Latham & Watkins has advised Authentic Brands Group (ABG), a global brand owner, development, and entertainment company, on its strategic partnership with David Beckham to co-own and manage Beckham’s global brand. In connection with the partnership, David Beckham has become a shareholder in ABG.
The partnership with David Beckham marks a definitive step in ABG’s global strategy to expand its corporate footprint, launch new business verticals, and drive growth in key territories, including EMEA and APAC. David Beckham joins the roster of ABG’s growing entertainment portfolio that includes some of the world’s most celebrated athletes and iconic sports brands such as Muhammad Ali, Shaquille O’Neal, and Sports Illustrated.
ABG has also become the largest shareholder in Studio 99, an integrated creative and production studio co-founded by Beckham in 2019. The company has a slate of documentary series in development and production for global platforms, including Netflix and Disney+, in addition to a commercial business generating content and creative marketing campaigns for a range of global brand clients.
The cross-border Latham team was led by London corporate partner Farah O’Brien; entertainment, sports, and media partner Patrick Mitchell; and data and technology transactions partner Deborah Kirk with New York counsel Mikael Vardanyan; London associates Allison Kramer, Cécile Wirxel, and Grace Erskine; and New York associate Shanta Chirravuri. Advice was also provided on employment matters by London partner Catherine Drinnan with associate Jenny Tholen; and on tax matters by London partner Helen Lethaby with London associate Lina Le Roux and Chicago associate Michael Zucker.
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