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Bruce Wilson is a senior corporate and M&A lawyer with extensive transactional experience in the industrial, sports, life sciences, media and branded consumer goods sectors. Mr. Wilson represents clients around the globe in a wide range of cross-border matters, both public and private, including acquisitions, project and related financings, marketing initiatives and other commercial transactions. He has advised a host of U.S. and global companies in acquisition and post-merger integration matters, leading the integration efforts for some of the most complex international mergers in the last decade. Mr. Wilson has advised companies in structuring responses to hostile takeover bids and has extensive experience in media and brand development transactions and in technology licensing.
As the head of the firm’s Middle East practice, Mr. Wilson is also a principal transaction advisor to international companies, government agencies, and project sponsors operating in the Middle East and North Africa. Mr. Wilson is also a long-time acquisition and financing advisor to the professional sports industry, advising leagues, teams and investors in sports businesses and facility development, including the National Football League, NASCAR, National Hockey League, and the National Basketball Association.
- Represented Merck as the head of the external legal support team for the multi-year global merger integration following the company’s 2009 merger with Schering-Plough.
- Represented OCP, S.A. of Morocco in the negotiation of US, Indian, Indonesian, South American, and Canadian joint venture and commercial supply arrangements.
- Represented Barclays Bank in the negotiation of facility naming rights and sponsorship transaction with the New Jersey Nets for the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn New York.
- Represented the Economic Cities Authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the development of legal and regulatory infrastructure for the Kingdom’s Economic Cities project.
- Represented the independent directors of Certegy, Inc., and Beverly Enterprises, Inc. in connection with sell-side merger transactions.
- Negotiated multi-year broadcast rights and sponsorship agreements with ESPN, CBS, NBC, FOX Sprint/Nextel, Yahoo, and Sirius Satellite Radio on behalf of the National Football League.
- Represented NASCAR in media negotiations with ESPN, Turner, FOX and other television broadcast and new media partners.
- Advised New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson on his purchase of the New Orleans Hornets franchise of the National Basketball Association.
- Negotiated the relocation and stadium development agreement with Major League Baseball and the former Montreal Expos on behalf of the Washington, DC, Sports and Entertainment Commission.
- Handled the bankruptcy sale of the Buffalo Sabres hockey franchise to Tom Golisano on behalf of the National Hockey League.
- Negotiated on behalf of the NFL, a five-year interactive media rights agreement with America Online, CBS, and Sportsline, Inc.
Previous Experience
- Bacardi Limited, General Counsel (1995-1997)
- Rep. Steven L. Neal, U.S. House of Representatives, Legislative Assistant (1981-1983)
June 27, 2016
WASHINGTON—SportsBusiness Journal has named Covington partners Doug Gibson, Gregg Levy, Bruce Wilson, and Peter Zern to the highest tier in its 2016 “Power Players: Outside Counsel” rankings. Included in the SportsBusiness Journal’s “Chairman’s Club,” the Covington team is recognized in the “dominant tier in sports law” because of “a long history in the space” ...
January 15, 2015
LONDON, January 15, 2015 — Covington & Burling advised OCP S.A. on the acquisition of approximately 10% of the share capital of Brazilian listed fertilizer company, Fertilizantes Heringer S.A., for R$145.415.034,00 (approximately US$55 million) and on a long-term supply agreement for phosphatebased products. OCP Group is the largest global producer of phosphate ...
August 18, 2014
WASHINGTON, DC, August 18, 2014 — Best Lawyers named Covington & Burling’s Stuart Eizenstat and Gregg Levy each a 2015 “Lawyer of the Year” in international trade and sports law, respectively, citing their “abilities, professionalism and integrity.” Overall, Covington lawyers received 217 individual mentions in 58 areas of law in the newly released annual survey ...
May 5, 2013, CovBrands
With wages increasing in China some manufacturers are looking at alternative production centers. For manufacturers seeking low labor costs, India is appealing and may represent the next frontier for manufacturing, but is it viable option? A 2010 study by America’s Bureau of Labor Statistics found that, at just under a dollar an hour, India’s labor...… Continue ...
