Davis Polk today announced that prominent sports lawyer Jon Oram has joined the firm as head of the Sports practice and a partner in the Mergers & Acquisitions practice. Mr. Oram will be resident in the firm’s New York office.

“Jon is one of the nation’s leading sports lawyers, and I am thrilled to welcome him to Davis Polk,” said Neil Barr, Davis Polk’s Chair and Managing Partner. “The sports industry is experiencing unprecedented growth, and momentum is only expected to accelerate. Jon is an important addition as we continue to grow our sports practice and further our position as a go-to firm for investors and other participants throughout the sports ecosystem.”

Mr. Oram advises clients at the intersection of sports, finance and global investment. With a 360-degree perspective on the sports industry, he represents a diverse range of stakeholders – from leagues, teams, ownership groups and media companies to private equity sponsors, credit funds, financial institutions and family offices. His experience includes franchise acquisitions and sales, private equity and credit investments, structured finance, facility development, fund formation, complex joint ventures and strategic partnerships.

Mr. Oram’s clients are a distinguished roster of professional sports leagues, teams, college conferences and institutional investors. Mr. Oram joins Davis Polk from Proskauer, where he was a partner in the Sports Law Group since 2007 and served as a member of the Executive Committee.

“Over more than two decades, Jon has built an enviable practice. He is known for advising on the sports industry’s most transformative matters,” said Oliver Smith, co-head of Davis Polk’s M&A practice. “He has an exceptional reputation throughout the sports community and is an excellent complement to our outstanding team. We are excited to welcome Jon and further strengthen our ability to support clients in their most important sports transactions.”

Davis Polk’s premier sports practice offers a full-service platform for clients in sports and adjacent sectors, advising on franchise sales, minority investments, innovative financings, media and technology deals, litigation and restructuring. The firm’s industry-shaping work includes advising principals on the largest franchise acquisitions ever completed in the NFL, NBA and MLB – including the largest transaction in the history of professional sports.

Mr. Oram said, “The business of sports has become one of the world’s most dynamic and attractive investment sectors. Davis Polk is uniquely positioned to lead the market with the multidisciplinary depth and sophistication that owners and investors demand. I’m thrilled to join this elite team and help drive the next phase of growth for the firm’s sports practice.”

Widely regarded as one of the leading sports lawyers in the nation, Mr. Oram was named to the Hollywood Reporter’s 2025 “Sports Lawyers Power List,” has been recognized by Law360 as a “Sports & Betting MVP of the Year” and is ranked in Band 1 for Sports Law by Chambers USA, where a client notes, “Jon is…the person you want on your side when doing the most important transaction for the organization.”

Mr. Oram received his J.D. from Yale Law School in 1999 and earned a B.A. and M.A. from Stanford University in 1996. He serves on the Board of Directors of Advocates for Children of New York.

About Davis Polk.

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP (including its associated entities) is an elite global law firm with world-class practices across the board. Clients know they can rely on us for their most challenging legal and business matters. From offices in the world’s key financial centers and political capitals, our more than 1,000 lawyers collaborate seamlessly to deliver exceptional service, sophisticated advice and creative, practical solutions. Visit davispolk.com.

About Davis Polk’s Sports practice.

Major players in the sports industry – including teams, owners, leagues, universities, investors and media companies – turn to Davis Polk. Our transactional and advisory work spans franchise acquisitions and sales; strategic investments; financings and securitizations; naming rights and sponsorships; league and team governance; and a range of strategic JVs and commercial matters. Our media rights work has included advising on the formation of numerous regional sports networks, programming and rights agreements, and related matters. Our litigators advise on high-stakes commercial and antitrust matters, including disputes regarding team sales and media rights. We represent clients in contract litigation and arbitrations and conduct internal investigations for sports organizations. Clients value our deep understanding of the issues and challenges unique to their business, such as the latest developments in AI-driven fan engagement, content evolution, cross-border investment and league regulations.

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