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  1. Professionals

Robert Pannullo

Associate

New York

+1 212-294-2646

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  • Overview
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  • Credentials
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Recognized as a rising “New Voice” by Sports Business Journal, Robert focuses his practice on sports, antitrust, and labor law. He regularly represents athletes, agencies, Players Associations, and other high-profile sports industry clients in litigation and arbitration.

Robert counsels and represents a variety of sports industry clients, including the NFL Players Association, OneTeam Partners, WME | IMG (Endeavor), Klutch Sports Group, MVP Sports Group, individual player athletes, and a global eSports League. 

Robert also regularly represents the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) in litigation and arbitration matters. In this capacity, Robert has advised in the contract valuation and negotiation for hundreds of millions of dollars of MLB player contracts and has successfully argued numerous winner-take-all salary arbitration cases on behalf of players.

Before joining Winston, Robert worked at the MLB Players Association, where he advised agents in contract negotiations and argued salary arbitration cases on behalf of players. Robert also served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Madeline Cox Arleo at the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Key Matters

  • NFLPA Commercial and Labor Arbitration: Robert has represented the NFLPA in commercial disputes governed by the American Arbitration Association as well as labor disputes under the NFL-NFLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement.
  • Job Creators Network v. Major League Baseball, et. al.: Robert successfully represented the MLBPA in litigation that challenged Major League Baseball’s decision to relocate the 2021 All-Star Game from Atlanta to Denver in response to Georgia’s laws imposing voting restrictions.
  • Major League Baseball Player Salary Arbitrations: Robert actively represents the MLBPA on salary arbitration matters where he advises player agents in salary negotiations and presents arbitration cases on behalf of MLB players.
  • Major League Baseball Player Agent Arbitrations: Robert has represented several high-profile baseball agents and agencies in arbitrations and investigations under the MLBPA’s Regulations Governing Player Agents.
  • MLB-MLBPA Grievance Arbitration: Robert has represented the MLBPA in grievances under the MLB-MLBPA Basic Agreement.
  • MLB Players Inc. v. DraftKings et al & MLB Players Inc. v. Underdog Sports et al: Robert represents MLB Players Inc. in litigation against numerous sports gambling companies related to the misappropriation of MLB players’ rights of publicity.
  • Porter v. National Football League Players Association: Robert successfully represented the NFLPA in litigation challenging conduct arising under the Union’s Regulations Governing Contract Advisors.
  • Hubbard et al. v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, et al.: Robert represents a putative class of current and former college athletes in antitrust litigation against the NCAA related to restraints on compensation for academic achievements. 
  • Olympic Athlete Counseling: Robert counseled a gold-medal Olympic skier in her return to competition pursuant to governing domestic and international regulations.
  • Labor and Employment Counseling: Robert has counseled numerous companies in employment litigations, arbitrations, and mediations.

Robert also maintains an active pro bono practice, where he has represented a non-profit organization advocating for the rights of Minor League Baseball Players, a client seeking asylum in the United States, and a client in a New York State criminal defense action.

  • In 2023, Robert was selected as one of Sports Business Journal’s 30 “New Voices Under 30,” which honors “the rising generation of sports business leaders, dealmakers and influencers across the industry.”
  • Robert is a key member of the Winston team recognized as Law360’s Sports “Practice Group of the Year” in (2021, 2022, 2023) and Best Law Firms® “Law Firm of the Year” in Sports Law (2024).
  • While at Fordham Law School, Robert earned the Addison M. Metcalf Labor Law Prize and the Donald J. Feerick Prize in Labor Law.  He also received the Archibald R. Murray Public Service Award for his work as a mediator in Fordham’s Mediation Clinic.

Robert is a member of the Sports Lawyers Association and the New York City Bar Sports Law Committee. He also serves on the Board of Advisors for Fordham Law School’s Sports Law Forum. Rob regularly speaks on panels and judges law school competitions, including Fordham Law School's National Basketball Negotiation Competition. 

