NEWS

Joseph Leccese, Chairman of the Firm at Proskaur Rose LLP, will be speaking at the Fall Board of Governors Meetings in Greenwich, Connecticut, on September 8, 2016. During a lunch panel from 12:00-1:00pm ET, Leccese will share his insights into the world of sports from his many years of experience working with major sports organizations.

Leccese graduated cum laude from Georgetown University and received his law degree from the University of Virginia Law School. Proskauer’s Law Group represents the world’s most prominent professional leagues, including the National Basketball Association, National Football League, National Hockey League and Major League Soccer. His particular emphasis is on the representation of professional sports leagues, teams and owners; college conferences; media and marketing companies; and private equity firms and financial institutions that provide capital to the broad array of transactions that occur in the sports industry. Joe's sports experience includes numerous matters for the National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, PAC-12 Conference, Big East Conference, ATP World Tour, WTA Tour, USGA and NASCAR, as well as for a number of teams, owners and media entities that he advises on a continuing basis.

Lecesse has handled a variety of joint ventures and other innovative sports transactions, including the formation of NBA China, the WNBA, the NBA Development League and Legends Hospitality, and the sale to Providence Equity of an interest in Soccer United Marketing, the media and marketing affiliate of MLS. He is a frequent speaker and lecturer on business and legal topics in sports and was named one of “The 50 Most Influential People in Sports Business” by the Sports Business Journal and one of “New York’s 50 Most Powerful People in Sports” by the Daily News.

In April, the proposal to use services of a sports law firm in a feasibility study to create a Polo League/Tour/Series with economical alignment between all stake holders—team owners, players, venues and the USPA, was passed in a near unanimous vote. As a result, the USPA has been working with Joseph M. Leccese. Leccese is the chairman of the internationally-renowned law firm Proskauer and co-head of Proskauer’s Law Group, one of the most comprehensive and sophisticated sports law groups in the world. Leccese has since interviewed many top patrons, team owners and sponsors, in order to gain insight into the sport of polo. The initiative has the potential to change the way polo is viewed in this country, allowing it to be seen at the highest levels as not just a series of prestigious tournaments but in an organized series of events under one umbrella that recognizes the investment of all participants.

Leccese’s talk promises to be incredibly engaging and insightful for the USPA board and staff. According to USPA CEO, Duncan Huyler, “His insight into our sport through his discussion with leaders of polo and knowledge of other sports organizations will help us to grow into a more recognized sports organization in the future.”