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Doug Gibson is Chair of Covington’s Management Committee, and is responsible for the overall direction of Covington’s strategy and operations.
In addition to his leadership and management roles, Mr. Gibson has continued an active corporate practice. Mr. Gibson represents the firm’s sports clients, including Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the National Football League, the National Hockey League, the PGA of America, the Portland Trailblazers, the United States Tennis Association, the UFC, and the Chicago Cubs. He also has extensive experience in the consumer products industry, representing such clients as Bacardi Ltd. and Giorgio Armani, S.P.A.
Mr. Gibson’s practice emphasizes strategic counseling; mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures; debt financings; and sports media transactions. Mr. Gibson has significant expertise in cross-border transactions gained both during his tenure at Covington and through his prior experience as General Counsel of Bacardi Limited. In addition to negotiating and structuring transactions, he advises clients on general corporate and strategic matters, including corporate governance issues and senior executive employment and incentive arrangements.
- Advised Bacardi in its acquisition of Patrón Spirits International AG and its PATRÓN® brand, the world’s top-selling ultra-premium tequila, from John Paul DeJoria, a founder of Patrón. The transaction reflected an enterprise value for Patrón of U.S. $5.1 billion.
- Representing Steve Ballmer in efforts to acquire the Los Angeles Clippers.
- Representing the Independent Advisory Committee to the United States Olympic Committee, chaired by Paul Tagliabue, in its assessment of the board structure and operations model of the USOC.
- Representing the National Football League in the negotiation of its television contracts with CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN and in the negotiation of its Sunday Ticket out-of-market package with DirecTV.
- Representing Time Warner Cable in negotiations with respect to the Dodgers’ RSN.
- Representing the NHL in negotiating its media rights deal with Rogers Canada.
- Representing Major League Baseball in the launch of The MLB Network, including the negotiation of joint venture arrangements with distributors for ownership of the channel.
- Representing the National Football League various league and team financings, including in the NFL’s multi-billion league-wide commercial paper and term note financing program and in its G-3 stadium funding program.
- Representing the National Hockey League in the various team sales, including the Buffalo Sabres, the Montreal Canadiens and the Tampa Bay Lightning.
- Representing the United States Tennis Association in its acquisition of interests in various U.S. Open Series tennis tournaments, including a controlling interest in the Western and Southern Financial Group Masters professional men's tennis tournament held annually in Mason, Ohio and in the licensing of the sanction for a Tier I women's professional tennis tournament to be held in conjunction with the men's event.
- Representing Giorgio Armani, S.P.A. in a cross-border joint venture transaction with respect to the A/X Armani Exchange business.
- Representing Incline Equity, a private equity firm, in the sale of a portfolio company.
Pro Bono
- Representation of The Facundo and Elizabeth Bacardi Family Foundation.
Memberships and Affiliations
- England & Company, Member of the Advisory Board
Previous Experience
- Bacardi Limited, General Counsel and member of the Executive Committee (1998-2000). While at Bacardi, Mr. Gibson oversaw the Company's acquisition of the Dewar's Scotch Whisky and Bombay Gin brands, including the required $2 billion multinational financing for that transaction. He also managed the negotiation and implementation of the Company's production and distribution joint venture with the Chinese government and the establishment of a Bacardi manufacturing and distribution venture in India.
October 1, 2020
WASHINGTON—Covington has promoted 14 lawyers to its partnership. “Our new partners practice in a wide range of the firm’s key practices and add importantly to our strengths,” said Doug Gibson, Covington’s chair. “This new partner class demonstrates that we continue to build an exceptional pipeline of superbly talented lawyers, across our offices and ...
September 15, 2020
WASHINGTON—The Diversity Lab, an incubator for ideas and solutions that boost diversity and inclusion in law, has certified Covington as having achieved the “Mansfield Rule Certification 3.0 Plus” after completing the twelve-month certification program. The "Mansfield Rule Certification 3.0" measures whether law firms have affirmatively considered at least 30 ...
August 12, 2020
WASHINGTON—The American Lawyer has named Covington to its 2020 “A-List,” an annual ranking of the top 20 firms based on revenue per lawyer, pro bono commitment, diversity, associate satisfaction, and percentage of female equity partners. Covington has appeared on the “A-List” fifteen times since it was introduced in 2003. This year, the firm ranked sixth ...
