From multi-hundred-million-dollar naming rights deals to league-wide partnerships and global tournament sponsorships, the financial stakes for brand sponsors have never been higher — and neither have the risks. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup unfolding across 16 North American cities and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics already driving sponsorship negotiations, in-house counsel face a rapidly evolving environment in which force majeure disruptions, labor stoppages, geopolitical tensions, city and county ordinances, ambush marketing, and shifting rights packages can erode ROI overnight. This session offers practical guidance for drafting and negotiating sponsorship agreements that anticipate volatility, protect exclusivity, and account for the competing interests and complex rights structures inherent in today's highest-stakes deals.