April 11, 2013, CovBrands
Buying counterfeit goods in New York could soon be made illegal if a proposed law is passed. The effect: shoppers could find themselves presented with a fine or, in extreme cases, a jail sentence, if caught buying a counterfeit bag. A bill was first put forward in 2011 to outlaw counterfeit shopping and punish the...… Continue Reading
December 19, 2012, CovBrands
China’s top 50 brands On December 4, 2012, WPP published its third BrandZ Top 50 Chinese Brands annual report. According to this report, Chinese companies value their brands and are investing in good branding more and more. Here are some highlights from the Brandz report: The total value of the top 50 most valuable Chinese...… Continue Reading
December 16, 2012, CovBrands
Darjeeling tea, renowned for its smooth and mellow taste and often referred to as the “Champagne of teas”, has recently received protected geographical indication (PGI) status by the European Union. Darjeeling tea, famous for its luxurious quality and named after the city located in the mountains near the border with Nepal where it is grown,...… Continue Reading
December 5, 2012, CovBrands
L’Oréal announced on Monday 26 November that it signed an agreement with Castanea Partners, a private equity firm, to acquire the US make-up brand Urban Decay Cosmetics LLC — one of the fastest-growing specialty make-up brands in the US. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval, which is expected by the end of the year. The...… Continue Reading
December 4, 2012, CovBrands
To some people in the outside world, “Made in China” means low quality. Most Chinese people recognize that, and some even have their own blacklist of domestic products such as certain brands of milk and cooking oil. Now they have one more category of products to add to their list: Chinese liquor, or bai jiu....… Continue Reading
November 29, 2012, CovBrands
A Chinese official was recently fired after an internet campaign revealed that he owned 11 luxury watches. The official, Yang Dacai, claimed he purchased the watches with his modest civil servant salary, but Chinese internet commentators countered that Yang could not possibly have afforded them on just his legitimate income. The Chinese Communist Party is...… ...
August 27, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC, August 27, 2012 — Covington & Burling LLP lawyers received 196 individual mentions in 57 areas of law in the 2013 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. This annual compilation of top U.S. lawyers is based on peer-review surveys and is used as a referral guide in the legal profession. The Covington lawyers recognized are as ...
Covington Lawyers Recognized by D.C. Super Lawyers
May 2, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC, May 2, 2012 — D.C. Super Lawyers selected 64 Covington & Burling lawyers for its 2012 list of top legal talent. Super Lawyers selects no more than five percent of the total lawyers who practice in Washington based on peer review and the publication’s independent research. Deborah Garza and Robert Long have been named among the “Top 100” for ...
April 13, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC, April 13, 2012 — Covington & Burling advised Tom Benson, the longtime owner of the New Orleans Saints, in his purchase of the New Orleans Hornets for an undisclosed sum. The purchase and related agreements were finalized this week. Closing is expected before the end of June. “I am very grateful to Bruce Wilson and the Covington team,” Mr. ...
Eight Covington Lawyers Named ‘2012 Lawyer of the Year’
October 5, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC, October 5, 2011 — Best Lawyers named eight Covington & Burling lawyers as the “2012 Lawyer of the Year” in their respective practice areas and cities. According to Best Lawyers, the selected lawyers have received particularly strong ratings in the Best Lawyers' survey by earning a high level of respect among their peers for their “abilities, ...
September 7, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC, September 7, 2011 — Covington & Burling LLP lawyers received 184 individual mentions in 56 areas of law in the 2012 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. This annual compilation of top US lawyers is based on peer-review surveys and is used as a referral guide in the legal profession. The Covington lawyers recognized are as follows: ...
June 10, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC, June 10, 2011 — Covington & Burling LLP received 123 individual mentions and 45 practice mentions in Chambers USA 2011. The guidebook, which ranks lawyers by state and national practice area, is designed to identify the most skilled legal practitioners based on the qualities most valued by clients. Here are the Covington lawyers and practices ...
June 9, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC, June 10, 2011 — Covington & Burling LLP received 92 individual mentions and 32 practice mentions in the Legal 500 US 2011 edition. Legal 500 reviews the strengths and strategies of law firms in more than 90 countries in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, North and South America, and the Caribbean. Here are the Covington lawyers and practices ...
Covington Lawyers Recognized by D.C. Super Lawyers
May 17, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC, May 17, 2011 — D.C. Super Lawyers selected 55 Covington & Burling lawyers for its 2011 list of top legal talent. Super Lawyers selects no more than five percent of the total lawyers who practice in Washington based on peer review and the publication’s independent research. Deborah Garza has been named among the “Top 50 Women,” and Robert Long ...
Covington Advises IMG College in Launch of TV Network for The University of Texas at Austin
January 24, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC, January 24, 2011 — The University of Texas at Austin, ESPN and UT Athletics' multimedia rights partner IMG College have announced a 20-year agreement to create what soon will be the nation's largest 24-hour television network dedicated to covering a university's intercollegiate athletics, music, cultural arts and academic programs. Covington ...
September 8, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC, September 8, 2010 — Covington & Burling LLP partner Peter Zern has been named to Washington Business Journal’s “40 Under 40.” The list recognizes the Washington region's brightest young business leaders based on demonstrated business success. At Covington, Mr. Zern advises many of the firm’s sports clients on media transactions, finance, and ...
August 6, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC, August 6, 2010 — Covington & Burling LLP received 138 individual mentions in 40 areas of law in the 2011 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. This annual compilation of top US lawyers is based on peer-review surveys and is used as a referral guide in the legal profession. The Covington lawyers recognized are as follows: Administrative: ...
July 15, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC, July 15, 2010 — Covington & Burling LLP is pleased to announce the signing of a Purchase Agreement for the sale of the Golden State Warriors, the NBA franchise based in Oakland, California, to an investor group led by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers Managing Partner Joe Lacob and Mandalay Entertainment Group Chairman Peter Guber. The sale price ...