Covington Hires Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer
May 19, 2020
WASHINGTON —Marlene Aquino has joined Covington as its Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer. Ms. Aquino will serve as Covington’s most senior administrative officer for diversity and inclusion and work closely with the leaders of the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Initiatives and the Management Committee in setting and implementing the firm’s strategic plans and ...
January 22, 2020
WASHINGTON—The Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC) has awarded Covington a perfect score of 100 percent for the twelfth consecutive year on its Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality. “Diversity and inclusion, while an important component of our efforts ...
Covington Named a Law360 "Firm of the Year"
January 13, 2020
WASHINGTON—Law360 has named Covington one of its 2019 “Firms of the Year” for the second consecutive year based on the firm having received six Practice Group of the Year awards. The Covington practices named 2019 Practice Groups of the Year are: Competition/Antitrust Government Contracts International Arbitration Life Sciences Media & ...
Covington Elects Doug Gibson as Chair
November 6, 2019
WASHINGTON—Covington has announced that its partners have unanimously elected Doug Gibson as chair of the firm’s Management Committee and that he will begin a four-year term on January 1, 2020. The chair leads the Management Committee in setting the firm’s strategy, overseeing the firm’s operations, supporting the firm’s representation of clients, and working ...
February 21, 2019
WASHINGTON—Covington advised the Chicago Cubs and Northside Entertainment Holdings, LLC in the formation of a joint venture with Sinclair Broadcast Group that will own and operate Marquee Sports Network, a regional sports network based in Chicago. Marquee Sports Network will be the exclusive network of the Chicago Cubs beginning with the 2020 Major League ...
January 22, 2018
WASHINGTON—Covington advised Bacardi Limited in its definitive agreement to acquire Patrón Spirits International AG and its PATRÓN® brand, the world’s top-selling ultra-premium tequila, from John Paul DeJoria, a founder of Patrón. The transaction reflects an enterprise value for Patrón of $5.1 billion. The transaction follows the successful relationship the ...
December 5, 2016
WASHINGTON—SportsBusiness Journal has named Doug Gibson and Gregg Levy to its list of the “50 Most Influential People in Sports Business.” Mr. Gibson and Mr. Levy are two of only four lawyers in private practice on the list, which also includes league commissioners and team owners, broadcast industry and sponsor company CEOs, and other high-profile executives in ...
September 13, 2016, Daily Journal
Tom DeFilipps and Doug Gibson are quoted in a Daily Journal article regarding DeFilipps’ move to Covington’s Silicon Valley office. Commenting on the draw to Covington DeFilipps says, “One of the more compelling aspects of the Covington platforms is the way it allows you to meld the strength of its regulatory practice in D.C. and non-U.S. jurisdictions, like ...
September 13, 2016, The Recorder
Tom DeFilipps and Doug Gibson are quoted by The Recorder in an article regarding DeFilipps’ recent move to Covington, where he will serve as chair of the West Coast corporate practice. According to DeFilipps, “Covington presented to me an opportunity to do something that sounded very interesting at this point in my career.” He continues, "I felt as though it was ...
June 27, 2016
WASHINGTON—SportsBusiness Journal has named Covington partners Doug Gibson, Gregg Levy, Bruce Wilson, and Peter Zern to the highest tier in its 2016 “Power Players: Outside Counsel” rankings. Included in the SportsBusiness Journal’s “Chairman’s Club,” the Covington team is recognized in the “dominant tier in sports law” because of “a long history in the space” ...
February 3, 2016
WASHINGTON, DC — Covington assisted the National Football League in negotiating its partnership with CBS and NBC to produce and televise "Thursday Night Football" for the 2016 and 2017 seasons. In addition to continuing its Thursday Night Football partnership with CBS, the NFL is adding NBC as a partner, with both networks set to air five Thursday Night Football ...
December 22, 2015, Sports Business Daily
Doug Gibson is quoted in this Sports Business Daily article profiling high-ranking sports executives and asking their thoughts on the biggest storylines of 2015. Gibson, who highlights the “continuing proliferation of content distributed solely over-the-top and the continuing growth, particularly within millennials, of ‘cord-cutters’ and ‘cord-nevers,” points to ...
Covington Receives Top Tier Rankings from Legal 500 U.S.
June 9, 2015
WASHINGTON, DC, June 9, 2015 — The Legal 500 U.S. has ranked Covington as a top tier firm in nine practice areas and recognized 25 individual attorneys as “Leading Lawyers” in the directory’s 2015 edition. Additionally, Legal 500 recommended 36 Covington practice areas and 156 Covington lawyers. Top tier rankings include: Antitrust - Cartel Antitrust ...
