Alexander Chester has joined Duane Morris LLP as a partner in the firm’s Corporate Practice Group in its New York office. Chester’s practice focuses on corporate transactions in the sports industry. Prior to joining Duane Morris, Chester was counsel at O’Melveny & Myers LLP.

“Our strong Corporate Practice Group is getting even stronger with a savvy partner whose national practice complements and adds a new facet to our sports and gaming law capabilities,” said Duane Morris Chairman and CEO Matthew A. Taylor. “Duane Morris has been a clear, highly regarded leader in this market space for more than three decades, so look for us to continue to expand and enhance our position.”

“We are excited to establish a strategic sports law capability within Duane Morris and bolster our busy and successful gaming and sports betting practice,” noted Brian P. Kerwin, chair of the firm’s Corporate Practice Group. “There are lots of natural synergies with Alex’s sports law experience and our roster of clients, with whom we partner to develop and forge new, innovative and beneficial relationships across all aspects of the gaming world.”

Added Frank DiGiacomo, partner and co-team lead of the firm’s Gaming Industry Group, “As the sports betting market proliferates, Alex’s deep experience in the sports industry and his wide network of relationships and clients in professional and collegiate sports, investors and institutions will enable us to work in new ways with our clients, including professional sports teams, media outlets, sports betting and other gaming operators and sports leagues. Our strong market position and our comprehensive service to our broad base of clients, both traditional and nontraditional gaming entities, will be enhanced by Alex’s background and practice.”

Chester focuses his practice on the sports industry, where he represents and counsels clients including professional and collegiate sports teams and leagues, owners and acquirers of professional sports teams, universities, and state and local governments in connection with stadium development projects, construction agreements, lease agreements, the acquisition of professional sports franchises and strategic counsel. His representative work in the sports industry includes representing developers, governments, major NCAA Division I universities, and NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and MLS teams in the development and construction of stadiums and media rights transactions, and purchasers and sellers of majority and minority interests in sports and esports franchises.

“I look forward to expanding my practice at Duane Morris and deepening the firm’s bench strength in the sports industry,” said Chester. “Duane Morris’ global, full service platform will allow me to collaborate with my colleagues around the firm and offer my services to the assist both new and existing clients.”

Chester is a graduate of Harvard University (J.D., 2010), where he was supervising editor, executive board member and symposium director of the Harvard Journal on Legislation. He is also a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (B.A., summa cum laude, 2005).