Brandon Etheridge, the former general counsel for the Baltimore Ravens, has joined a major Biglaw firm to help build and lead its growing sports law practice.
Etheridge brings substantial insider knowledge to the role, having served at the highest legal levels of one of the NFL’s most prominent franchises.
His appointment signals a broader push by the firm to establish itself as a serious player in the increasingly lucrative and complex sports law sector.
Sports law has grown significantly as a practice area in recent years, driven by expanding media rights deals, athlete contracts, sponsorship agreements, and the rise of sports betting legislation across the United States.
Large law firms have been competing aggressively to recruit legal professionals with direct industry experience, recognising that clients demand advisers who understand the business from the inside.
Etheridge’s background gives him a rare perspective that few attorneys in private practice can claim, having operated within an NFL front office at the executive level.
He described his move into private practice as an opportunity to leverage that experience directly for the benefit of clients navigating the sports industry’s complex legal landscape.
“What I’ll be able to do is bring that insider experience and operational expertise to this practice that will help put our clients in a better position,” Etheridge said.
His comments reflect a growing understanding among law firm leaders that sports law clients increasingly expect counsel with real-world operational knowledge, not just traditional legal expertise.
The firm’s decision to invest in a dedicated sports law practice reflects wider trends across the legal industry, where specialised boutique-style divisions within larger firms have become a key growth strategy.
Demand for sophisticated legal advice in professional sports continues to rise as team valuations soar, private equity investment in leagues grows, and athletes pursue increasingly complex commercial ventures beyond their playing careers.
Etheridge’s hire is expected to attract both team-side and individual athlete clients, given his deep familiarity with the contractual and operational demands placed on franchises at the highest level of professional sport.