Play Ball! The State of Professional Sports: An Evening with Lew Wolff & Pierce O’Donnell

The world of professional sports is constantly evolving, from skyrocketing salaries to the intimate experiences of fans. On September 28, 2023, executives within the sports industry will have a unique opportunity to delve into these subjects with two industry leaders: Lew Wolff, Chairman Emeritus of the Oakland Athletics, and Pierce O’Donnell of Greenberg Glusker.

Lew Wolff, the former owner and current Chairman Emeritus of the Oakland Athletics and former owner of the San Jose Earthquakes, will present an unfiltered perspective on the ins and outs of today’s sports world. Whether it’s the economics of ticket pricing or the shifts in team dynamics and rules, attendees are guaranteed an enlightening discussion filled with insider insights.

Guiding this conversation is Pierce O’Donnell, who spearheaded the litigation legal team that cleared the way for the sale of the Los Angeles Clippers for the then record price of $2 billion. With his wealth of experience spanning nearly five decades, O’Donnell’s questions will ensure a comprehensive look at the current state of professional sports.

The event begins at 5:30 p.m. and will be hosted at Greenberg Glusker LLP, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2600, Los Angeles, CA 90067. Not located in Los Angeles? We will also be live streaming the conversation starting at 6:00 p.m.

Please RSVP by September 15th to ensure you don’t miss out on this invaluable experience.

A Glimpse into Our Distinguished Speakers:

• Lewis N. Wolff: Lew is a real estate developer and has owned numerous sports franchises. Lew is most well-known for his ownership of the Oakland Athletics baseball franchise and as the co-owner of the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer. In 2016, Lew sold his share in the Oakland Athletics and currently serves as the team’s Chairman Emeritus. Wolff is credited with the redevelopment and revitalization of downtown San Jose, California, where he was the largest developer of offices, hotels, and parking for many years. In the past, he has been a co-owner of the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League and the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association. Lew was also involved with the revival of the San Jose Earthquakes franchise of Major League Soccer.
• Pierce O’Donnell: Pierce is one of the most influential, accomplished, and sought-after trial attorneys in the U.S., with groundbreaking success representing clients in closely watched matters across virtually every major industry and area of litigation. Over his 48-year legal career, Pierce has tried a long list of significant cases for major clients, including serving as lead counsel to Shelly Sterling in the litigation surrounding the $2 billion sale of the Los Angeles Clippers to Steve Ballmer. A highly-respected thought leader in the legal profession, Pierce is also the author of more than 200 articles and six books. Pierce is a regular TV and radio commentator, appearing on numerous programs on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, FOX, PBS, NPR, and BBC. Pierce has lectured at the nation’s premier law schools, including Harvard, Yale, UCLA, USC, Loyola (Los Angeles), Pepperdine, Stanford, and Georgetown.

We hope to see you there! RSVP here: https://www.greenbergglusker.com/playball. For questions, email Brandi Franzman at bfranzman@ggfirm.com.