Biography
Steve Argeris is a partner in Weil’s Private Equity practice and is based in New York and Washington, D.C. Steve represents investors, teams, universities and brands across the sports, media and entertainment sectors. He has represented multiple high-profile sports teams and owners in bet-the-company matters, including record-setting M&A transactions in the NFL, MLS and NWSL, private company investments, naming rights and enterprise sponsorships totaling in the billions, defending league-facing investigations and assisting on the hiring and termination of high-level sporting and business employees and other key sporting operations matters.
His experience includes serving most recently as Vice President and General Counsel with Tepper Sports & Entertainment (owner of the Carolina Panthers NFL franchise, Charlotte FC in MLS, and Bank of America Stadium, along with various real estate holdings), during which Steve advised senior management on all legal matters, including government affairs, employment, intellectual property, and all commercial matters. He helped the team transition from the ownership of founder Jerry Richardson to David Tepper in 2018, then the largest team sale in sports history. Prior to his legal career, Steve worked as a sports journalist for The Washington Post, covering the NFL, college sports, and boxing.
Steve was named among the “40 under 40” by the Charlotte Business Journal in 2019, and currently serves as vice chairman of the Board of Directors of USA Rugby.
EXPERIENCE*
- A consortium led by Josh Harris in the acquisition of the NFL’s Washington Commanders for $6.05 billion, the highest value sports franchise transaction in U.S. history.
- Michele Kang in building Kynisca, her multi-club women’s soccer organization in purchases of the Washington Spirit NWSL franchise, Olympique Lyonnais Féminin, and London City Lionesses.
- The Walton-Penner Family in the $4.65 billion acquisition of the NFL's Denver Broncos, the second highest value ever paid for the acquisition of a professional sports team.
- Seven Power 5 institutions in navigating the post-House settlement world on issues related to the Name, Image and Likeness rights of student-athletes.
- Inter Miami CF, a Major League Soccer franchise, and its investor group in the team’s formation and subsequent recapitalization involving an investment from Ares Capital.
- Inter Miami CF, a Major League Soccer franchise in its successful negotiations with the City of Miami to build a 25,000-seat soccer stadium and ancillary development at Miami Freedom Park.
- Boise State University in the formation of its Name, Image and Likeness group licensing program, winner of “Best Institutional Program” award at the inaugural NIL Summit in 2022.
- Investors in the purchase of interests in soccer and basketball teams in the United Kingdom, France, and Israel.
- Various brands and high-profile individuals in multi-million dollar endorsement agreements.
- Various publicly traded companies in naming rights and other enterprise-level sponsorship agreements.
- NFL, NBA, Formula One and MLS teams in various regulatory, corporate, sponsorship, investigative and employment matters.
- The National Football League in connection with a number of matters, including sponsorship and licensing-related advice.
- Major League Cricket in its $44 million Series A and A1 fundraising rounds, as well as various corporate and commercial matters.
- Family offices in a variety of investment and portfolio company operational matters.
- Led the successful passage of legislation securing $160 million in incentives from the state of South Carolina for the Carolina Panthers’ planned headquarters in Rock Hill.
- Led the expansion effort which secured the 30th franchise in MLS history (Charlotte FC) for Tepper Sports & Entertainment.
- Dominique Dawes, a hall-of-fame Olympic gold medalist, three-time Olympian, and founder of Dominique Dawes Gymnastics & Ninja Academy (“DDGNA”), in DDGNA’s partnership with Trivest Partners.
Prior to joining Weil, Steve was a partner at another international law firm.
Steve received his J.D. from New York University School of Law, his M.B.A. from New York University Leonard N. Stern School of Business and his B.A. from the University of Virginia.
* Matters noted above include those handled prior to joining Weil.