NEW YORK, August 8, 2022 – Proskauer, a leading international law firm, is pleased to announce that Senior Counsel Christine Lazatin has been recognized by Sports Business Journal (SBJ) as a 2022 Game Changer, having been named to the publication’s 12th annual class of leading women in sports business. The award highlights women in the sports industry who have played key roles in their fields by bringing new approaches to sports business, leading significant projects and programs, and mentoring other women within the industry.
Christine represents professional sports teams, leagues and owners, corporate borrowers and financial institutions in a variety of transactional matters. As a member of Proskauer’s Sports Law and Finance Groups, she regularly advises several major sports leagues (including the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League and Major League Soccer), as well as a number of NBA, NHL, National Football League and Major League Baseball teams, in connection with acquisition and stadium financings, working capital facilities, league-wide and league-level credit facilities, workouts and restructurings.
"Christine is a phenomenal attorney, and her work has been nothing short of invaluable for her clients and our Firm. It is not easy to carve your own path as a woman in sports law, but Christine’s determination, professional nature and, of course, legal, financial and sports acumen have allowed her to do so successfully. I am incredibly proud to see her named a Game Changer and look forward to seeing her future accomplishments," said Partner Elise Bloom, who received the Game Changer: Women in Sports Business award in 2021.
Among Christine’s recent work is a landmark financing between long-time client Soccer United Marketing (an affiliate of MLS) and a syndicate of Black-owned banks organized by the National Black Bank Foundation. The $25 million loan was the first major commercial deal in which a U.S. sports league transacted exclusively with Black-owned banks.
In addition to her financing work, Christine represents sports clients on a full range of corporate matters, including numerous expansion and ownership transactions for the NHL, the NBA and MLS. Most recently, she advised MLS in launching an affiliated Division III professional men’s outdoor league known as “MLS Next Pro” and continues to advise the new league on governance and expansion matters.
Christine was named a “Power Player: Outside Counsel” by Sports Business Journal in 2021, and she is one of only four women ranked by Chambers USA in the Sports Law category.
Sports Business Journal will recognize the 2022 honorees for their achievements at its “Game Changers: Women in Sports Business” conference at MetLife Stadium on October 26.
Read more about Christine in Sports Business Journal (subscription required): Announcing SBJ’s Game Changers Class of 2022 (sportsbusinessjournal.com)
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We are 800+ lawyers serving clients from 12 offices located in the leading financial and business centers in the Americas, Europe and Asia. The world’s leading organizations, companies and corporations choose us to be their representatives in their most critical situations. But more, they consider Proskauer a strategic partner to drive their business forward. We work with asset managers, major sports leagues, Fortune 500 companies, entertainment industry legends and other industry-redefining companies.
For more than 55 years, Proskauer has advised the world’s premier sports organizations on their most critical and complex matters. Our lawyers play a pivotal role in the transactions, negotiations and litigations that are at the leading edge of the business of sports.