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Primary practice areas
- Sports and entertainment law
- Business transactions
- Buy/sell agreements
- Litigation
- Labor and employment issues
- Real estate matters
General counsel services
- Sports and entertainment ventures
- Small and closely held businesses of various industries
- Public sector entities, including municipalities and school districts
Representative matters
- Negotiated purchases and sales of minor league baseball teams and other privately held businesses
- Represented parties in asset transactions, equity transfers and debt instruments
- Represented minor league baseball teams in negotiations for stadium leases and transfers
- Advised baseball team in connection with ballpark construction
- Represented baseball teams in obtaining approvals from Minor League Baseball and the commissioner of Major League Baseball
- Established operating and ownership entities for minor league baseball teams and other businesses
- Negotiated naming rights and sponsorship agreements
- Negotiated labor agreements and represented clients in labor disputes
- Represented clients in civil litigation, including jury trials
Publications and speaking engagements
- “As Opening Day nears, ballpark liability issues to remember,” Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal, Volume 12, Issue 46, March 22–28, 2010
- Legally Speaking newsletter, 2004–present
- “Ballpark Leases, MiLB-Regulated Transactions, Liability Update,” Bob Freitas Business Seminar, Baseball Winter Meetings, Indianapolis, 2009
- “How the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 Affects Your Clubhouse;
Ballpark Liability Update,” Bob Freitas Business Seminar, Baseball Winter Meetings, Las Vegas, 2008
- “Legally Speaking—A Fresh Look at Employment and Liability,” Bob Freitas Business Seminar, Baseball Winter Meetings, Nashville, 2007
- “Preventing Employment Pitfalls,” Bob Freitas Business Seminar, Baseball Winter Meetings, Orlando, 2006
- “Inside the Park Liability,” Bob Freitas Business Seminar, Baseball Winter Meetings, Dallas, 2005
Qualifications and admissions
- U. S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, 1978
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, 1991
- Supreme Court of Ohio, 1978
- Certified by Supreme Court of Ohio as acting judge to preside over courtroom proceedings, including jury trials
Memberships
- American Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association
- Sports Lawyers Association
- Ohio State Bar Association
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
Career
- Nicola, Gudbranson & Cooper LLC, member (1994–present); Management Committee, member (2008–present)
- L. James Juliano Jr. & Associates (1982–1994)
- Sole practitioner associated with private firms (1977–1982)
Education
- J.D., Case Western Reserve University (1977)
- B.A., Case Western Reserve University (1974)
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