"Kendall has a real interest and depth of experience in the media industry. She is really strategic and gives you a spectrum of opportunities and potential avenues."
Chambers USA 2023
Top Dealmakers of 2022
Hollywood Reporter
Next Generation Partner – Industry Focus: Sport
The Legal 500 US 2023
New Leader
Variety 2021
Profile
Kendall Johnson works at the intersection of sports and entertainment, drawing on her unique level of crossover experience to handle transactions spanning across the industry.
Combining broad transactional experience and sophisticated industry knowledge, Ms. Johnson regularly navigates complex transactions in the sports and entertainment business. She works with a mix of clients based both in the US and internationally, including:
Professional teams, governing bodies, and other major sports rightsholders
Networks, studios, streaming platforms, and independent production companies
Digital and new media content creators and distributors
Private capital and strategic investors
High-level individual talent
Her practice work includes:
Licensing of media, sponsorship, and other commercial rights for college, international, and professional sports organizations
Private capital investments, strategic joint venture arrangements, and industry specific M&A
Film and television financing and distribution transactions
Complex content, brand licensing, and strategic talent arrangements
She currently serves as a Vice Chair for Latham's Global Recruiting Committee. Prior to joining Latham, Ms. Johnson worked in the Stanford University athletic department, where she acted as the primary public relations contact for various teams, collaborated closely with television networks, and coordinated media efforts for numerous NCAA Championship events.
Experience
Ms. Johnson’s experience includes advising:
Sports
Media Rights and Event Hosting
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the eight-year extension of its multimedia rights agreement with CBS and Turner for the Division I Men’s Basketball Championship
The International Olympic Committee in connection with the US$7.75 billion licensing of broadcast and new media rights in the United States, as well as its ongoing licensing and management of media, sponsorship, and other intellectual property rights
FIFA and US Soccer in connection with the city selection process for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be jointly co-hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada
Nexstar / CW Network in their:
Media rights agreement with Raycom for a package of ACC football and basketball games
Media rights agreement with Barstool Sports for the broadcast of the Arizona Bowl
Pac-12 Conference in media rights negotiations
Facebook (now Meta) in its acquisition of sports distribution rights across the globe, including its historic bid for Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket rights in the summer of 2017
US Figure Skating, the national governing body for the sport, in a television and digital rights agreement with NBC covering domestic and international events through 2026
The Arizona Diamondbacks in connection with their multi-year broadcast and media rights agreement and ownership interest in Fox Sports Arizona
The Stronach Group on multi-year broadcast agreements with NBC for the Preakness Triple Crown and other premier horse racing events
Two NHL teams, the Dallas Stars and the Anaheim Ducks, in their multi-year broadcast and media agreements with Fox Sports*
Acquisitions and Investments
Sixth Street Partners in its investment in Bay FC, the Bay Area NWSL expansion franchise
RedBird Capital Partners in the formation of EverPass Media and licensing of exclusive commercial establishment rights for NFL Sunday Ticket
Sinclair Broadcast Group in its:
US$10.6 billion acquisition of the former Fox regional sports networks from Disney
Formation of a joint venture with the Chicago Cubs to create Marquee Sports Network
Investment in YES Network with the New York Yankees and other investment partners
A group of US sports and media investors in a strategic partnership with FIBA to invest in the Basketball Champions League (BCL) and other global basketball competitions
Endeavor in its acquisition of a majority stake in the premium hospitality company On Location Experiences and related negotiation of On Location’s long-term commercial partnership with the NFL
Certain limited partners in their equity investment in Josh Harris’ consortium to acquire the Washington Commanders for US$6.05 billion
The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) in connection with equity and ownership matters
IP and New Technology
The NCAA on a long-term agreement with Genius Sports to modernize the collection and distribution of its intercollegiate sports data
Buzzer, a micropayments-based sports content app, in its rights deals to distribute NBA and NHL content
NextVR in a multi-year partnership with the NBA to produce and distribute games in virtual reality
Entertainment
Acquisitions and Investments
MGM in its:
US$8.45 billion merger with Amazon
Acquisition of Big Fish Entertainment
