DLA Piper represented Ted Segal in the acquisition of a majority ownership stake in Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamo and the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League.

Segal is the founder of EJS Group, a New York-based real estate development and financing company, and the cofounder of Verance Capital, a venture capital firm focused on sports, media and entertainment. In the transaction, he also acquired the leasing rights to BBVA Stadium.

“It was a privilege to represent Mr. Segal on this transaction. Ted is a passionate soccer fan who is committed to the success of both teams on and off the pitch. He will be a fantastic steward for both of these premier sports properties,” said Richard Rubano, the DLA Piper partner who led the firm’s deal team.

In addition to Rubano (New York), the DLA Piper team included lawyers from across the US. Among others, the team included partners Peter White (New York) and Mark Whitaker (Northern Virginia) and of counsels Jennifer Dinsmore (Baltimore) and Alexander Steinberg (New York).

With more than 1,000 corporate lawyers globally, DLA Piper helps clients execute complex transactions seamlessly while supporting clients across all stages of development. The firm has been rated number one in global M&A volume for 11 consecutive years, according to Mergermarket.

DLA Piper’s market-leading international team of sports lawyers has advised on some of the most significant transactions in the sports industry, including multi-billion dollar acquisitions and sales of sports franchises, joint ventures, stadium and arena developments, team financings, media and sponsorship arrangements, and regulatory and administrative issues