Selected to the "Boston" magazine Top Lawyers™ list for 2023 in Sports Law
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.
November 2022: Interviewed by the BBC, The BBC Today, London Telegraph, and German TV DW News on Manchester United Football Club
May 2021: Interviewed by Stephen Nolan of the BBC on the Super League’s rise and fall. Steve discusses legal issues involved in the formation and break-up of the Super League.
May 10, 2020: Quoted in Soccer Today, “The Business of Soccer Upended by the Coronavirus: Advice For Soccer Coaches and Soccer Clubs”
February 24, 2020: Quoted in Sports Business Journal, “The Long Journey to Miami”
January 2020: Quoted in Sports Business Journal, “Soccer’s Next Big Moves: Virtually Every Level of Soccer in the U.S. is Negotiating New labor Deals. Will the Sport’s Recent Growth Pay Off for Players?”
June 2019: Mentioned in the June 15, 2019 London Evening Standard for his role in Fenway Sports Group’s entry into international soccer with Fulham FC and some perspective on its success with Liverpool FC
May 2019: Interviewed in Soccer America on the battle between U.S. Soccer’s Girls’ Development Academy and the ECNL to become the leading girls’ league in the U.S.
January 2019: Quoted in Soccer America on the challenges involved in developing and running youth soccer clubs
Represented public radio and podcast distribution company in merger with major PBS affiliate
Represented fitness-related company in merger with other fitness-related company
Represented investor in fitness company in buyout negotiations
Represented animal-welfare non-profit in corporate matter
Represented prominent family in sale of landmark building and related 1031 transaction
Represented international hotel owners in partnership dispute
Recent Sports Related Matters
Conducted investigation of major university’s soccer program
Honest broker and mediator of partnership dispute between majority owners of professional soccer club
Represented soccer club in acquisition of a USL League 2 team
Conducted feasibility study for international soccer club
Represent and advise major British soccer club as to acquisition of an American pro franchise
Represent and advise major British soccer club as to American youth soccer plans
Represented pro soccer player in respect to his relations with a player agent
Represented pro soccer player in an arbitration vs. professional soccer club
Represented USL players in connection with formation of Players Association (Voluntary Recognition by League achieved)
Represented pro basketball player in respect to his relations with a player agent
Represented interests of female pro soccer player
Represented venerable college athletic conference
Represented pro soccer club in strategic partnership with leading youth club
Represented college soccer coach in separation negotiations with ACC college
Represented soccer club in negotiation of Employment Agreement with coach
Represented sports data security company in its IP, data security, and business development matters
Represent youth soccer clubs in various matters (employment, insurance, litigation, merger and acquisition, player agreements, strategic partnerships, insurance, corporate governance, IP, sponsor, and equipment company agreements, etc.)
Represented investor in professional soccer team
January 11, 2023: United Soccer Coaches Convention 2023: “Operational and Legal Insights: Best Practices”
February 24, 2021: Kwik Goal -The Club Summit, “Lessons and Best Practices in Light of Covid 19”
February 2020: Kwik Goal – The Club Summit, “Legal Issues and International Partnerships”
June 2018: 21st Annual Property Law Conference 2018, MCLE, “IP in Sports”
Education
Harvard Law School; University of Pennsylvania Law School, J.D., 1989
