Ron Gaither serves as the co-leader of BakerHostetler’s Sports Industry team and is a long-time member of the Commercial Litigation team. He regularly provides counsel to professional teams and leagues – both in Atlanta for the NFL’s Falcons and MLB’s Braves and across the country – regarding a range of issues, such as litigation, sports and license agreements, trademark, NIL, sports gaming, employment and real estate.
Clients rely on Ron to guide them through high-profile transactional matters, including a significant negotiation of a new license agreement and real estate development agreement for a multibillion-dollar arena in Los Angeles. He also manages corporate-sponsorship sports portfolios for large national institutions.
In each matter, Ron takes a global approach to client concerns, addressing potential impacts that may not be immediately obvious and taking the time to fully comprehend their businesses and the unique pressures that they face. Clients appreciate Ron’s ability to work swiftly toward resolutions and, foremost, to assist sports clients with putting on the best products for their fan base.
Ron is also an authority on NIL (name, image and likeness), which gives student-athletes the legal right to control how their image is used. He has written numerous articles, spoken at events and presented informational webinars on the history and legal landscape of the subject. Ron also assists clients with the day-to-day operational effects of NIL on the revenue generation side of their business.
As a trial lawyer, Ron has handled commercial cases across a broad spectrum. He has litigated cases involving products liability, financial broker/dealer transactions, high-profile premises liability matters and state and federal matters across a wide range of industries.