Hogan Lovells advises on investor reshuffle at Seattle Sounders as Russell Wilson, Ciara, and Macklemore back Major League Soccer
Denver, 9 October 2019 – A team from international law firm Hogan Lovells Denver office has advised Major League Soccer franchise Seattle Sounders FC on a series of transactions resulting in a reorganization of its ownership structure.
The deal, which saw one of the founding owner’s, Joe Roth’s, stake pass to other existing owners and to a new 11-family group of investors, and also increases the stake of the team’s largest owner and governor, Adrian Hanauer. The new investors include the Seattle Seahawks' Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson, Grammy-winning recording artist Ciara, and Seattle-born rapper Macklemore.
“We are doubling down on this community and growing our local roots even deeper,” Hanauer said in a written statement. “Sounders FC was born right here in Seattle, and for more than 40 years, the club has forged a meaningful legacy that is deep and far-reaching. [This] news is a testament to what our community has accomplished, as 11 new families have joined with the broader Sounders family as fans and invested stewards of our club.”
Financial details of the transaction were not released. The Hogan Lovells team was led by Denver-based partner Craig Umbaugh and senior associate Ryan Adrian, with support from partners Mark Weinstein and Michele Harrington, and senior associate Tracy Penfield.