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Industry
Winston has one of the world’s premier sports law practices. Our work has included some of the most famous legal matters in sports history—including Alston v. NCAA, the case that culminated in a 9–0 Supreme Court victory for the college players against the NCAA; the US$2.15B Los Angeles Dodgers acquisition; McNeil v. the NFL, the landmark antitrust jury trial that led to the establishment of free agency in the NFL; the multi-billion-dollar construction and permanent financings for SoFi Stadium; and Morgan v. USSF, the case that led to a historic equal pay settlement for the players on the Women’s National Team. Our work is transforming this global, multibillion-dollar industry.
Practice Area
Commercial Litigation & Disputes
Winston represents clients in virtually every type of dispute that could arise from operating a business. While our primary objective is to protect our clients from the need to engage in litigation and enter the courtroom, we take pride in our heavyweight litigation experience and the knowledge that corporate America has repeatedly retained us not just for “bet-the-company” trials, but for “bet-the-industry” cases as well. Our commercial litigators’ track record of success earned the team a national Tier 1 ranking in Best Law Firms® 2025. Our practice is anchored by seasoned litigators, many of whom have been recognized by in-house counsel and their peers as top practitioners in their fields.
Practice Area
Experience 8 results
Experience
|September 8, 2025
Winston represents a class of professional swimmers alleging World Aquatics (WA) violated antitrust laws by blocking their participation in the competing International Swimming League. After WA won summary judgment, Winston successfully appealed, arguing the court applied improper antitrust standards and wrongly denied certification of a damages class. In September 2024, the Ninth Circuit reversed both rulings, reviving all claims and issuing a landmark ruling on the possible application of the per se rule or quick look review to sports-associations rules. Am Law awarded Winston “Litigator of the Week” Runner-Up recognition for the win. In November 2024, the Ninth Circuit denied rehearing. In April 2025, the district court certified a damages class.
Experience
|June 8, 2025
Secured, with co-counsel, final approval of an historic settlement of over US$2.75B in back-damages for current and former college-athletes and a new revenue-sharing model allowing schools to share future earnings with athletes. This decade-long effort across four different lawsuits redefines the economics of college sports, affirming athlete rights and fair compensation. Following a 9-0 Supreme Court victory in Alston v. NCAA, the team filed three antitrust class actions, resulting in a groundbreaking settlement that creates a revenue-sharing system projected to generate at least US$20B in new, previously prohibited payments and benefits to Division I college athletes over the next decade. The settlement was recognized in Am Law‘s Litigator of the Week column.
Experience
|April 9, 2025
Won a major Second Circuit victory for Relevent Sports Group, LLC, a sports promoter that organizes soccer matches in the U.S. involving professional teams from non-U.S. leagues. A unanimous Second Circuit panel—repeatedly citing and quoting Winston’s briefs and oral argument—vacated the district court’s decision and revived Relevent’s antitrust suit against FIFA and the U.S. Soccer Federation, challenging a FIFA rule prohibiting official-season professional soccer games from being played outside a team or league’s FIFA-designated country. Am Law recognized the March 2023 win with a “LOTW” Runner-Up nod. With DOJ and Solicitor General support, we defeated Supreme Court review, leading to settlements with both defendants and paving the way for U.S.-venued foreign-league games.
Insights & News 435 results
Sponsorship
|October 22, 2025
Winston & Strawn Sponsors the 2025 Eastern District of Texas Bench Bar Conference
Winston & Strawn is a proud sponsor of the 2025 Eastern District of Texas Bench Bar Conference, one of the nation’s top annual bench bar conferences. The conference brings together judges, lawyers, topic speakers, guests, and other participants from across the world to discuss a broad range of cutting-edge legal topics.
Pro Bono In Action
|August 26, 2025
|1 Min Read
Winston Scores Title IX Win for High School Softball Players
Winston lawyers won class certification and then negotiated a favorable settlement for female College Park High School athletes who alleged gender discrimination in the school’s softball program.
In the Media
|August 6, 2025
|1 Min Read
Jeffrey Kessler Profiled in Bloomberg Law for Pioneering Work in Sports Antitrust Litigation
Winston & Strawn Co-Executive Chairman Jeffrey Kessler was featured in a Bloomberg Law article spotlighting his decades-long leadership in sports antitrust litigation. Described by Bloomberg Law as the “GOAT” at the intersection of sports and law, Jeffrey has led landmark cases that transformed the sports industry.
Other Results 14 results
Location
Winston & Strawn’s New York office opened in 1989 and has since grown to become the firm’s second-largest location, with 225+ lawyers distributed across 16 practice areas. Based in the iconic MetLife Building above Grand Central Station in Midtown Manhattan, our New York lawyers represent 80+ Fortune 500 companies from the city’s business epicenter. Our New York attorneys are tenacious and insightful, and they reflect the rich tapestry of New York City, with lawyers from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives working closely to support each other's success and achieve their clients' goals. Several of our firmwide employee networks are chaired by New York attorneys. Our New York office’s welcoming and collaborative atmosphere can be seen through numerous office-wide events, including volunteer opportunities, gatherings to connect over food and drinks, wellness event pop-ups, and annual entry in the NYC Lawyers Basketball League. Creating a connected and supportive setting for attorneys and business professionals fosters camaraderie and encourages all of us to work harder for one another and our clients.
Location
Founded in 1853, Winston & Strawn is one of the largest and oldest law firms in Chicago. The office is home to 290+ lawyers distributed across 20 practice areas. Our Chicago lawyers represent 90 companies in the Fortune 500 and are recognized in all the major directories and award competitions. They also are heavily invested in pro bono causes, having dedicated 19,000+ hours in 2024 to various pro bono organizations. Representing a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, they are hardworking, compassionate, and collaborative. Our Chicago office also takes immense pride in fostering a collegial atmosphere that influences every aspect of our culture. From weekly Starbucks Socials, where colleagues gather to connect over coffee and conversation, to ping pong tournaments that ignite friendly competition, to volunteer opportunities around the city, we celebrate the camaraderie and sense of community that unite us. This not only enhances collaboration and teamwork but creates a supportive environment that inspires us to excel in our professional pursuits.
Location
Serving one of the world’s largest economies for over 20 years, Winston & Strawn’s Los Angeles office is home to more than 100 lawyers and business professionals. Under the guidance of Office Managing Partner Angela Machala, our L.A. office thrives as a dynamic and tightly knit community with an inclusive culture in which its members from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives collaborate closely to support each other’s success and achieve their clients’ goals. Our L.A. lawyers—who are equally split between litigation and transactional work—advise 80+ Fortune 500 companies, which is a testament to the collaborative environment we’ve created to provide exceptional legal services.