Overview
Chidi Oteh is a partner in the Investment Funds & Private Capital and Sports practices at Paul Hastings and is based in the firm's Boston office.
Chidi represents investment advisers, hedge funds, private equity funds and institutional investors in connection with fund formation, governance and operational matters, regulatory compliance and a broad range of transactional matters. He also advises public companies on SEC reporting and disclosure obligations, corporate governance and related compliance matters.
Chidi maintains a robust sports industry practice, advising private equity sponsors and their principals on acquisitions and dispositions of ownership interests in professional sports teams and sports-related businesses across the broader entertainment and media sectors. He also represents collegiate and professional coaches, athletes, administrators and broadcasters in the negotiation of employment, endorsement, sponsorship and speaking agreements. In addition, Chidi advises professional leagues, teams, coaches, players and universities on sponsorship, licensing, joint venture, broadcasting and media rights arrangements.
Clients include investment funds and asset managers such as Bain Capital, Benefit Street Partners, Bracebridge Capital, HarbourVest, PIMCO, The Vistria Group and Westwood Global, as well as sports organizations including the Golden State Warriors, the Carolina Panthers, the Seattle Seahawks, the NFL and the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
Chidi previously served as associate counsel for the Oakland Athletics Major League Baseball team and the San Jose Earthquakes Major League Soccer club.
Accolades
- Ones to Watch – Entertainment and Sports Law, Best Lawyers in America (2026)
- Top 40 Under 40, National Black Lawyers
Education
- Howard University School of Law, J.D., 2015
- Lindenwood University School of Business and Entrepreneurship, M.B.A. (Accounting), 2012
- Lindenwood University, B.A. (Finance), 2010
Representations
Investment Funds
- Private fund managers with ongoing compliance matters and the preparation of compliance policies and procedures.
- Private fund sponsors in connection with the structuring and formation of open-end and closed-end funds, as well as single-investor funds.
- Various clients regarding investments in third-party private funds.
- Institutional and other investors in connection with secondary transactions for both the acquisition and disposition of private fund interests.
Sports
- Retired coaches and athletes in connection with the establishment of their family offices.
- The National Association of Basketball Coaches in connection with evolving NCAA rules and NIL landscape.
- Colleges universities, individuals and major brands on negotiation of NIL arrangements.
- Broadcasters in negotiations with global media enterprise.
- Investment manager in the raise of majority of minority equity for MLS team purchase.
- Investment manager in the raise of majority of minority equity for MLS stadium development.
- NFL team on international data privacy compliance.
- NBA team on employment contracts with coaches and senior front office executives.
- Pharmaceutical company in their sponsorship of an LPGA tournament.
- NFL, engaged in connection with their review of diversity based hiring policies.
- Retired NFL coaches and players on negotiation of speaking engagements.
Engagement & Publications
- “NCAA Proposed Settlement Receives Preliminary Approval,” Westlaw Today, Co-Author (Nov. 19, 2024)
- “NIL update: key takeaways from NCAA President Charlie Baker's recent 'forward-looking' letter proposing changes to NCAA's NIL policy,” Westlaw Today, Co-Author (Jan. 2, 2024)
- “NCAA Slates “NIL” Proposal for Vote,” Licensing Journal, Co-Author (November-December 2020)
- “Career Spotlight – Chidi Oteh,” Harvard Journal of Sports and Entertainment Law, Profiled (Jan. 9, 2021)
- “NCAA Moves Closer to “NIL” Policy for Student-Athletes,” Licensing Journal, Co-Author (August 2020)