Foley & Lardner LLP Partner Jon Israel was quoted in a Sportico article titled “LIV Golfer’s Lost Sponsorship Shows Risks of Law-Firm Endorsements” that discusses the unique sponsorship relationship between law firms and athletes following LIV Golf’s announcement that American golfer Jason Kokrak was joining the league, and his subsequent law firm endorsement loss.
Israel commented, “For any law firms with sports law practices sponsoring an athlete could make some sense if the firm provides services to individual athletes, maybe less so for firms that represent teams, leagues and organizations.” He continued, “any law firm might get some business development or brand traction and showcase its sports law practice by creatively using a celebrity sponsorship through events and appearances for clients or prospects, e.g., at a golf or other outing.”
Israel went on to stress that law firm partnerships with leagues or teams need to reflect a firm’s “core values” and require assessment “under applicable ethical/professional responsibility rules concerning attorney advertising and solicitation.” Still, he admits, “I would love to see the Foley & Lardner logo on an NBA team jersey patch.”
