Steven, Chair of the Sports & Entertainment Practice and a Member in the firm’s Corporate & Securities Practice, provides organizations and individuals in the sports industry with counsel on strategic, transactional, and litigation issues.
Steven counsels and serves as a trusted advisor to some of the world’s biggest superstar athletes, advising on many of the most complex and high-stakes issues and providing crisis counseling on sensitive matters. He regularly represents stakeholders in a broad range of complex sports law matters, including equity-related deals, endorsement deals, branding and intellectual property issues, and disciplinary actions and disputes.
A recognized thought leader, Steven is a frequent contributor to national media outlets such as Bloomberg, CNN, CNBC, and Fox News. He has also received significant coverage from top industry publications and channels, including ESPN, the Sports Business Journal, and Sports Litigation Alert, as well as the law journals of the University of Texas and NYU School of Law.
An adjunct to Steven’s sports law specialization is a focus on the financial services sector, with an emphasis on business development and strategy issues. He advises institutional banks, private equity funds, family offices, wealth advisors, and other corporate entities in connection with acquisitions, financings, and general day-to-day legal issues. Steven also serves an exclusive network of family offices, high-net-worth individuals, and C-suite executives, providing counsel and strategic advice and regularly acting as an additional resource to their advisors and stakeholders.
Steven is a frequent lecturer and guest speaker and has spoken at Harvard Business School, Wharton School of Business, the Kellogg School of Management, and other educational institutions. He has served as an adjunct professor at Manhattanville College, teaching legal and ethical considerations in sports.
Prior to joining the firm, he helped lead the sports industry group of a global law firm.
News & Press
Mintz Advises Voldex on Partnership with NFL
September 12, 2024
Mintz advised Voldex, a leading game developer, on a licensing agreement with the NFL for NFL Universe Football, Voldex’s football experience formerly known as Ultimate Football.
Kelce Brothers Podcast, Private Equity Vote: Latest in the NFL
August 27, 2024
Travis and Jason Kelce recently secured a $100 million podcast deal with Amazon. In Yahoo Finance’s “Market Domination: Overtime,” Sports & Entertainment Practice Chair Steve Olenick discusses this landmark deal and the NFL owners’ vote, now approved, allowing private equity firms to buy into team franchises.
The Best Lawyers in America 2025 Recognizes 184 Mintz Attorneys across 56 Practice Areas
August 15, 2024
187 Mintz attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers® in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Notably, three Mintz attorneys received 2025 “Lawyer of the Year” awards, and 64 firm attorneys were included in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.
Terminated Sale Of NBA's T-Wolves Looks Like A Power Play
April 23, 2024
Mintz is pleased to announce that 120 firm attorneys have been recognized as leaders by Best Lawyers® in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.
WWE Endeavor Deal Deep Dive
April 7, 2023
Chair of the Sports & Entertainment Practice Steven Olenick was a guest on Bloomberg's Business of Sports Podcast where he provided insight on the WWE-Endeavor deal.
WWE-Endeavor Merger Paves Way For Brand Leaders To Strike Deals With ‘The Right Companies’: Analyst
April 3, 2023
Chair of the Sports & Entertainment Practice Steven Olenick discussed the WWE-Endeavor merger and what its impact on investors will be with Yahoo Finance Live.
Mintz Announces New Member Growth
December 16, 2022
We're thrilled to announce the addition of 17 new Members to Mintz. Along with seven attorneys recently elevated to membership in the firm, we’ve welcomed ten lateral Members in 2022. They add depth to our experience and capabilities in life sciences, health care, financial services, private equity, sports & entertainment, technology, and other sectors.
Mintz Adds Renowned Sports Attorney Steven Olenick to Chair Practice
November 29, 2022
Mintz is pleased to announce that Steven Olenick, a nationally recognized transactional attorney with particular expertise in the sports sector, has joined the firm as Chair of the Sports & Entertainment Practice and a Member of the Corporate & Securities Group, resident in the New York office.
Mintz Adds Ex-K&L Gates Atty As Head Of Sports Practice
November 29, 2022
Law360 covered the arrival of Member and Chair of the Sports & Entertainment Practice Steven Olenick to Mintz in New York.
Mintz Lands New Chair for Sports and Entertainment Practice
November 29, 2022
The American Lawyer wrote about the arrival of Member and Chair of the Sports & Entertainment Practice Steven Olenick to Mintz in New York. The article highlighted Steve's 'holistic' approach to working with clients in the sporting world.
Mintz Hires Steven Olenick
November 29, 2022
Reuters wrote about the arrival of Member and Chair of the Sports & Entertainment Practice Steven Olenick to Mintz in New York.
Events & Speaking
Steven, Chair of the Sports & Entertainment Practice and a Member in the firm’s Corporate & Securities Practice, provides organizations and individuals in the sports industry with counsel on strategic, transactional, and litigation issues.
Recognition & Awards
Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch – Sports Law (2022 – 2023)
Best Lawyers in America: Sports Law (2019 – 2025)
Thomson Reuters: New York Metro Rising Star in Entertainment & Sports (2016 – 2019)
Recent Insights
Mintz advised Voldex, a leading game developer, on a licensing agreement with the NFL for NFL Universe Football, Voldex’s football experience formerly known as Ultimate Football.
Travis and Jason Kelce recently secured a $100 million podcast deal with Amazon. In Yahoo Finance’s “Market Domination: Overtime,” Sports & Entertainment Practice Chair Steve Olenick discusses this landmark deal and the NFL owners’ vote, now approved, allowing private equity firms to buy into team franchises.
187 Mintz attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers® in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Notably, three Mintz attorneys received 2025 “Lawyer of the Year” awards, and 64 firm attorneys were included in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.
