Steven H. Gans

Partner

O 617-456-8014 F 617-456-8100 sgans@princelobel.com

Practice Areas

Industries

Steve focuses his practice in the areas of corporate, sports, and employment law.  Having practiced both in private firm settings and in-house and having served as an executive on the business side of operating companies, he advises organizations on all stages of their development: from inception to all aspects of their operations including corporate and employment matters, strategic partnerships, acquisitions, and merger and sale transactions.

Steve represents individuals, corporations, other businesses, universities, entrepreneurs, financial institutions, and nonprofit organizations in a variety of matters, including corporate governance, mergers, sale and acquisition transactions (including, in the non-profit sector, sales of assets through the Attorney General process), employment matters, all other operational issues, and the conducting of investigations at the organization’s request.  He also assists clients with the negotiation of a variety of agreements in the contracting process, including strategic partnership agreements, revenue sharing agreements, master service agreements, supply chain quality agreements, employment agreements, sponsorship agreements, consulting agreements, and author and endorsement contracts.

He has led and advised on several mergers and acquisitions initiatives and has negotiated complex internet commerce and other strategic partnership revenue sharing agreements.  Having helped lead a series of venerable family-owned closely-held companies, Steve also advises on all aspects affecting family businesses.

Steve also represents professional and youth soccer clubs, leagues and organizations in the sport in a variety of matters, including employment issues, financing and merger and acquisition matters, corporate governance, dispute resolution, and the drafting and negotiation of a variety of agreements, including employment contracts, athletic facility development agreements, strategic partnership agreements, sponsorship agreements, equipment supplier contracts, leases, and operational and revenue sharing agreements.  Steve has also conducted several investigations in the soccer world, at the request of universities, leagues and clubs.  He has also represented players and coaches, as well as an NCAA athletic conference.

Steve ran for U.S. Soccer President in 2018, and was generally thought to have been ahead in the race against the incumbent (while it was a 2-person race), until the U.S. Men’s National Team was eliminated from the 2018 World Cup qualifying in October 2017 (after which 7 other candidates jumped into the race).  Steve was credited with running a competent and ethical campaign, and for achieving the primary goal of running: namely, effecting a change from the incumbent at the top of U.S. Soccer.  Steve was named one of Soccer’s Top Personalities of 2017 by Soccer America magazine, and he is commonly called upon by leading media to comment on issues within the sport, including by the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Sports Business Journal, Sports Illustrated, the Washington Post, The Athletic, Soccer America, the Boston Globe and the London Evening Standard.

Prior to joining Prince Lobel, Steve was a principal in and Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel of one of the nation’s leading independent book and publishing companies, New England Mobile Book Fair, Inc. (sold in 2011).  He was also Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel of the related internet commerce cookbook company, Jessica’s Biscuit, Inc., and President and General Counsel of the related publishing company, Biscuit Books, Inc.  He was also Of Counsel to the Boston law firm Broude & Hochberg, LLP, and he began his legal career at Goulston & Storrs, P.C.

Steve is also a principal of Professional Soccer Advisors, an international soccer consulting agency which advises owners, senior management, and officials of British football clubs regarding commercial transactions, their own operations, and the American market.  The firm also assists North American pro soccer clubs and youth clubs with their operations and commercial transactions and advises American corporations on how to become aligned within international and American soccer.

 

Education

  • Harvard Law School; University of Pennsylvania Law School, J.D., 1989
  • Cornell University; Brandeis University, B.A., 1982

Bar Admissions

  • Massachusetts

Memberships & Affiliations

  • New England Corporate Counsel Association, Past President, Board of Directors
  • Football Club Boston, Inc. (U.S. Soccer Development Academy Club), Former Board of Directors and General Counsel

News & Events

IN THE PRESS

Prince Lobel Partner Steve Gans Quoted in The Athletic on The USL Championship’s First CBA

November 2, 2021

Partner and leader of Prince Lobel's Soccer Law industry group, Steve Gans, was quoted in…

IN THE PRESS

USL and USLPA Announce Landmark Collective Bargaining Agreement

September 29, 2021

Prince Lobel partner Steve Gans was a member of the legal team that worked on…

IN THE PRESS

BBC Super League Discussion

May 5, 2021

Stephen Nolan of the BBC interviews Steve Gans on the legal issues relating to the…

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