Jon H. Oram

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Partner

New York +1.212.969.3401

Jon H. Oram is a partner in Proskauer’s Corporate Department, a former member of the Firm’s Executive Committee, and a member of its nationally recognized Sports Law Group. Widely regarded as one of the leading advisors in the industry, Jon advises clients at the intersection of sports, finance and global investment on complex, high-value deals that are reshaping the business of sports worldwide.

Jon is known for his ability to navigate sophisticated transactions and deliver innovative solutions for over two decades. With a 360-degree perspective on the global sports industry, he represents a diverse range of stakeholders throughout the sports ecosystem – from leagues, teams, ownership groups and media companies to private equity sponsors, credit funds, financial institutions and family offices. His experience includes M&A transactions, private equity and credit investments, structured finance, facility development, complex joint ventures and strategic partnerships. His practice spans the full lifecycle of sports-related investments, from fund formation and capital raising to bespoke deal structuring, execution and portfolio monetization.

Jon also advises leagues, owners, bidders and investors in auctions and privately negotiated sales or major league sports franchises, league memberships, controlling interests and minority stakes across all major sports, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, the Premier League, La Liga, WNBA, NWSL, ATP and WTA. He regularly counsels leading investors and financial institutions – including Ares Capital, Avenue Capital, Goldman Sachs, HPS Investment Partners, JPMorgan, Oaktree Capital, The Raine Group and Shamrock Capital – on equity, debt and hybrid investments. He also represents leagues, teams, collegiate conferences, stadium companies and other sports and sports-adjacent businesses who are seeking outside capital or undertaking strategic transactions.

Jon has advised on landmark, market-changing transactions such as:

Investments by funds managed by Ares Capital Management in the Miami Dolphins, Inter Miami CF and Atlético Madrid
The formation of Avenue Capital’s Avenue Sports Opportunities Fund with over $1 billion in commitments, as well as multiple fund investments
Tom Brady and Tom Wagner’s investment in the Las Vegas Raiders
Shamrock Capital’s strategic growth investment in Excel Sports Management
CVC Partners’ $150 million investment in WTA Ventures
The Friedkin Group’s acquisition of a majority interest in Everton Football Club
Woody Johnson’s purchase of a significant minority stake in Crystal Palace FC
The $4.65 billion record-breaking sale of the Denver Broncos to the Walton family
Acquisition of the San Diego Padres by Peter Seidler and members of his family
Acquisition of the Houston Astros by an ownership group led by Jim Crane
Acquisition of the Washington Nationals by the Lerner family
Acquisition of the Jacksonville Jaguars by Shahid Khan
The bankruptcy, auction and $2.15 billion sale of the Los Angeles Dodgers
The NHL’s establishment of a new franchise in Salt Lake City following the deactivation of the Arizona Coyotes franchise.
The formation of NBA China L.P. and its concurrent $253 million private placement
Structuring and formation of the NBA’s $5.8 billion league-wide credit facility
Executing over twenty expansion transactions for Major League Soccer – most recently its sale of the San Diego FC expansion club for $500 million – as well as MLS’s landmark arrangements with global icons David Beckham and Lionel Messi
Financing and development of prominent venues such as MetLife Stadium, Lincoln Financial Field, the Prudential Center and the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai
The creation and rollout of the world’s first professional cheerleading league for Varsity Brands
Investments in multiple sports teams and asset portfolios across the world, including transactions involving the New York Yankees, Washington Commanders, Girona FC, Leeds United FC, Scottish Rangers and Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), as well as various NASCAR, SailGP, MotoGP and PBR teams.

Jon also serves as primary outside counsel to Los Angeles 2028, the nonprofit host committee responsible for organizing the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which he advises on governance, financing, strategic joint ventures and agreements with key stakeholders.

Ranked as one of the nation’s top sports attorneys by Chambers USA (Band One), Jon has been inducted into the Sports Business Journal “Forty Under 40” Hall of Fame and named by SBJ as a “Power Player” in sports law. He was recognized by Forbes as one of the top 250 lawyers in America and one of the best lawyers in New York State in 2025, and by Law360 as its “Sports & Betting MVP of the year” for 2019.

Jon is a member of the Firm’s Pro Bono Initiative Committee and serves on the Board of Directors of Advocates for Children of New York, an organization dedicated to protecting every child’s right to an education.

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