Brian Michael Cooper practices in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, private equity, venture capital, sports law, media law, and antitrust. He represents clients across various industries, including sports, media, logistics, health care, transportation, technology, finance, and energy.
Brian’s M&A work encompasses stock and asset acquisitions, exits, securities law compliance, project finance and development, corporate formation and governance, real estate management, labor agreements, and service contracts. In private equity and venture capital, he advises fund general partners, limited partners, portfolio companies, and financiers on leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, restructuring, spin-offs, cross-border transactions, and fund formation.
Brian’s sports experience includes advising on sports team investments, team operations, league operations, player, coach, and executive contracts, athlete endorsements, facility naming rights, sponsorships, apparel licensing, ticketing arrangements, facility leases, content distribution, and media rights. His work extends to professional sports leagues, professional sports teams, investors, corporate sponsors, and collegiate athletics.
Brian has held executive positions in professional sports, including serving as president and chief operating officer of the American Flag Football League, where he oversaw league operations, ticket sales, marketing, media relations, and corporate partnerships. As president of the Houston Roughnecks in the XFL, he managed business operations including ticket sales, corporate partnerships, stadium and practice facility leases, content and media production, marketing, and gameday operations. Brian also served as president of the RGV Vipers in the NBA G League, where he negotiated the first single-affiliation NBA-NBA G-League hybrid agreement with the NBA Houston Rockets.
Previously, Brian worked as director of sports programming at DISH Network, managing relationships with professional sports leagues, college conferences, and regional sports networks. He also served as senior associate athletic director at Rice University, overseeing financial operations and administrative matters for the athletics department.
Concentrations
• Sports team operations and acquisitions
• Sports facility naming rights agreements
• Sports sponsorship and athlete endorsement agreements
• Private equity investment in sports facilities and mixed-use development
• Venture capital investment in sports technology
• Antitrust review and counsel across various industries
• NIL review and counsel to colleges, athletes and sponsors
Experience
Representative Matters
• Advised investors on the acquisition of ownership interests in MLB, NBA, MLS, WNBA and esports franchises.°
• Advised professional sports teams, professional sports leagues, college conferences and college athletic departments in corporate transactions and strategic initiatives.°
• Negotiated sports sponsorship and athlete endorsement deals involving NFL, NBA, MLB, NCAA, WWE, UFC and EPL teams and players with an aggregate value of $100 million.°
• Evaluated and advised on sponsorships with MLB, NBA, MLS, NFL, NCAA, and PGA properties for various companies.°
• Provided strategic antitrust guidance and counsel related to sports, media, fintech, energy and logistics industry M&A transactions with an aggregate value of $1 billon.°
• Drafted, advised and negotiated multi-million strategic alliance and operations agreements for international sports equipment company.°
• Represented media/entertainment companies on M&A transactions with an aggregate value of $100 million.°
• Represented buyer in $100 million acquisition of transportation and logistics business °
• Advised USA national governing body on matters related to program governance and structure.°
• Drafted, analyzed, and negotiated sports media distribution agreements with an aggregate value of $200 million.°
°The above representations were handled by Brian Michael Cooper prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
Previous Experience
• President and Chief Operating Officer, American Flag Football League, 2023-2025
• President, Houston Roughnecks (XFL), 2019-2020
• Director, Sports Programming, Dish Network, 2014-2017
• Senior Associate Athletic Director, Rice University, 2010-2013
• President, RGV Vipers (NBA G League), 2008-2010
Teaching Experience
• Adjunct Professor, Sports Law, University of Houston Law Center, 2022-Present
• Adjunct Professor, Sports Law and Sports Business, Rice University, 2013-2014
• Adjunct Professor, LL.M. in Intl. & Comp. Sports Law, ISDE/St. John's U. School of Law, 2012, 2013
Internships
• Intern, Management Council, National Football League (NFL), 1996
Recognition & Leadership
Awards & Accolades
• 500 Leading Global Entertainment, Sports & Media Lawyers, Lawdragon, 2025
• Outstanding Houston Attorneys (Corporate/M&A), Houstonia Magazine, 2021, 2022
• Top 100 Diverse Leaders in Sports, Sports Inclusion Conference, 2021
• Texas Rising Stars, Law and Politics and Texas Monthly magazines 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
• Outstanding Service Award, Houston Bar Association Sports & Entertainment Section, 2009, 2012
• Chairman's Award, Houston Bar Association Sports & Entertainment Section, 2014
Professional & Community Involvement
• Board Member (Texas), Positive Coaching Alliance, 2020-Present
• Board Member, Longitude.site (Rice University), 2020-Present
• Board of Directors, Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts VP, 2012-13, Member, 2006-13
• Board of Directors, Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston, 2004-08; Tapestry Gala Chair, 2008
• Sports Lawyers Association
• Cornell Football Association
• Member, Houston Bar Association
o Member, Entertainment & Sports Law Section
- Chair, 2004-07, 2021-22
- Executive Council, 2011-14, 2020-22
