Noted Sports and Entertainment Attorney and Business Executive Brings Added Strength and Depth to National Sports Practice Group

FEBRUARY 18, 2011 – NEW YORK – Arent Fox is pleased to announce that noted sports and entertainment attorney Jared F. Bartie has joined the firm as counsel in New York.

Mr. Bartie, 42, is a veteran of the sports and entertainment industry, having worked for several major sports and entertainment companies, including the National Basketball Association, the United States Tennis Association, Black Entertainment Television, the Charlotte Bobcats, and, most recently, World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.

“We are really excited that Jared has joined the firm,” said Rich Brand, who heads the firm’s practice from its Washington, DC, office. “With Maidie Oliveau and her highly regarded sports practice residing in our Los Angeles office and the addition of Jared in New York, we have a strong presence in three of the most important cities in the sports business world. Jared’s talent and experience nicely complements and enhances our already strong sports practice.”

Michael Blass, managing partner of Arent Fox’s New York office agreed: “Arent Fox has a reputation for delivering high-quality sports related services to our clients and has worked on some of the most prominent sports transactions in the country. Adding Jared to our New York office adds strength and depth to an area of strategic growth for our firm.”

“My goal was to join and contribute to a nationally recognized law firm that has a strong and diverse sports presence,” said Mr. Bartie. “Arent Fox is a great firm and well regarded in the area of sports law. I look forward to contributing to an already formidable sports practice.”

About Jared Bartie
Mr. Bartie has experience counseling sports, entertainment and media clients in connection with a variety of matters including, sponsorship and naming rights agreements, stadium related bond financings, arena operating agreements, concession agreements, broadcast rights agreements, merchandising agreements, ticketing agreements and intellectual property matters. He has also advised professional sports teams regarding various aspects of business operations and administration, including methods of revenue enhancement and organizational efficiency.

Mr. Bartie began his career working in the sports law practice group of a prominent international law firm in New York. He has held senior legal and business positions with several well known sports and entertainment companies, including: Black Entertainment Television (Acting Chief Counsel, Productions); United States Tennis Association (Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel); National Basketball Association (Vice President, Team Marketing & Business Operations); Charlotte Bobcats (Chief Administrative Officer & General Counsel) and World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (Executive Vice President & General Counsel).

Mr. Bartie is a graduate of American University and Northwestern University School of Law, where he is currently a member of the Law Board.  He is a past member of the board of the Sports Lawyers Association.

About Arent Fox’s Sports Practice
Arent Fox’s Sports Practice is one of the most experienced in the United States. Our attorneys have extensive knowledge in sports sales and acquisitions, stadium/arena developments, sports naming/sponsorship rights, and media rights. We regularly advise clients on labor and employment contracts for players, coaches and sports team executives. Our team is active in almost all of the major professional sports and our attorneys have served as counsel to various professional teams, including the Washington Wizards, the Los Angeles Lakers, the New Jersey Nets, the Atlanta Spirit, the Charlotte Bobcats, the New York Jets, the Tampa Bay Rays, the Washington Capitals, and the DC United. We also have represented numerous purchasers and sellers of professional teams and events. In addition, we have advised clients on both sides of major naming rights transactions, including transactions with respect to the Barclays Center, Time Warner Cable Arena, AT&T Park, and PPL Park.

For more information about Arent Fox’s Sports Law Practice, please contact:

Rich Brand
Washington, DC
rbrand@arentfox.com
202.857.6427

Maidie E. Oliveau
Los Angeles
oliveau.maidie@arentfox.com
213.443.7553

Jared Bartie
New York
bartie.jared@arentfox.com
212.492.3303