, dispositions, co-investments, joint ventures, and other general corporate matters, with a focus on sports, entertainment, and media. He represents professional sports teams in a number of major U.S. professional sports leagues and sports-related start-ups, including in connection with day-to-day business operations, equity financings, sponsorship deals, licensing deals, stadium and practice facility deals, and other commercial matters. He also represents individuals, groups, and private equity firms on investments in, and acquisitions of, major professional sports and e-sports teams in the U.S. and abroad, including expansion teams. Irwin co-chairs Sidley’s Entertainment, Sports and Media industry group. He focuses his practice on the business of sports. Irwin has handled matters involving the European Soccer Leagues, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball, Major League Soccer, the United Soccer League, Series A, LaLiga, the National Basketball Association, the National Football League , the National Hockey League, the National Women’s Soccer League, and Formula 1 events. This includes representing clients in sports-anchored public-private partnerships for both professional and collegiate stadiums and related ancillary development, construction, and financing. His practice also includes representing both buyers and sellers of sports franchises in professional sports leagues, media rights, concessions and promotional and advertising agreements (including naming rights, merchandising, and operational agreements). Irwin also has experience handling RSN formation, sports technology counseling/ventures, stadium service agreements, ticketing arrangements, and television, radio, and media rights agreements. His clients include individuals, leagues, teams, universities, financial institutions, and local and state government.

Jul 14

3 min

Sidley partners Dan Clivner and Eric H. Geffner have been named to the Los Angeles Business Journal’s 2025 LA500. The annual list celebrates the most influential leaders and impactful executives in Los Angeles. The individuals recognized “are all pillars of the community.” Dan is a member of Sidley’s Executive Committee and the managing partner of the Greater Los Angeles offices. He previously served as a global co-leader of the firm’s M&A and Private Equity group. Dan handles high-profile transactional matters for clients in the media and entertainment, telecom, technology, financial services, and retail industries. Eric serves as a trusted advisor to clients, representing private companies, private equity funds, high-net-worth individuals, and consortiums in connection with mergers and acquisitions, dispositions, co-investments, joint ventures, and other transactional matters, with a focus on sports, entertainment, and media. He regularly advises clients on high-profile transactions involving men’s and women’s professional sports teams and leagues, media rights, and live entertainment venues.~~Sidley partners Dan Clivner and Eric H. Geffner have been named to the Los Angeles Business Journal’s 2025 LA500. The annual list celebrates the most influential leaders and impactful executives in Los Angeles. The individuals recognized “are all pillars of the community.” Dan is a member of Sidley’s Executive Committee and the managing partner of the Greater Los Angeles offices. He previously served as a global co-leader of the firm’s M&A and Private Equity group. Dan handles high-profile transactional matters for clients in the media and entertainment, telecom, technology, financial services, and retail industries. Eric serves as a trusted advisor to clients, representing private companies, private equity funds, high-net-worth individuals, and consortiums in connection with mergers and acquisitions, dispositions, co-investments, joint ventures, and other transactional matters, with a focus on sports, entertainment, and media. He regularly advises clients on high-profile transactions involving men’s and women’s professional sports teams and leagues, media rights, and live entertainment venues.

Jun 4

1 min

Five Sidley lawyers have been featured in Variety’s 2025 “Legal Impact Report.” The annual list identifies the leading transactional lawyers and litigators who are making a significant impact on the entertainment industry. It is the ninth consecutive year that members of Sidley’s Entertainment, Sports and Media group have been recognized on the list. The following Sidley lawyers have been honored: Eric H. Geffner Matthew C. Thompson Russell G. Weiss Evie Whiting Emily Zipperstein Sidley has a long tradition of helping clients navigate the legal and business complexities of the entertainment, sports, and media industries. The team assists clients with significant M&A transactions, capital raises, complex joint ventures, financings, cutting-edge distribution deals, tax matters, high-profile litigations, restructurings, and regulatory matters.~~Five Sidley lawyers have been featured in Variety’s 2025 “Legal Impact Report.” The annual list identifies the leading transactional lawyers and litigators who are making a significant impact on the entertainment industry. It is the ninth consecutive year that members of Sidley’s Entertainment, Sports and Media group have been recognized on the list. The following Sidley lawyers have been honored: Eric H. Geffner Matthew C. Thompson Russell G. Weiss Evie Whiting Emily Zipperstein Sidley has a long tradition of helping clients navigate the legal and business complexities of the entertainment, sports, and media industries. The team assists clients with significant M&A transactions, capital raises, complex joint ventures, financings, cutting-edge distribution deals, tax matters, high-profile litigations, restructurings, and regulatory matters.

Apr 10

1 min