Covington’s Gibson Named Law360 MVP
11/24/2014
WASHINGTON, DC, November 24, 2014 — Law360 named Covington & Burling partner Doug Gibson a “most valuable player” in media and entertainment law. Law360’s “MVP of the Year” awards recognize lawyers who have had successes in record-breaking deals, high-stakes litigation, and complex global matters in the past year. In a profile on Mr. Gibson, Law360 cited his ...
Media & Entertainment MVP: Covington's Doug Gibson
November 21, 2014, Law360
Covington's Doug Gibon was named a Law360 MVP: "Covington & Burling LLP partner Doug Gibson’s name appears on many high-profile sports industry deals, including this summer’s negotiation of former Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer’s $2 billion purchase of the Los Angeles Clippers and the National Football League’s extension on DirecTV’s rights for NFL Sunday ...
Law360 MVP Awards Go To Legal Aces From 78 Firms
November 18, 2014, Law360
Covington partners David Fagan, Doug Gibson, Paul Schmidt and Robert Wick were named Law360 MVPs in their respective practices.
October 6, 2014, The American Lawyer
Covington is featured in this article regarding the firm advising the National Basketball Association on a media rights deals with Walt Disney Co. and Time Warner Inc.’s Turner Broadcasting System. "The agreement comes on the heels of the NFL's renewal of its Sunday Ticket game package with DirecTV last week. Covington counseled its longtime client the NFL on ...
Covington Advises NFL on DirecTV Deal
10/03/2014
WASHINGTON, DC, October 3, 2014 — Covington & Burling represented the National Football League in connection with its recently announced deal to extend DirecTV's exclusive rights to carry NFL Sunday Ticket in a multi-year agreement. The agreement also extends DirecTV’s rights to stream NFL Sunday Ticket, a package that enables subscribers to view out-of-market ...
August 18, 2014
WASHINGTON, DC, August 18, 2014 — Best Lawyers named Covington & Burling’s Stuart Eizenstat and Gregg Levy each a 2015 “Lawyer of the Year” in international trade and sports law, respectively, citing their “abilities, professionalism and integrity.” Overall, Covington lawyers received 217 individual mentions in 58 areas of law in the newly released annual survey ...
Covington Advises Steve Ballmer on Clippers Purchase
5/30/2014
WASHINGTON, DC, May 30, 2014 — Covington & Burling advised Steve Ballmer on his agreement to purchase the Los Angeles Clippers from The Sterling Family Trust for $2 billion. "I will be honored to have my name submitted to the NBA board of governors for approval as the next owner of the Los Angeles Clippers. I love basketball," Ballmer said in a statement. "And ...
May 30, 2014, Law360 - 5 Must-Know Facts About Ballmer's $2B Clippers Bid
Covington advised Steve Ballmer on his agreement to purchase the Los Angeles Clippers from The Sterling Family Trust for $2 billion. The firm is mentioned in the above articles regarding the deal. Law360 writes, "Steve Ballmer is represented in the latest deal by a Covington & Burling LLP team led by Doug Gibson, Scott Roades and Peter Zern, including Rob ...
November 26, 2013
WASHINGTON, DC, November 26, 2013 — Covington & Burling advised the National Hockey League in negotiating its twelve-year, C$5.2 billion agreement with Rogers Communications for national broadcast and multimedia rights to NHL games, including the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the Stanley Cup Final, in Canada. The agreement is the largest media rights deal in NHL ...
November 21, 2013
WASHINGTON, DC, November 21, 2013 — Washingtonian magazine has named 34 Covington & Burling attorneys as “Best Lawyers” in its December issue. The biennial list, compiled by the magazine’s editorial staff, identifies leading lawyers in the Washington area. Of the hundreds of “Best Lawyers” identified in the issue, Washingtonian spotlights 14 leading Washington ...
Covington Advises USTA in ESPN Broadcast Deal
May 17, 2013
WASHINGTON, DC, May 17, 2013 — The United States Tennis Association Incorporated and ESPN, Inc. announced a new 11-year broadcast deal Thursday that calls for telecasting the entire US Open exclusively on ESPN networks starting in 2015. Covington & Burling advised the USTA on the transaction. Under the agreement, ESPN will become the exclusive domestic ...
