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Adam J. Schlatner

Member

: New York
277 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10172
P: (212) 883-2236
TF: (888) 864-3013
F: (646) 588-1357

Adam J. Schlatner

Adam Schlatner focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation, representing clients in a wide range of matters including contract, securities, labor and employment, shareholder, products liability, antitrust, executive compensation, consumer fraud and IP cases, as well as corporate internal investigations. His practice has included the representation of executives in a variety of director and officer liability cases, including securities class and derivative litigation, internal, governmental and regulatory investigations, and other contexts. Adam has handled matters across a number of industries, including consumer products, financial services, sports, real estate, accounting, energy, construction, software and technology, pharmaceutical, and insurance. Additionally, Adam has extensive experience in both corporate and real estate transactional matters.

Adam also heads up the firm's nationally recognized Sports industry team, which represents all sectors in the sports world including professional and amateur teams and organizations, team owners and executives, professional leagues, professional and amateur athletes, agents and agencies, broadcast and media providers, venues and arena management companies, corporate sponsors and sporting equipment manufacturers. The firm was recently recognized by Holt Hackney Publications as one of the Top 20 Law Firms in the Professional Sports Team Industry. In this capacity, Adam has played an integral role in the firm's annual “Sports Law for Rookies & Veterans” conference. He is a frequent commentator on business and legal issues facing the industry and co-teaches a sports law class at the University of Miami School of Law. Most recently, he hosted a Spring 2017 Short Course called "Cutting Edge Issues for Sports Law Practitioners in a Collectively Bargained World."

Adam earned his law degree from University of Michigan Law School, graduating cum laude. He received his bachelor's degree from State University of New York at Binghamton with honors, majoring in political science. Prior to joining Cozen O'Connor, Adam was a partner at Winston & Strawn, where he spent the first 18 years of his career.

Experience

Represented the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., in the internal investigation, SEC and New York Attorney General investigations, and related civil litigation concerning the compensation of former NYSE Chairman and CEO Richard A. Grasso.

Represented the former chairman and CEO of Computer Associates International, Inc., in securities class and shareholder derivative litigation, as well as related internal and government investigations.

Represented Philip Morris USA in the trial of several product liability and fraud actions, and participating in the successful case management of more than 200 individual actions filed against the company.

Conducted internal investigations into alleged improprieties by contractors at construction sites on U.S. military bases, and counseling on related litigation, employment and contractual issues.

Conducted an internal investigation on behalf of a major construction company relating to potential illegal activity at a high-profile job site, counseling on related employment issues, and interfacing with local authorities concerning the findings of the investigation.

Represented software/technology consulting firm in litigation against private equity firm and portfolio company for breach of contract resulting in a successful settlement.

Represented credit card issuer in a nationwide antitrust class action stemming from provisions of cardholder agreements.

Represented pharmaceutical manufacturer and its subsidiary in multi-district antitrust proceedings arising from the settlement of patent litigation between brand name and generic manufacturers.

Represented the majority owner of an NHL club in an ownership dispute with, and business divorce from, a co-owner.

Represented an NHL club in an employment dispute with its former general manager.

Represented developer and owner of a professional sports franchise in connection with efforts to develop a new arena and surrounding multi-use land project.

Represented the former chairman and CEO of a public company in consolidated derivative litigation concerning employee stock option plans.

Represented a securities industry executive in connection with federal and state investigations related to the auction rates securities market.

Represented the auditor of a NASDAQ-listed Chinese issuer in NASDAQ and SEC investigations.

Represented majority and minority shareholders in various Delaware LLC disputes (including in the energy, real estate, publishing and waste management/recycling industries).

Represented minority shareholder in direct and derivative litigation against an oil and gas exploration company, and the related negotiation of the purchase and sale of leasehold interests in the western United States.

Represented IPTV provider in copyright infringement litigation relating to the use of U.S. film properties.

Represented a professional sports representation agency in contract disputes with a former client and former agent.

Represented an NBA player in a cybersquatting case resulting in the return of domain names belonging to professional athletes and celebrities.

Advised an NBA player agent on labor and antitrust issues pertaining to the NBA lockout.

Represented an international media and entertainment company in lawsuit emanating from the production of a major international film awards show resulting in the lawsuit being dismissed.

