Key Takeaways
- • Clifford Chance has appointed Charles H. Baker as a partner in its Private Equity practice, joining from Sidley Austin with more than 30 years of US and international sports and entertainment experience, according to a PRNewswire release issued by Clifford Chance US LLP.
- • Baker will chair the firm's global Entertainment and Sports sector team alongside European partners Luis Alonso and Christopher Yates.
- • Baker is currently advising on the record-breaking US$12.5 billion Los Angeles Lakers transaction and recently advised on acquisitions of the San Diego Padres, Washington Commanders and Charlotte Hornets.
- • The hire is Clifford Chance's 11th private capital partner hire and 13th partner addition in the US in 2026, and the second prominent private equity and sports hire that month after former NFL General Counsel Jill Kelley.
- • Firm leaders describe private equity as accelerating investment in sports, with the hire intended to strengthen cross-border capabilities linking clients and capital across global investment corridors.
Summary
Global law firm Clifford Chance has appointed Charles H. Baker as a partner in its Private Equity practice, according to a PRNewswire announcement. Baker joins from Sidley Austin and brings more than 30 years of experience across US and international sports and entertainment industries. He will chair the firm's global Entertainment and Sports sector team alongside European partners Luis Alonso and Christopher Yates.
The firm says Baker has advised team owners, investors, private equity sponsors, leagues and sports-focused investment platforms across major professional competitions, including the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, MLS, NWSL, WNBA, Liga MX, Formula 1 and several European football leagues. His practice covers franchise acquisitions, league expansion, major ownership investments, and media and gaming transactions, with substantial work in women's sports involving Gotham FC, Denver Summit FC, Monarch Collective and Ariel Investments' Project Level.
Baker is currently advising on the US$12.5 billion Los Angeles Lakers transaction, described in the release as record-breaking. He recently advised on the acquisitions of MLB's San Diego Padres, the NFL's Washington Commanders and the NBA's Charlotte Hornets, and on the sale of NWSL's Angel City. He also represented Circuit of the Americas in its strategic partnership with Carlyle's Global Credit Platform, and the owners of the Premier Hockey Federation in a transaction that led to the launch of the Professional Women's Hockey League. The release notes he has advised athletes including Eli Manning, Kevin Durant, Tracy McGrady and Jozy Altidore on sports investments.
Spencer Baylin, global head of Private Equity at Clifford Chance, said private equity is redefining the sports sector, with investment accelerating at the highest levels. Neil Barlow, the firm's lead transatlantic partner for private equity sports, described Baker as a leading figure in the sector and said the hire creates a world-class platform for growth in the US and globally. Luis Alonso, co-chair of global entertainment and sports, characterized the US sports market as the most competitive in the world and said the hire is a transformational step for the practice.
The appointment is Clifford Chance's 11th private capital partner hire and 13th partner addition in the US in 2026. It follows the arrival of former NFL General Counsel Jill Kelley earlier the same month.
The firm says Baker has advised team owners, investors, private equity sponsors, leagues and sports-focused investment platforms across major professional competitions, including the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, MLS, NWSL, WNBA, Liga MX, Formula 1 and several European football leagues. His practice covers franchise acquisitions, league expansion, major ownership investments, and media and gaming transactions, with substantial work in women's sports involving Gotham FC, Denver Summit FC, Monarch Collective and Ariel Investments' Project Level.
Baker is currently advising on the US$12.5 billion Los Angeles Lakers transaction, described in the release as record-breaking. He recently advised on the acquisitions of MLB's San Diego Padres, the NFL's Washington Commanders and the NBA's Charlotte Hornets, and on the sale of NWSL's Angel City. He also represented Circuit of the Americas in its strategic partnership with Carlyle's Global Credit Platform, and the owners of the Premier Hockey Federation in a transaction that led to the launch of the Professional Women's Hockey League. The release notes he has advised athletes including Eli Manning, Kevin Durant, Tracy McGrady and Jozy Altidore on sports investments.
Spencer Baylin, global head of Private Equity at Clifford Chance, said private equity is redefining the sports sector, with investment accelerating at the highest levels. Neil Barlow, the firm's lead transatlantic partner for private equity sports, described Baker as a leading figure in the sector and said the hire creates a world-class platform for growth in the US and globally. Luis Alonso, co-chair of global entertainment and sports, characterized the US sports market as the most competitive in the world and said the hire is a transformational step for the practice.
The appointment is Clifford Chance's 11th private capital partner hire and 13th partner addition in the US in 2026. It follows the arrival of former NFL General Counsel Jill Kelley earlier the same month.
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