Seven Covington Lawyers Named ‘2013 Lawyer of the Year’
September 13, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC, September 13, 2012 — Best Lawyers in America named seven Covington & Burling lawyers today as “2013 Lawyer of the Year” in their respective practice areas and cities. The selected lawyers received strong ratings from their peers for their “abilities, professionalism and integrity,” in the publication’s annual survey. Best Lawyers recognizes only ...
August 27, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC, August 27, 2012 — Covington & Burling LLP lawyers received 196 individual mentions in 57 areas of law in the 2013 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. This annual compilation of top U.S. lawyers is based on peer-review surveys and is used as a referral guide in the legal profession. The Covington lawyers recognized are as ...
January 24, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC, January 24, 2012 — Covington & Burling LLP represented ChemGen Corp. in its definitive merger agreement with Eli Lilly and Company. Upon closing of the transaction, ChemGen will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly and an operating unit of Elanco, the animal health division of Eli Lilly. ChemGen, headquartered in Gaithersburg, ...
Covington Advises NFL on Major Network TV Deal
December 15, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC, December 15, 2011 — Covington advised the National Football League in negotiating nine-year extensions of its Sunday broadcast television packages with CBS, FOX and NBC networks. The NFL owners voted to approve the package of TV deals with FOX, CBS and NBC on Wednesday. The new agreements, announced yesterday, run through the 2022 season, and ...
Covington Advises NFL in its Eight-Year Extension of Monday Night Football Rights with ESPN
September 9, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC, September 9, 2011 — The National Football League has announced that it has entered into a new eight-year agreement with ESPN providing for Monday Night Football, the most successful series in sports media history, to remain on ESPN through the 2021 NFL season. The broad multiplatform agreement, which begins in 2014, includes eight full seasons of ...
September 7, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC, September 7, 2011 — Covington & Burling LLP lawyers received 184 individual mentions in 56 areas of law in the 2012 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. This annual compilation of top US lawyers is based on peer-review surveys and is used as a referral guide in the legal profession. The Covington lawyers recognized are as follows: ...
Covington Advises UFC on Fox Deal
August 22, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC, August 22, 2011 — Zuffa LLC, parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and Fox have agreed to a seven-year broadcast deal that will distribute live and taped mixed martial arts programming across the broadcast network's multiple television platforms beginning in January 2012. Covington & Burling LLP advised UFC on the transaction. The ...
June 10, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC, June 10, 2011 — Covington & Burling LLP received 123 individual mentions and 45 practice mentions in Chambers USA 2011. The guidebook, which ranks lawyers by state and national practice area, is designed to identify the most skilled legal practitioners based on the qualities most valued by clients. Here are the Covington lawyers and practices ...
Covington Advises IMG College in Launch of TV Network for The University of Texas at Austin
January 24, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC, January 24, 2011 — The University of Texas at Austin, ESPN and UT Athletics' multimedia rights partner IMG College have announced a 20-year agreement to create what soon will be the nation's largest 24-hour television network dedicated to covering a university's intercollegiate athletics, music, cultural arts and academic programs. Covington ...
September 8, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC, September 8, 2010 — Covington & Burling LLP partner Peter Zern has been named to Washington Business Journal’s “40 Under 40.” The list recognizes the Washington region's brightest young business leaders based on demonstrated business success. At Covington, Mr. Zern advises many of the firm’s sports clients on media transactions, finance, and ...
August 6, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC, August 6, 2010 — Covington & Burling LLP received 138 individual mentions in 40 areas of law in the 2011 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. This annual compilation of top US lawyers is based on peer-review surveys and is used as a referral guide in the legal profession. The Covington lawyers recognized are as follows: Administrative: ...
June 23, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC, June 23, 2010 — Covington & Burling LLP received 85 individual mentions and 23 practice mentions in the Legal 500 US 2010 edition. Legal 500 reviews the strengths and strategies of law firms in more than 90 countries in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, North and South America, and the Caribbean. Here are the Covington lawyers and practices ...
June 17, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC, June 17, 2010 — Arginetix, Inc. and Immune Control Inc. today announced their merger to form Corridor Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which will develop novel treatments for vascular diseases with an initial focus on pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Corridor, which will be based in Baltimore, Maryland, will develop treatments based on the ...
