Eric H. Geffner

Eric Geffner is a Partner at Simpson Thacher, where he is Co-Head of the Sports group as part of the Firm’s Sports, Media and Entertainment Practice. Based in Los Angeles, he advises private companies and investors in M&A, dispositions, co-investments, joint ventures and other corporate transactions, with a focus on sports, entertainment and media. His work includes representing professional sports teams with day-to-day business operations, equity financings, sponsorship deals, licensing deals and stadium and practice facility deals, among other matters. He also represents individuals, groups and private equity firms on investments in, and acquisitions of, major professional sports teams around the world, including expansion teams.

Notable experience prior to joining Simpson Thacher includes advising:

Sports Experience

• Angel City FC (NWSL) across its formation and expansion rights acquisition, various commercial deals and equity financings and its 2024 control sale valuing the club at $250 million
• Ariel Investments on launching Project Level, a landmark $250 million women’s sports investment platform, and on investments in the Denver Summit (NWSL’s 16th franchise), League One Volleyball (LOVB) and NFL Flag Football
• Monarch Collective, the first-ever women’s sports fund, including on investments in Boston Unity, San Diego Wave FC, FC Viktoria Berlin and the new Cleveland WNBA expansion team
• World Sevens Football (W7F) in its creation and launch of a new global 7-on-7 women’s soccer competition series and its inaugural European and North American tournaments
• Buyers and sellers of, and investors in, multiple major professional sports teams, including:
  • Multiple investors (including Mitchell Rales and Magic Johnson) in the Josh Harris-led consortium that acquired the NFL’s Washington Commanders for $6.05 billion, the then-highest price ever paid for a professional sports franchise
  • Gabe Plotkin in his consortium’s acquisition of the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets for approximately $3 billion
  • Multiple investors in the Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore-led consortium that acquired a controlling interest in the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and WNBA’s Lynx
  • Laura Ricketts in her consortium’s acquisition of the NWSL’s Chicago Stars, valued at $60 million
  • Todd Boehly, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Eldridge Industries, LLC, in his acquisition of a minority interest in the Los Angeles Lakers NBA franchise.
  • Jeff Skoll in connection with his investments in Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns and operates the Washington Wizards, Washington Capitals and Washington Mystics

• Arctos Sports Partners in minority investments in National Hockey League (NHL) and National Basketball Association (NBA) franchises
• Chess.com in a multiyear partnership with the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) to host and operate regional qualifiers and serve as the official competition platform for chess at the 2026 and 2028 Esports Nations Cup (ENC)
• The Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) in its multi-year media rights deals with CBS Television Network and The CW Network
• Heath Freeman, a media, sports, real estate and hospitality executive, in his acquisition of Miami 305, the Miami-based BIG3 franchise
• The Kansas City Current (NWSL) and its ownership group led by wife and husband team Angie and Chris Long, including in securing the right to bring the 12th NWSL team to Kansas City and various commercial matters

Entertainment and Media Experience

• Live Nation Entertainment and its affiliates in various acquisitions and related joint ventures, including acquisitions of various venues and festivals across the U.S. and abroad
• Eldridge Industries in its acquisition, alongside Dick Clark Productions, of all the Golden Globes’ assets, rights and properties from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association
• ViacomCBS in its acquisition of a 49% stake in MIRAMAX
• Sony Music Entertainment Japan in its acquisition of 49% of the 80% stake held by DHX Media in the iconic Peanuts brand
• Warner Bros. in its acquisition of Machinima, a global digital programming service focused on fandom and gamer culture
• Independent film production company Good Universe in its sale to Lions Gate
• Creative Artists Agency in various joint ventures and strategic partnership, including in connection with (i) Library Pictures International, a joint venture Legendary Pictures to fund local language production slates in India, Latin America and Spain, with Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea, Vietnam and China, and (ii) Spyglass Media Group, a comedy film joint venture known as Artists Road with Propagate Content, Artists First, and Off-Road Productions

Eric was named to Los Angeles Business Journal’s 2025 “LA500” list and was recognized by The Hollywood Reporter as a “2025 Top Sports Lawyer.” He was also recognized by Variety in its 2023 and 2025 “Legal Impact Report” and in its 2025 “Dealmakers Impact Report.”

Eric received his J.D. from Columbia Law School in 2007. He received his B.A. from University of California, Los Angeles in 2004. He is admitted in California and New York.