About the speakers:
Jared Bartie is a partner in the Corporate & Financial Services Department at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP and chair of the firm’s Sports Transactions Practice. A sports industry veteran, Jared represents domestic and international clients on an array of complex matters, including professional sports team investments, stadium and arena transactions, facility naming rights and sponsorship transactions, and complex media rights agreements. His clients have included the Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz, Brooklyn Nets, Detroit Pistons, Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, Under Armour, Legends, Pac-12 Conference, USA Track & Field, USA Volleyball, Washington Convention and Sports Authority and City of Atlanta and Fulton County Recreation Authority.
Jared is also a leading lawyer in the esports industry. He advises on team investments, league entry negotiations, corporate sponsorships, player contract discussions, and arena development matters. His deals have involved navigating entry into the top esports leagues, including Activision Blizzard’s Overwatch League and Riot’s North America League of Legends Championship Series.
Ben Lauritsen is Senior Vice President & General Counsel for the Portland Trail Blazers. He advises the Trail Blazers and the Rose Quarter in strategy, negotiations, disputes and compliance.
Prior to joining the Trail Blazers, Lauritsen worked as a Corporate Attorney at Stoel Rives LLP in Portland and at Latham & Watkins LLP in London.
Lauritsen graduated from the University of Chicago Law School in 2004 and spent a year as a judicial clerk for Judge David G. Campbell in the U.S. District of Arizona following graduation. Lauritsen serves on the board for The Center for Business Law and Innovation at Lewis & Clark Law School and the Trail Blazers Foundation. He is a frequent contributor to sports and entertainment law classes, panels and conferences.