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International law firm McDermott Will & Schulte announced that Henry Smokler has joined the firm as a Partner, strengthening its capabilities at the intersection of sports, media, governance, and high-stakes deals. He will work closely with McDermott’s Transactions and Media, Entertainment & Sports practices, counseling boards, executives, and investors on complex regulatory, transactional, and reputational risk matters.
As a skilled lawyer, senior business leader, and strategic advisor, Henry brings elite in-house leadership, market-shaping deal experience, and crisis-management acumen across sports, media, and nonprofit organizations. He advises on governance, enterprise risk, high-value commercial matters, and emerging challenges that can threaten an organization’s long-term viability.
“Henry’s background is exceptional and highly complementary to our global platform,” said Harris Siskind, global head of McDermott’s Transactions Practice Group. “He has led some of the most consequential media rights and commercial negotiations in sports, navigated governance reform and crisis situations at the highest levels, and built trusted relationships across governing bodies, media companies, and private equity firms. Henry will be an immediate value add for our clients and a powerful connector across our practices.”
Henry joins McDermott after serving more than a decade as General Counsel, Chief Legal and Risk Officer, and Senior Advisor for the Professional Golfers’ Association of America. In that capacity, he acted as principal legal and strategic advisor to executive leadership and the board of directors, directed the organization’s response to high-profile reputational and operational crises, and led enterprise-wide litigation and investigations. He also co-led the negotiation of long-term national media rights agreements with CBS and other broadcasting platforms, overseeing acquisitions and strategic investments and driving governance reform and nonprofit compliance initiatives.
Earlier, as a senior legal and commercial leader for the United States Golf Association, Henry negotiated and executed a landmark multiyear media rights agreement totaling more than $1 billion. He has also led transformative headquarters and mixed-use development projects and advised on complex public policy, competition, and regulatory matters affecting sporting associations. Prior to his in-house career, Henry advised on capital markets, executive compensation, and mergers and acquisitions in the advertising, media, and technology sectors.
“I am thrilled to join McDermott,” said Henry. “The firm has an outstanding reputation for practical, business-focused counsel, deep industry knowledge, and a collaborative culture. McDermott’s global reach and integrated platform are uniquely suited to support the increasingly complex intersection of sports, media, investment, and regulation. I’m excited to help clients navigate high stakes challenges, while working alongside such a talented group of lawyers.”
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Leading organizations turn to global law firm McDermott Will & Schulte for a better way to address legal challenges, connect with those at the forefront, and drive stronger outcomes. Working across more than 20 offices globally, our 1,750+ lawyers act on data-driven insights, deep relationships, and unmatched industry experience to deliver on our commitment of Always Better.