Richard Brand and Zak Welsh Named to The Hollywood Reporter’s 2026 Top Sports Layers List

ArentFox Schiff partners Richard Brand and Zak Welsh have been named to The Hollywood Reporter’s 2026 “Top Sports Lawyers” list, which recognizes select attorneys for their work on some of the most significant matters in the sports industry.

The publication highlighted Brand and Welsh for their recent work representing long-time Brand client the Los Angeles Lakers and the Buss family in connection with the landmark sale of the family’s majority ownership stake in the franchise to Mark Walter. Brand served as lead attorney on the transaction, which continued a longstanding relationship advising the Lakers on significant commercial and legal matters. Brand and Welsh were also recognized for their recent work on several other large commercial transactions, including representing Chicago Fire FC in connection with the McDonald’s Park naming rights transaction and Inter Miami FC in connection with the Nu Stadium naming rights transaction.

Rich is Managing Partner of ArentFox Schiff’s San Francisco office and head of the firm’s Sports Industry Group, which was recently named a 2025 Law 360 Practice Group of the Year in the Sports and Betting category. Rich’s unique multidisciplinary practice spans the traditional divide between representing leagues, teams, venues, and operators, on one hand, and sponsors and brands, on the other, allowing Rich to serve as a trusted advisor and source of value to any type of client on any side of a sports transaction. He has been recognized as a leading attorney by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and Best Lawyers. Rich has also been recognized as a SportsBusiness Journal Power Player and has been consistently named one of the Daily Journal’s “Top 100 Lawyers” in California.

Zak is a partner in the San Francisco office and a leading member of the Sports Industry Group. He advises on a broad range of complex sports transactions, including large naming rights and sponsorship transactions, foundational commercial and operational agreements for new and existing venues, and M&A transactions. Zak has been consistently recognized in the sports and real estate industries by leading publications such as Legal 500 – Next Gen Partner, Best Lawyers Ones to Watch, and Super Lawyers’ Rising Stars.

The Hollywood Reporter’s annual “Top Sports Lawyers” list recognizes lawyers behind major matters across the sports industry. Honorees are selected based on their client portfolios, groundbreaking matters, scope of deals, and reputation among their peers.

Read The Hollywood Reporter’s 2026 “Top Sports Lawyers” list here.

Smart In Your World
Your goals define our mission. Whether an immediate need or a long-term objective, ArentFox Schiff helps you reach your full potential. As industry insiders, we partner with you to develop practical business strategies and sophisticated legal solutions to achieve today’s targets and anticipate tomorrow’s problems. We get you across the finish line.

Contacts

Continue Reading