Litigation

Our firm litigates workers’ compensation and disability claims defending leagues, clubs and their insurance carrier partners in the challenging and difficult California workers’ compensation system. Our attorneys have been called upon to create and advocate difficult defenses, even if it has required creating new law where most said changes to the law were impossible. The trial attorneys at BPK have tried numerous cases to conclusion and have achieved unprecedented success defending claims for professional sport franchises and leagues. The firm takes an innovative, yet practical, approach to litigation. The attorneys are creative in ascertaining viable defenses and preparing novel defenses for each case. We have resolved cases for settlement figures far below case value, and we have tried and won cases at the trial level, reconsideration level and appellate level, including before the California Supreme Court.

Our expertise

Our partners have participated in the crafting and development of collective bargaining agreement language for professional sports leagues; created the concept and drafted portions of the standard uniform player contracts for Major League Baseball and assisted in a long and hard-fought battle to change the law relative to when an athlete has jurisdiction to file a workers’ compensation claim in California.

In addition to litigating workers’ compensation claims, our attorneys have assisted Leagues, Clubs, Sponsors and governing bodies by providing business counsel, contract drafting and review as well as complex transactional matters relative to sponsorship and activation. The lawyers at BPK have consistently been asked to draft, negotiate and review contracts throughout the sports industry.