Capabilities

Litigation/Trials
Antitrust/Competition
Labor & Employment
Commercial Litigation & Disputes
Sports

Key Matters

  • NFLPA Commercial and Labor Arbitration: Robert has represented the NFLPA in commercial disputes governed by the American Arbitration Association as well as labor disputes under the NFL-NFLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement.
  • Job Creators Network v. Major League Baseball, et. al.: Robert successfully represented the MLBPA in litigation that challenged Major League Baseball’s decision to relocate the 2021 All-Star Game from Atlanta to Denver in response to Georgia’s laws imposing voting restrictions.
  • Major League Baseball Player Salary Arbitrations: Robert actively represents the MLBPA on salary arbitration matters where he advises player agents in salary negotiations and presents arbitration cases on behalf of MLB players.
  • Major League Baseball Player Agent Arbitrations: Robert has represented several high-profile baseball agents and agencies in arbitrations and investigations under the MLBPA’s Regulations Governing Player Agents.
  • MLB-MLBPA Grievance Arbitration: Robert has represented the MLBPA in grievances under the MLB-MLBPA Basic Agreement.
  • MLB Players Inc. v. DraftKings et al & MLB Players Inc. v. Underdog Sports et al: Robert represents MLB Players Inc. in litigation against numerous sports gambling companies related to the misappropriation of MLB players’ rights of publicity.
  • Porter v. National Football League Players Association: Robert successfully represented the NFLPA in litigation challenging conduct arising under the Union’s Regulations Governing Contract Advisors.
  • Hubbard et al. v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, et al.: Robert represents a putative class of current and former college athletes in antitrust litigation against the NCAA related to restraints on compensation for academic achievements. 
  • Olympic Athlete Counseling: Robert counseled a gold-medal Olympic skier in her return to competition pursuant to governing domestic and international regulations.
  • Labor and Employment Counseling: Robert has counseled numerous companies in employment litigations, arbitrations, and mediations.

Robert also maintains an active pro bono practice, where he has represented a non-profit organization advocating for the rights of Minor League Baseball Players, a client seeking asylum in the United States, and a client in a New York State criminal defense action.

Credentials

Education

Robert received his J.D., cum laude, from Fordham University School of Law, where he was the Managing Editor of the Fordham Sports Law Forum and a member of the Urban Law Journal. He received his B.S., in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University, where he was a member of the Varsity Baseball and Varsity Sprint Football teams.

    Admissions
    • New York

    Related Insights & News

    Publications

    • Facilitating Change: Addressing the Underutilization of Mediation in Professional Sports, Harvard Negotiation Law Review, Fall 2019
    • The Struggle for Labor Equality in Minor League Baseball: Exploring Unionization, American Bar Association Journal of Labor & Employment Law, Fall 2020

    Speaking Engagements

    • “Practicing In-House at a Players Association,” New York City Bar Association, Sports Law Labor Subcommittee, Moderator, May, 2024
    • “The MLB Antitrust Exemption,” 27thAnnual Fordham Sports Law Symposium, Panelist, Mar., 2024
    • “MLB Salary Arbitration with Practitioners in the Industry,” New York City Bar Association, Sports Law Labor Subcommittee, Panelist, Mar., 2023
    Recognitions

    Winston Team Recognized in The Am Law Litigation Daily’s Litigator of the Week Column

    March 21, 2025

    Recognitions
    Winston & Strawn’s Antitrust Work Shortlisted for Three GCR Awards 2025

    February 5, 2025

    Recognitions
    Winston Team Led by Jeffrey Kessler Featured as Litigator of the Week

    October 11, 2024

    Press Release
    Hagens Berman and Winston & Strawn Seek Court Approval of Historic Settlement to Revolutionize College Sports

    July 26, 2024

    In the Media
    Winston & Strawn Secures Multibillion-Dollar Settlement for College Athletes

    May 28, 2024

    Press Release
    Hagens Berman and Winston & Strawn Secure Historic Multibillion-Dollar Settlement for College Athletes and Bring Revolutionary Change to College Sports

    May 23, 2024

    Recognitions

    Robert Pannullo Named to Sports Business Journal’s 2023 New Voices Under 30 List

    August 21, 2023

    Recognitions
    Winston & Strawn Antitrust/Competition Practice Recognized in 2023 GCR 100

    December 19, 2022

    Blog
    Blockchain and Cryptocurrency: The Future of Online Gambling?

    July 15, 2021

    View All Insights & News

    Capabilities

    Litigation/Trials
    Antitrust/Competition
    Labor & Employment
    Commercial Litigation & Disputes
    Sports
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