June 23, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC, June 23, 2010 — Covington & Burling LLP received 85 individual mentions and 23 practice mentions in the Legal 500 US 2010 edition. Legal 500 reviews the strengths and strategies of law firms in more than 90 countries in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, North and South America, and the Caribbean. Here are the Covington lawyers and practices ...
June 16, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC, June 16, 2010 — Covington & Burling LLP received 112 individual mentions and 44 practice mentions in Chambers USA 2010. The guidebook, which ranks lawyers by state and national practice area, is designed to identify the most skilled legal practitioners based on the qualities most valued by clients. Here are the Covington lawyers and practices ...
April 23, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC, April 23, 2010 — The NCAA has announced a new 14-year television and new media rights agreement with CBS Sports and Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., to present the Division I Men's Basketball Championship beginning in 2011 through 2024 for total rights fees of approximately $10.8 billion. As part of the agreement, all games will be shown live ...
March 18, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC, March 18, 2010 — Forty-five Covington & Burling LLP lawyers are recognized in the 2010 Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers. The annual list by Super Lawyers selects only five percent of the total lawyers who practice in Washington based on peer review and the publication’s independent research. In addition, partners Deborah Garza and Robert Long have ...
August 7, 2009
WASHINGTON, DC, August 7, 2009 — Covington & Burling LLP received 131 individual mentions in 38 areas of law in the 2010 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. This annual compilation of top US lawyers is based on peer-review surveys and is used as a referral guide in the legal profession. The Covington lawyers recognized are as follows: Administrative: ...
June 12, 2009
WASHINGTON, DC, June 12, 2009 — Covington & Burling LLP received 100 individual mentions and 40 practice mentions in Chambers USA 2009. The guidebook, which ranks lawyers by state and national practice area, is designed to identify the most skilled legal practitioners based on the qualities most valued by clients. Here are the Covington lawyers and practices ...
September 29, 2008
WASHINGTON, DC, September 29, 2008 — Covington & Burling LLP received 124 individual mentions in 40 areas of law in the 2009 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. This annual compilation of top US lawyers is based on peer-review surveys and is used as a referral guide in the legal profession. The Covington lawyers recognized are as follows: Administrative: ...
June 16, 2008
WASHINGTON, DC, June 16, 2008 — Covington & Burling LLP received 81 individual mentions and 45 practice mentions in the newly released 2008 Chambers USA. The guidebook, which ranks lawyers by state and national practice area, is designed to identify the most skilled legal practitioners based on the qualities most valued by clients. Here are the Covington ...
December 18, 2007
NEW YORK, NY, December 18, 2007 — BUPA today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Health Dialog. Covington and Burling LLP represented BUPA, Health Dialog’s largest shareholder, in the $775M transaction, which is expected to close in January. BUPA is a global provider of healthcare services and is the largest private health insurer in the ...
September 6, 2007
WASHINGTON, DC, September 6, 2007 — Covington & Burling LLP received 115 individual mentions in 38 areas of law in the 2008 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. This annual compilation of top US lawyers is based on peer-review surveys and is used as a referral guide in the legal profession. The recipients are as follows: Administrative: E. Edward Bruce and ...
June 18, 2007
WASHINGTON, DC, June 18, 2007 — Covington & Burling LLP received 44 practice mentions and 74 individual mentions in the newly released 2007 Chambers USA guidebook. The 2007 edition of Chambers USA attempts to identify the most skilled legal practitioners throughout the country based on the qualities most valued by clients. Covington attorneys have been ...
Covington Advises Barclays on Naming Rights Deal
January 19, 2007
WASHINGTON, DC, January 19, 2007 — Barclays has announced that it will pay an undisclosed amount for naming rights to the new Barclays Center located in Brooklyn, New York for a term of 20 years. Covington & Burling LLP advised Barclays on the transaction.The new Barclays Center is the core feature of the Frank Gehry designed $4 billion Atlantic Yards ...
- Recognized by SportsBusiness Journal on the “Power Players: Outside Counsel” list in its highest tier, “Chairman’s Club” (2016).
- The Best Lawyers in America, Washington Sports Lawyer of the Year (2012)
- Best Lawyers in America, Mergers & Acquisitions (2013-2017); Sports Law (2009-2017)
- Chambers USA, Sports Law (2006-2016)
- Washington DC Super Lawyers, Entertainment & Sports (2010-2016)
- Who's Who Legal, Sports & Entertainment (2015)
- Recognized by Legal 500 US for Sports (2007-2008, 2014-2016)
- PLC Which Lawyer? Highly Recommended, Corporate/M&A (2008)
Practices
Industries
Education
University of Virginia School of Law, J.D., 1986
- Order of the Coif
University of Virginia, B.A., 1981
- Phi Beta Kappa
Judicial Clerkship
- Hon. Pasco M. Bowman, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, 1986 - 1987
Bar Admissions
- District of Columbia
- Virginia