Craig A. Umbaugh | Denver | Hogan Lovells

Craig A. Umbaugh

Office Managing Partner Corporate & Finance

Umbaugh Craig

Craig A. Umbaugh
Umbaugh Craig
  • Overview
  • Experience
  • Credentials
  • Insights and events

Craig Umbaugh focuses his practice on sports and stadiums, governmental and legislative law, finance, banking, and commercial transactions.

As Global Head of the Sports, Media, and Entertainment Group, he brings into play his more than three decades of knowledge and experience working with clients in the sector. He works with public entities and private clients on issues such as financing, construction, design, and operation of public venues, acquisition of teams, naming rights, and sponsorship agreements, urban redevelopment, and negotiation of governmental agreements.

Craig's involvement with sports and sports facilities spans the leagues, including advising many Colorado teams and venues, including the Avalanche, Broncos, Mammoth, Nuggets, Rapids, Ball Arena, Coors Field, Empower Field at Mile High, National Western Center, Colorado Springs Sports Authority, and the Denver Grand Prix. Other client representations have included Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment (Brooklyn Nets), Chicago Fire, Chivas USA, Connecticut Sun, Hennepin County (Minnesota Twins Ballpark), Miami Beckham United (Inter Miami), Minnesota Wild, Onexim Sports and Entertainment, Phoenix Coyotes, Rosemont Entertainment Group, Seattle Sounders, Tampa Bay Lightning, and the USA Pro Challenge bicycle race.

He serves as general counsel for the Denver Urban Renewal Authority and the Denver Metropolitan Major League Baseball Stadium District. 

Craig has served on numerous boards, including as chair of the Denver Public Schools Foundation board, and on the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce board. Craig was legal counsel for the Denver 2008 Host Committee for the Democratic National Convention, the Colorado Music Hall of Fame, and the Clyfford Still Museum. Craig's work on the Clyfford Still Museum led to him being named one of Law Week Colorado's 2010 Pro Bono Attorneys of the Year.

Representative experience

Advised Mikhail Prokhorov in an agreement to sell full ownership of the Barclays Center and his controlling interest in the Brooklyn Nets to an entity controlled by Joe Tsai.

Represent the Denver Metropolitan Major League Baseball Stadium District on the development and operation of Coors Field.

Advised on numerous naming rights and sponsorship agreements, including Empower Field at Mile High and Oracle Park.

Representation of the Denver Urban Renewal Authority in numerous urban redevelopment projects including tax increment financing matters.

Credentials

Education
  • J.D., University of Virginia School of Law, 1985
  • B.A., Northwestern University, 1981
Bar admissions and qualifications
  • Colorado
Memberships
  • Past Chair, Denver Public Schools Foundation Board
  • Board Member, Colorado Music Hall of Fame
  • Past Board Member, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
  • Past Board Member, Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation
  • Past Board Chair, Auraria Higher Education Center
  • Past Member, Denver Parks & Recreation Board

Recognition

Top Lawyer - Entertainment & Sports

5280

2015-2021
Top Lawyer - Government Relations, Contracts, and Lobbying

5280

2015-2020
Colorado Super Lawyers

2006-2020
Lawyer of the Year

Law Week Colorado

2019
Power Players of Outside Counsel

Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal

2016,2021
Best Sports Lawyer

Law Week Colorado

2009, 2013,2020
Who's Who in Law

Denver Business Journal