Member News - TAGLaw

Veteran sports and entertainment attorney, Adisa P. Bakari, has joined Kelley Drye & Warren LLP (Washington, D.C., USA) to chair the firm's newly formed Sports Entertainment Group. Mr. Bakari was formerly a partner at Dow Lohnes PLLC, where he started its sports and entertainment division nearly 15 years ago. His partner of four years, Jeffery A. Whitney, joins the firm as vice chair of the group.

The Sports Entertainment Group represents a distinguished client roster of more than 30 NFL players, including Maurice Jones-Drew of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Antoine Bethea of the Indianapolis Colts, and Matt Forté with the Chicago Bears, as well as Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back, Le'Veon Bell. The group also represents several professional boxers, most notably IBF junior welterweight champion Lamont Peterson and his younger brother, Anthony, a soon-to-be world title contender in his own right. Other clients include a number of collegiate and professional coaches, front office sports executives, and on-air media personalities.

"We are pleased to welcome Adisa and Jeff to the firm and our D.C. office. The Sports Entertainment Group and the needs of their clients provide a natural synergy to services we offer throughout several of our practice areas. They are an exciting addition to our team," said Lewis Rose, Managing Partner of the Washington, D.C. office.

Kelley Drye, one of the nation's leading, full-service law firms, offers a natural and compelling platform for The Sports Entertainment Group by virtue of its complementary practices, including services for Private Clients, Tax, Corporate and Intellectual Property. Kelley Drye represents some of the nation's most successful and influential brands, and the firm's Advertising and Marketing practice group is consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report and Chambers USA as one of the leading practices in the country.

"We're absolutely thrilled to be joining Kelley Drye," said Mr. Bakari. "The firm's geographic reach and preeminence in advertising and marketing law will enable us to better position our clients for short term and long term success."

Mr. Bakari and Mr. Whitney will continue to provide professional athletes, coaches, front office sports executives and entertainers with a brand of representation that has swiftly positioned them among the major players in the industry. Long-time sports and entertainment publicist, Katrina Leonce, also joins the firm to support The Sports Entertainment Group as director of marketing and public relations. She is an industry expert with 20 years of experience.