Blumhouse in its acquisition of Atomic Monster, the production company founded by filmmaker James Wan
Sony Pictures Entertainment in its:
Approximately US$1.2 billion acquisition of Crunchyroll from AT&T
Sale of GSN Games to Scopely
Mediawan in its acquisition of a significant stake in Plan B Entertainment, the production company co-founded and led by Brad Pitt
Searchlight Capital Partners in the take private of Hemisphere Media Group, and the related sale of Pantaya, a Spanish-language streaming platform, to TelevisaUnivision
Silver Lake on its US$500 million investment in Shadowbox Studios, an Atlanta-based builder and operator of soundstages for TV and film productions
Mountain (MNTN), a leading self-serve performance TV platform, in its acquisition of Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort Marketing
Starz Entertainment in its acquisition by Lionsgate for a combination of cash and stock totaling US$4.4 billion
Netflix on its acquisition of Millarworld, the comic book publisher behind Kick-Ass, Kingsman, and Wanted
AMC Networks in its investment in Funny Or Die
Talent-Driven Joint Ventures
Mast-Jägermeister in its investment in Teremana, the tequila brand founded by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
A-Frame Brands in the launch of talent-driven brands with Naomi Osaka, John Legend, Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union
Equity investors in the re-launch of Castle Rock Entertainment’s film division in partnership with Rob Reiner
D’Amelio Brands, the namesake company of social media phenoms Dixie and Charli D’Amelio, in its formation and capitalization
Directors Joe and Anthony Russo (Captain America, Avengers: Infinity War) in their partnership with China's Huayi Brothers to form film and content company, AGBO
MGM in the formation and acquisition of United Artists Media Group and the purchase of certain reality television and other media assets of Mark Burnett (including Survivor, The Voice, Shark Tank, and The Apprentice)
Participant Media in its joint venture with DreamWorks Studios, Steven Spielberg, Reliance Entertainment, and Entertainment One to form Amblin Partners
Univision in the formation and capitalization of Robert Rodriguez’s El Rey Network, including the financing and distribution of From Dusk Till Dawn and other original series
Producer Brian Oliver in the launch and capitalization of New Republic Pictures and various motion picture financing and distribution arrangements, including a multi-picture co-financing agreement with Paramount and financing arrangements for 1917 and Rocketman
Brad Weston in the creation of MAKEREADY, a global content production company with backing from Entertainment One and worldwide distribution by Universal Pictures
Techstyle in a brand endorsement venture with Rihanna
A major restaurant enterprise in a brand ambassador and consulting agreement with Oprah Winfrey
Strategic Commercial Transactions
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association in its broadcast and other entertainment industry transactions, including its media rights agreement with NBC and Dick Clark Productions for the broadcast of the Golden Globe Awards
MGM in a variety of strategic transactions, including its:
Subscriber migration and content licensing arrangements with Lionsgate+ in Latin America and Europe
Multi-year joint venture with Annapurna Pictures for the domestic distribution of MGM films
Multi-picture development, production, financing and distribution arrangement with the Russo Brothers
International distribution arrangements with Warner Brothers and Universal Pictures for the rights to the James Bond franchise and the rest of its film slate
Co-financing arrangements with BRON Studios
Spotify in various audio content licensing and production matters, including its exclusive multi-year pact with Emma Chamberlain for the Anything Goes podcast and the rollout of Greenroom, its live audio app
Blumhouse in connection with various corporate, employment, and investment matters, including its arrangement with Universal and Morgan Creek to re-boot The Exorcist franchise
Hammerstone Studios in the formation and capitalization of a gaming investment fund and the co-financing of a prototype for a “Black 5” video game with Rogue Games, Columbia Pictures, and others
Verizon in various content financing and distribution arrangements, as well as a joint venture with Hearst Communications and the acquisition of Complex Media
International Game Technology in the licensing of film and television-related intellectual property for use on various gaming devices and online gaming platforms
Starz Entertainment in the creation of “Starz Play” in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Latin America*
*Matters handled prior to joining Latham
Thought Leadership
“Enforceable Fair and Square: The Right of Publicity, Unconscionability, and NCAA Student-Athlete Contracts,” 19 Sports Law J. 1 Spring 2012
Qualifications
Bar Qualification
California
Education
JD, University of California, Los Angeles, 2012 Order of the Coif
BS, Santa Clara University, 2006 summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
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