June 16, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC, June 16, 2010 — Covington & Burling LLP received 112 individual mentions and 44 practice mentions in Chambers USA 2010. The guidebook, which ranks lawyers by state and national practice area, is designed to identify the most skilled legal practitioners based on the qualities most valued by clients. Here are the Covington lawyers and practices ...
April 23, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC, April 23, 2010 — The NCAA has announced a new 14-year television and new media rights agreement with CBS Sports and Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., to present the Division I Men's Basketball Championship beginning in 2011 through 2024 for total rights fees of approximately $10.8 billion. As part of the agreement, all games will be shown live ...
December 11, 2009
WASHINGTON, DC, December 11, 2009 — The U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) announced the members of the independent Advisory Committee established by USOC’s Board of Directors to assess the USOC's board structure and operations model. The 14-member committee will be chaired by Paul Tagliabue. The committee's members have wide-ranging experience with youth and ...
Covington Advises Arginetix on Series A Financing
10/2/2009
WASHINGTON, DC, October 2, 2009 — Arginetix, Inc. today announced it has closed a $10.75 million Series A financing. The financing was co-led by Quaker BioVentures and MedImmune Ventures, the latter a wholly owned venture capital fund of the AstraZeneca Group. Maryland Heath Care Product Development Corp., Osage University Partners, Red Abbey Venture Partners, ...
August 7, 2009
WASHINGTON, DC, August 7, 2009 — Covington & Burling LLP received 131 individual mentions in 38 areas of law in the 2010 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. This annual compilation of top US lawyers is based on peer-review surveys and is used as a referral guide in the legal profession. The Covington lawyers recognized are as follows: Administrative: ...
June 12, 2009
WASHINGTON, DC, June 12, 2009 — Covington & Burling LLP received 100 individual mentions and 40 practice mentions in Chambers USA 2009. The guidebook, which ranks lawyers by state and national practice area, is designed to identify the most skilled legal practitioners based on the qualities most valued by clients. Here are the Covington lawyers and practices ...
September 29, 2008
WASHINGTON, DC, September 29, 2008 — Covington & Burling LLP received 124 individual mentions in 40 areas of law in the 2009 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. This annual compilation of top US lawyers is based on peer-review surveys and is used as a referral guide in the legal profession. The Covington lawyers recognized are as follows: Administrative: ...
June 16, 2008
WASHINGTON, DC, June 16, 2008 — Covington & Burling LLP received 81 individual mentions and 45 practice mentions in the newly released 2008 Chambers USA. The guidebook, which ranks lawyers by state and national practice area, is designed to identify the most skilled legal practitioners based on the qualities most valued by clients. Here are the Covington ...
5/12/2008
WASHINGTON, DC, May 12, 2008 — The USTA, ESPN and Tennis Channel today announced a groundbreaking six-year television and multi-platform partnership creating a summer-long “Open Season” for tennis featuring more than 400 national television hours for the US Open and the Olympus US Open Series. Covington & Burling LLP advised the USTA on the ...
June 18, 2007
WASHINGTON, DC, June 18, 2007 — Covington & Burling LLP received 44 practice mentions and 74 individual mentions in the newly released 2007 Chambers USA guidebook. The 2007 edition of Chambers USA attempts to identify the most skilled legal practitioners throughout the country based on the qualities most valued by clients. Covington attorneys have been ...
March 8, 2007
WASHINGTON, DC, March 8, 2007 — Major League Baseball announced the launch of the MLB Channel today in connection with its seven-year agreement with DIRECTV to carry the MLB EXTRA INNINGS subscription package of out-of-market games. DIRECTV will be a minority partner in the MLB Channel, and will work with MLB to develop the new network. Scheduled to launch in ...
- Recognized by SportsBusiness Journal on the "50 Most Influential People in Sports Business" list (2016).
- Recognized by SportsBusiness Journal on the “Power Players: Outside Counsel” list in its highest tier, “Chairman’s Club” (2016).
- Law360, Media & Entertainment MVP (2014)
- The Best Lawyers in America (2009-2020)
- LawDragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America (2014)
- The Best Lawyers in America, Washington Sports Lawyer of the Year (2013)
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers, leading sports lawyer (2007-2019)
- Washington DC Super Lawyers, Business/Corporate (2013-2019)
- Legal 500 US, Sports (2008-2010, 2014-2017); M&A/Corporate and Commercial (2015); and Telecoms and Broadcast: Transactional (2012-2013)
- Washingtonian, Entertainment (2013)