DavidI.
Sunkin

•Co-Leader, Sports Industry Team
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David Sunkin

Overview

David Sunkin is a corporate partner who is the co-leader of the firm’s Sports industry team. In addition to his sports-related practice, David advises clients ranging from startups to larger public and private companies on a full spectrum of corporate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, governance and securities matters. A highly experienced and skilled problem solver, David also serves as outside general counsel and trusted advisor for many clients in a variety of industries.

Sports Industry

David has extensive experience in the sector, including representing owners of major sports franchises, including Major League Baseball and National Football League teams, in matters that include the sale of controlling and noncontrolling ownership interests and financing transactions. He also represents teams and organizations in emerging professional sports leagues, regarding transformative growth deals, and strategic investments and partnerships. David also represents the athletic departments of major universities such as UCLA and USC in a variety of important strategic matters, including landmark sports multimedia rights transactions.

A key player in venue development, David works on deals for some of the world’s biggest sporting venues. He represents clients such as UCLA, USC and the City of Pasadena/Rose Bowl Operating Company in providing their venues to host marquis events for the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

Mergers, Acquisitions and Other Corporate Matters

David represents global brands as well as leading privately held and family-owned companies in a range of corporate transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, asset and real estate purchases and sales, joint ventures, strategic partnerships, licensing, financial restructuring and reorganizations. He has extensive experience advising boards (public and private) on corporate governance best practices and related issues.

Securities

David also helps clients raise capital through public and private securities offerings, initial public offerings, domestic and international debt and equity financings, and private investment in public equity transactions. He has handled regulatory compliance and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission-related matters, including compliance with federal and state public reporting rules and regulations.

Outside General Counsel

For 10 years, David served as general counsel of Earl Scheib, Inc., a publicly traded national automotive service retailer and manufacturer. While overseeing the company’s complex and highly sophisticated legal and business affairs, including strategic planning, investor relations, asset acquisitions and divestitures, he gained a deep understanding of the multifaceted and sensitive challenges faced by business owners and in-house counsel. Today, David brings this unique expertise to solving business and legal issues for his clients.

In his free time, David enjoys relaxing with his family, modern art and cooking.

Experience

Certain Representative Sports Industry Transactions:

  • Sale of a significant minority interest in the Los Angeles Chargers to Tom Gores.
  • Represented SGP USA in a capital raise and acquisition of the U.S. Team for SailGP from Larry Ellison.
  • Represented Frank McCourt and the Los Angeles Dodgers in various matters including the sale of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
  • Represented the LA Marathon in its sponsorship and strategic partnerships.
  • Represented an investor group in the acquisition of the assets of Golf Gear International in Nevada Bankruptcy Court.
  • Represented Relativity Sports in its acquisition of a professional sports management agency.

Certain Other Representative Transactions:

  • Represented Guardion Health Sciences in all of its material corporate transactions including its initial public offering and all related equity financings, the acquisition of Activ Nutritional from Adare Pharmaceuticals and subsequent sale to Doctor’s’ Best.
  • Represented Gnomon School in its sale to GEDH.
  • Represented Relativity Media and its affiliates in a variety of domestic and international debt and equity financings.
  • Represented Relativity Media in separate joint venture transactions with B4U, a leading Bollywood film and television network, and EuropaCorp Films USA, Inc.
  • Represented a shareholder in the redemption of her shares in The McGraw Company and Western Service Co.
  • Represented Douglas Steel Supply Company in the sale and leaseback of real property and the acquisition of all of the outstanding capital stock of H&R Sales, Inc.
  • Represented Morley Builders, Inc. in the repurchase of shares of its common stock from its majority shareholders. 
  • Represented Bio Cybernetics International, Inc. in its sale to Ottobock Healthcare North America, Inc.
  • Represented the successful bidder of the assets of Syntax-Brillian (Olevia brand electronics) in Delaware Bankruptcy Court.
  • Represented The Viamedia Group of Companies in its sale to Lake Capital Partners.
  • Represented the City of Pasadena/The Rose Bowl in the negotiations of long term revenue contracts with the Regents of the University of California and the Tournament of Roses, and the media rights agreement with IMG/Legends in support of the City's 2010 $156 million bond offering, as well as in its follow-on $30 million private bond offering in 2013.
  • Represented ARTISTdirect, Inc.(OTC: ARTD) in its acquisition of MediaDefender, Inc.
  • Represented Ventura Distribution, Inc. in its Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors and the sale of substantially all of its assets to First Look Studios.
  • Represented Ashley Furniture in its acquisition of Furniture Home Stores in Southern California.
  • Represented Arrowhead Brass & Plumbing, LLC and Alhambra Ave. Real Estate, LLC in the purchase of assets from California Assignment, LLC.
  • Represented Bio Cybernetics International in the sale of its military division to Pyng Medical.
  • RepresentedVision Capital Advisors as the lead investor in a PIPE investment in BPO Management Services, Inc. (OTCBB:BPOM.OB).
  • Represented the seller (former Chairman and CEO) in the sale of 10% of the common stock in Obagi Medical Products, Inc. (NASDAQ) to Fundamental Investment Group, a fund managed by UBS AG.
  • Represented Earl Scheib, Inc. in its merger with Kelly Capital. 
  • Represented Earl Scheib, Inc. in the acquisition of certain assets of ElectroBake Enterprises of Florida.
  • Represented Innovative Micro Technologies in its going private transaction.
  • Represented Riverside Construction in its acquisition of substantially all the assets of Bonadiman McCain.
  • Represented the Campbell Companies, in connection with the sale of substantially all of its assets to a subsidiary of Building Materials Holding Corporation (NYSE: BLG).
  • Represented Fantatech, Inc. in its SEC deregistration and subsequent sale of substantially all of its assets to Shenzhen Youshun Investment Co. Ltd.
  • Represented FreeFi Networks, Inc. in a licensing transaction with Buena Vista Video on Demand, Inc., a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Co.
  • Represented Standard Brands Paint Company (NYSE) in its Chapter 11 reorganization and later sale to Corimon S.A.C.A. (NYSE).
  • Represented The Art Stores in its sale to an investor group.
  • Represented the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Salick Health, Inc. (NYSE) in its sale to Zeneca Group (NYSE).
  • Represented The Cheesecake Factory (NYSE) in its initial public offering.
  • Represented The Foothill Group (NYSE) in its acquisition by Norwest Financial (NYSE).
  • Represented The Del Monte Group in its financial restructuring.
  • Represented The Bank of New York in the foreclosure and later sale of its intellectual property rights to the Skechers and Karl-Kani trademarks to a private investor group.
Credentials
Education

J.D., Loyola Law School, 1992

B.A., University of California, Los Angeles, 1989

Admissions

California

Honors

Leading Global Entertainment, Sports & Media Lawyer, Lawdragon, 2026

Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent Rating, 2022-2023

Mergers and Acquisitions, Legal 500, 2015-2016

Recognized by Daily Journal as "Top 100 Lawyers in California," 2014

Thought Leadership