Davis Polk Chair and Managing Partner Neil Barr and partner and Sports practice head Jon Oram were featured in Legal Business discussing private capital in sports.

The article noted that investor interest in sports is at an all-time high, and highlighted Davis Polk’s role advising Mark Walter on his acquisition of a majority stake in the Los Angeles Lakers.

“Everyone wants to invest in sports right now,” Jon said. “It’s not just private equity; it’s private credit, family offices, strategics, sovereigns, and registered investment advisers.”

Discussing Jon’s arrival in 2025 to grow Davis Polk’s Sports practice and further its position as a go-to firm for investors and other participants throughout the sports ecosystem, Neil said, “Bringing on Jon was an opportunity to really expand the offering, to pick up not just those episodic changes in control franchise deals, but the broader universe of deployment of private capital in this ecosystem.”

The article also noted that sports transactions have become more intricate with growing numbers of parties involved.

Neil noted that this added complexity means the client’s legal requirements are higher –  “It’s gotten more complicated, more structured, and with sophisticated financial allocators and capital involved, legal needs have become more complicated.” 

When asked about whether the industry will continue to grow, Jon said, “There’s a lot going on, and a lot of talk back and forth. I don’t think you’ve seen the end of it.”

“Sports is the new private capital frontier – why top firms are upping their game,” Legal Business (August 14, 2026) (subscription required)

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