Clifford Chance Strengthens Global Sports Private Equity Practice with Hire of Veteran Dealmaker Charles H. Baker

Global law firm Clifford Chance has appointed Charles H. Baker as a partner in its Private Equity practice, bringing more than 30 years of experience in the US and international sports and entertainment industries, and further strengthening the firm’s global offering.

Baker joins Clifford Chance in the US from Sidley Austin and will chair the firm’s global Entertainment and Sports sector team alongside European partners Luis Alonso and Christopher Yates. The firm’s global Entertainment and Sports sector team advises on transactions across the world’s major markets. For decades, Clifford Chance has been at the forefront of the global sports industry, advising on some of the market’s most high-profile and complex transactions, disputes and regulatory developments. Today, the firm’s global Entertainment and Sports team acts for investors, clubs, leagues, governing bodies and rights holders at the center of the sector’s most strategic and significant matters.

Baker brings decades of experience advising team owners, investors, private equity sponsors, leagues and sports-focused investment platforms across virtually every major professional sports league and competition, including the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, MLS, NWSL, WNBA, Liga MX, Formula 1 and multiple European football leagues. His practice spans franchise acquisitions, league expansion, major ownership investments, media, gaming and strategic transactions throughout the sports ecosystem, including substantial work in women’s sports on matters involving Gotham FC, the Denver Summit FC, Monarch Collective and Ariel Investments’ Project Level. His deep US market experience combined with significant cross-border transactional experience provides a particularly strong complement to Clifford Chance’s fully integrated Private Equity and Entertainment and Sports teams.

Baker is currently advising on the record-breaking US$12.5 billion Los Angeles Lakers transaction and recently advised on the acquisitions of MLB’s San Diego Padres, the NFL’s Washington Commanders, and the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, as well as the sale of the NWSL’s Angel City, among dozens of other franchise and league transactions. He also represented Circuit of the Americas’ F1 in its recent strategic partnership with Carlyle’s Global Credit Platform as well as the owners of the Premier Hockey Federation in a transaction that led to the launch of the Professional Women’s Hockey League. He has advised numerous athletes, including Eli Manning, Kevin Durant, Tracy McGrady and Jozy Altidore on their sports investments.

Baker said, “Clifford Chance has an exceptional platform in both private equity and sports with strong capabilities across every major global market. As the sector continues to accelerate, bringing my US experience to a leading international firm of the highest caliber creates an exciting opportunity to deliver even greater value to clients.”

Spencer Baylin, global head of Private Equity said, “Private equity is redefining the sports sector with investment accelerating at the highest levels and driving a new generation of major global deals. Charles’s track record of leading many of the most significant transactions in the US is unparalleled. His arrival further strengthens our offering connecting clients and capital across global investment corridors.”

Neil Barlow, the firm’s lead transatlantic partner for private equity sports said, “Charles is a powerhouse in sports. He has spent many years advising on sector-defining transactions for some of the most prominent US franchises and emerging leagues. With Charles joining our existing global team and adding to our sports sector depth, we have created a formidable, world-class platform for continued growth in the US and globally. We look forward to working together to further build this exceptional platform.”

Luis Alonso, co-chair of global entertainment and sports said, “Clifford Chance was one of the law firms to establish a global, market-leading sports practice, acting for many decades for top clubs, sports’ institutions and financial sponsors on the most groundbreaking matters that have reshaped the history of the industry. With Charles on board, we are bringing a market leader in the US sports sector, the most competitive market in the world. This is a transformational step that will certainly push our practice to very exciting times.”

Baker is the firm’s second prominent hire in the private equity and sports sectors this month, following the arrival of former NFL General Counsel, Jill Kelley, and his appointment represents Clifford Chance’s 11^th private capital partner hire and 13^th partner addition in the US in 2026.