Irwin P. Raij

Six Sidley partners have been named to Latino Leaders’ 2025 “Top Latino Lawyers” list. Sidley honorees include: Beatriz Azcuy Enrique A. Conde Yolanda C. Garcia Yvette Ostolaza Irwin P. Raij Gabriel L. Valdes Additionally, both Melissa Colón-Bosolet and David A. Silva have been identified as lawyers to “Keep on the Watch.” These lists celebrate lawyers for their community involvement, career track, and their success in matters.~~Six Sidley partners have been named to Latino Leaders’ 2025 “Top Latino Lawyers” list. Sidley honorees include: Beatriz Azcuy Enrique A. Conde Yolanda C. Garcia Yvette Ostolaza Irwin P. Raij Gabriel L. Valdes Additionally, both Melissa Colón-Bosolet and David A. Silva have been identified as lawyers to “Keep on the Watch.” These lists celebrate lawyers for their community involvement, career track, and their success in matters.

Nov 12

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 represented the City of Jacksonville, Florida in its highly publicized negotiations with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars on a US$1.4 billion stadium renovation of EverBank Stadium and additional ancillary matters. In June 2023, the Jaguars announced the organization’s vision for a renovated “stadium of the future.” On June 25, 2024, City Council members voted 14-1 (two abstained and two were absent) in favor of the proposal, which now advances to NFL owners for final approval. The agreement commits the Jaguars to Jacksonville until at least 2058. The Sidley team was led by partner and Entertainment, Sports and Media (ESM) co-chair Irwin Raij and ESM/Global Finance partner Evie Whiting. The team also included senior counsel Scott Saef (Real Estate), managing associate Ashleigh Stanley (ESM/M&A), and associates Max Budowsky (ESM/M&A), Greg Fritzius (ESM/M&A), Jessica Lamour (M&A), and Alyssa Levy (ESM/M&A).~~Sidley represented the City of Jacksonville, Florida in its highly publicized negotiations with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars on a US$1.4 billion stadium renovation of EverBank Stadium and additional ancillary matters. In June 2023, the Jaguars announced the organization’s vision for a renovated “stadium of the future.” On June 25, 2024, City Council members voted 14-1 (two abstained and two were absent) in favor of the proposal, which now advances to NFL owners for final approval. The agreement commits the Jaguars to Jacksonville until at least 2058. The Sidley team was led by partner and Entertainment, Sports and Media (ESM) co-chair Irwin Raij and ESM/Global Finance partner Evie Whiting. The team also included senior counsel Scott Saef (Real Estate), managing associate Ashleigh Stanley (ESM/M&A), and associates Max Budowsky (ESM/M&A), Greg Fritzius (ESM/M&A), Jessica Lamour (M&A), and Alyssa Levy (ESM/M&A).

Jun 28

1 min

Sidley is representing Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE) in its public-private partnership with the District of Columbia to transform Capital One Arena, home of the Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards, into a state-of-the-art sports and entertainment destination. Sidley's multidisciplinary team of lawyers has been advising MSE on the complex legal and contractual aspects of this ambitious project valued at US$800 million, with the District contributing US$515 million and the teams covering the remainder. Sidley has been working with MSE since the inception of the project, providing strategic counsel on the feasibility, structure, and financing of the partnership, as well as assisting MSE to negotiate the terms of the agreements and the legislation that will enable the project to move forward and keep the teams in D.C. until 2050. Sidley is proud to partner with MSE on this visionary project, which will not only elevate the fan experience, but also contribute to the economic and social development of the District and the region. Sidley brings to this project its deep experience and expertise in sports, entertainment, real estate, infrastructure, finance, environmental, as well as its commitment to excellence, innovation, and client service. On October 21st, 2024, Monumental and D.C. Mayor Bowers announced the deal's details. The authorizing legislation, including the definitive agreements, have been submitted to D.C. Council for final approval by the end of the year. The Sidley team is being led by Entertainment, Sports and Media (ESM) partner and co-chair Irwin Raij and includes partner Evie Whiting (ESM/Global Finance), senior managing associate Michael David Williams (Real Estate), as well as associates Max Budowsky, Greg Fritzius, and Alyssa Levy and Jessica Lamour (ESM/M&A and Private Equity). Additional team members include Tax co-leader Rachel Kleinberg and senior managing associate Jonathan Westreich (Tax).~~Sidley is representing Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE) in its public-private partnership with the District of Columbia to transform Capital One Arena, home of the Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards, into a state-of-the-art sports and entertainment destination. Sidley's multidisciplinary team of lawyers has been advising MSE on the complex legal and contractual aspects of this ambitious project valued at US$800 million, with the District contributing US$515 million and the teams covering the remainder. Sidley has been working with MSE since the inception of the project, providing strategic counsel on the feasibility, structure, and financing of the partnership, as well as assisting MSE to negotiate the terms of the agreements and the legislation that will enable the project to move forward and keep the teams in D.C. until 2050. Sidley is proud to partner with MSE on this visionary project, which will not only elevate the fan experience, but also contribute to the economic and social development of the District and the region. Sidley brings to this project its deep experience and expertise in sports, entertainment, real estate, infrastructure, finance, environmental, as well as its commitment to excellence, innovation, and client service. On October 21st, 2024, Monumental and D.C. Mayor Bowers announced the deal's details. The authorizing legislation, including the definitive agreements, have been submitted to D.C. Council for final approval by the end of the year. The Sidley team is being led by Entertainment, Sports and Media (ESM) partner and co-chair Irwin Raij and includes partner Evie Whiting (ESM/Global Finance), senior managing associate Michael David Williams (Real Estate), as well as associates Max Budowsky, Greg Fritzius, and Alyssa Levy and Jessica Lamour (ESM/M&A and Private Equity). Additional team members include Tax co-leader Rachel Kleinberg and senior managing associate Jonathan Westreich (Tax).

Oct 23

3 min

Daily Business Review has recognized Sidley as finalists across four categories for its 2025 Florida Legal Awards. Sidley has been shortlisted for “Litigation Department of the Year (General Category).” Additionally, Beatriz Azcuy is a finalist for “Managing Partner of the Year” and “Real Estate Transaction,” and Irwin P. Raij has been recognized as a finalist for “Dealmaker of the Year.” Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on April 3, 2025, in Miami.~~Daily Business Review has recognized Sidley as finalists across four categories for its 2025 Florida Legal Awards. Sidley has been shortlisted for “Litigation Department of the Year (General Category).” Additionally, Beatriz Azcuy is a finalist for “Managing Partner of the Year” and “Real Estate Transaction,” and Irwin P. Raij has been recognized as a finalist for “Dealmaker of the Year.” Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on April 3, 2025, in Miami.

Jan 29

1 min