Dewey & LeBoeuf is representing the Los Angeles Dodgers, one of baseball’s best known teams, on its pending US$2 billion acquisition by a consortium comprising basketball star Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson, baseball executive Stan Kasten, movie executive Peter Guber and financial services firm Guggenheim Partners.

The acquisition must be approved at a federal bankruptcy court hearing on April 13.

Dewey & LeBoeuf has been representing the Dodgers since the team filed for Chapter 11 protection in June 2011. The team’s previous owner, Frank McCourt, has been locked in a media rights dispute with Major League Baseball, the baseball regulator, and Fox Broadcasting Company, leading Mr McCourt to file for Chapter 11 protection. The team entered an auction process, managed by Blackstone Group, with rival bids entered by billionaires Steve Cohen, Patrick Soon-Shiong, Arsenal football club owner Stan Kroenke and America football team the St Louis Rams.

Business Solutions & Governance partner Bruce Bennett commented: “This is a fantastic end result for the Dodgers, after a difficult period in their distinguished history. We are delighted to have played a role in resolving their difficulties and facilitating a solution that suits all parties. This adds to Dewey & LeBoeuf’s outstanding reputation in both high-stakes bankruptcy matters and more broadly as a leading advisor to the sports industry.”

Mr Bennett led Dewey & LeBoeuf’s team, working on the bankruptcy aspects of the Dodger’s situation, with partner Rick Climan advising on the acquisition. They were assisted by Business Solutions and Governance partners Sid Levinson and Josh Mester and Corporate partners Eric Reifschneider and Paul Chen. Litigation partner Matthew Walsh also advised. The team also comprised Business Solutions and Governance counsel Monica Wiener and associates Jason Wolf, Michael Schneidereit, Xinlin Li, Colin Greenspon and Katy Alexander.

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