Represented IPTV/online sports provider in patent infringement action regarding streaming technology.

Won summary judgment on behalf of Big Ten Network in its defense of a patent infringement case centering on a mobile streaming application through which users can watch Big Ten Conference games on their mobile devices. In granting our motion, the court agreed that there was no literal infringement of the patent at issue and that the plaintiff was estopped from arguing infringement under the doctrine of equivalents.

News

Here is NFL’s chance to be better than Washington politicians in tackling anthem controversy

October 11, 2017

Adam Schlatner discusses the legal grounds to suspend or fire NFL players that are participating in the country-wide protests during the National Anthem. Players have been kneeling or raising their fists, rather than standing, during the anthem to protest the police brutality issues in the country.

NHL exec Bill Daly visits Philly to talk 2018 Olympics and expansion to Las Vegas, Quebec City and Seattle

February 10, 2017

National Hockey League deputy commissioner Bill Daly came to Philadelphia on Thursday to be a keynote speaker at a sports business conference organized by local law firm Cozen O'Connor and Penn's Wharton business school.

Cozen O'Connor Sports Law Team Weighs In on Recent Scandals

September 09, 2015

Recently, Cozen O'Connor's Sports Industry team has been a go-to law firm for some of the country's leading media outlets seeking commentary on various stories involving the intersection of sports and law.

Adam Schlatner Discusses Tom Brady’s Appeal and the Wells Report on In The Huddle with Ragz

August 04, 2015

Adam Schlatner discusses the strengths and weaknesses of Tom Brady’s and the NFL’s positions as “Deflategate” enters court.

Adam Schlatner Discusses “Deflategate” with Inside the Lines on Yahoo! Sports Radio

July 31, 2015

Adam Schlatner joined “Inside the Lines” on Yahoo! Sports Radio to break down the pending court case between Tom Brady and the NFL in regards to “Deflategate.”

Adam Schlatner Discusses Effects of Heightened Scrutiny on Financial Institutions in Wake of FIFA Scandal in The Wall Street Journal

July 01, 2015

Adam Schlatner discusses financial institutions’ need to ensure best practices for compliance and risk management in the wake of the indictments and allegations surrounding the FIFA scandal.

Adam Schlatner Discusses the Los Angeles Clippers Naming Richard Parsons as Interim CEO on CBS Radio LA

May 09, 2014

Adam Schlatner discusses the positive effect of the Los Angeles Clippers naming Richard Parsons as the interim CEO in the midst of the Donald Sterling scandal.

Adam Schlatner Discusses NBA Panel’s Bid to Oust Donald Sterling in Reuters

May 02, 2014

Adam Schlatner discusses the outcome of an NBA panel (consisting of 10 team owners) unanimously agreeing to proceed “as expeditiously as possible” with the removal of Donald Sterling as owner of the Los Angeles Clippers.

Adam Schlatner Discusses Donald Sterling in the Los Angeles Times

May 01, 2014

In an article titled “Donald Sterling’s past may speak to a present course with NBA,” Adam Schlatner, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Commercial Litigation Department, discusses Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling’s ban from the NBA. “There is no financially viable way for him to remain owner,” observes Adam. “The sponsors will not come back, the players will be a problem and ticket sales will go away. He can't remain owner, as a practical matter."

Cozen O’Connor Continues to Grow New York Commercial Litigation Practice with Addition of Adam J. Schlatner

December 17, 2013

Cozen O’Connor has further expanded the reach of its Commercial Litigation practice in New York with the recent hiring of Adam J. Schlatner, who joins the firm as a partner. Schlatner is the sixth new partner to join the practice in recent months.

Events & Seminars

Sports Law for Rookies & Veterans 2018	Minneapolis, MN	06/06/2018
The Sports Innovation Series	Philadelphia, PA	02/09/2017
2016 Sports Law for Rookies and Veterans	New York, NY	04/15/2016
2015 Sports Law for Rookies and Veterans	Miami Beach, FL	03/05/2015
4th Annual Sports Law CLE for Rookies and Veterans	Miami, FL	04/24/2014

Practice Areas

Commercial Litigation

Complex Litigation

Criminal Defense & Internal Investigations

Financial Services

Industry Sectors

Sports

Education

University of Michigan Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1993
SUNY–Binghamton, B.A., 1990

Bar Admissions

Court Admissions

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