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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
Experience 18 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
|July 30, 2025
Represent Norman W. Fries, Inc. d/b/a Claxton Poultry Farms in a series of 15+ antitrust class actions consolidated in the Northern District of Illinois and brought by plaintiffs who allege that Claxton and the nation’s other largest poultry producers conspired to fix the price of broiler chickens in a scheme from 2008 to 2016 that raised the price for broiler chickens by artificially reducing supply.
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.
Insights & News 1,137 results
Recognitions
|November 6, 2025
|Less Than 1 Min Read
Winston Merits 99 Tier 1 Rankings in the 2026 Edition of Best Law Firms®
Winston & Strawn received a cumulative 99 Tier 1 practice area rankings in the 2026 edition of Best Law Firms®. 25 Winston practice areas received a National Tier 1 ranking, and 74 received local Metropolitan Tier 1 rankings across the firm’s Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C offices.
Recognitions
|October 30, 2025
|Less Than 1 Min Read
Winston & Strawn Recognized in 2026 Benchmark Litigation
Winston & Strawn has been recognized in the 2026 edition of Benchmark Litigation, which covers the litigation and disputes market in North America. The firm is recognized for its excellence in litigation in the following categories:
Winston’s AI Top 10
|October 2025
|5 Min Read
Winston’s AI Monthly Recap - October 2025
Winston’s AI Top 10 summarizes the latest AI developments in the legal industry.
Other Results 32 results
Site Content
Site Content
“Baby HSR” or “mini HSR” laws refer to state-level premerger notification and reporting requirements that resemble the federal Hart-Scott-Rodino Act but tend to apply to smaller transactions valued below the federal notification thresholds. These laws, often focused on specific industries like healthcare, aim to enhance state-level antitrust oversight by requiring companies to notify state authorities of mergers or acquisitions that could impact local competition. Filing obligations, timing, and fees vary by state, with some requiring detailed disclosures about the transaction’s competitive impact within the state. State authorities can investigate, challenge, or impose conditions on transactions even if they are cleared federally. Winston’s Baby HSR survey provides buyers and sellers with a resource to quickly start assessing which states may have premerger notification requirements that impact their transactions.
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What Is the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)?
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is a government agency established in 1914 to prevent anticompetitive, deceptive, or unfair business practices. The FTC is defined as having a dual mission of: (1) protecting consumers; and (2) promoting competition. Agency expertise and resources are available to federal and state legislatures, as well as other U.S. government agencies. The FTC enforces consumer protection and antitrust laws, and also works to advance consumers’ interests and provide educational programs.