Zach Schreiber is Of Counsel in Gibson Dunn’s Litigation Department and a member of the Firm’s Sports Law Practice Group. His practice focuses on complex litigation and investigations, with a particular emphasis on the sports, media, and entertainment industries. Zach represents clients in high-stakes disputes involving intellectual property, antitrust, labor and employment, and commercial issues, as well as in internal investigations and strategic advisory matters. He also counsels clients, including elite athletes, on sports and entertainment transactions, such as those involving name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights, media rights, and sponsorship arrangements.
Before entering private practice, Zach worked as a sports agent representing professional basketball players around the world and held front-office positions with two NBA teams. This experience gives him a rare insider’s perspective on the business of sports and the dynamics that drive disputes and deals in this fast-evolving space. He is recognized for blending business insight with rigorous legal strategy, helping clients navigate sensitive and high stakes matters that attract public attention and industry scrutiny.
Zach has played key roles in major litigations, regulatory investigations, and arbitration proceedings, often involving complex factual and reputational issues. He regularly works alongside senior executives and in-house counsel to develop coordinated strategies that protect both legal and commercial interests. His clients value his poise under pressure, command of the sports and media ecosystem, and commitment to practical, results-driven advocacy.
Zach was recently recognized in the inaugural Conduct Detrimental: The Intersection of Sports and Law “10 Under 10” list, which highlights sports lawyers who are shaping the sports legal field, and was elected to serve as a member of Law360’s Sports & Betting Editorial Board. Zach is also the author of Lexology’s annual Sports Law Panoramic.
Representative Matters*
Sports Law
- NBA #1 draft pick Zion Williamson and Creative Artists Agency in connection with two multi-hundred million dollar litigations in North Carolina federal court and Florida state court arising out of a marketing agreement with Williamson’s former agent, which involve breach of contract and misappropriation of trade secrets claims
- Shohei Ohtani in connection with his sponsorship by the failed cryptocurrency exchange FTX.
- A leading television broadcaster in various sports-related antitrust matters, including the NFL Sunday Ticket and NCAA “Grant-In-Aid” litigations.
- A leading online event ticket reseller in a $100 million arbitration with a top professional sports league.
- Multiple professional athletes in internal investigations and related litigation concerning allegations of player misconduct.
Intellectual Property/Media Law
- Alibaba Group in a putative class action regarding intellectual property infringement claims stemming from products sold on its e-commerce platforms.
- Covetrus, a global animal-health technology and services company, in two state court lawsuits brought against it by online animal retailer Chewy regarding the sale of regulated pet prescription products, as well as alleged defamation and libel claims regarding statements Covetrus made about Chewy.
- The Association of American Publishers in connection with antitrust, licensing, copyright, and other intellectual property issues.
Corporate Sports Advisory
- A private equity firm in its analysis and potential acquisition of a streaming service with respect to various name, image, and likeness (“NIL”) and right of publicity concerns related to high school athletes and minors.
- A private equity firm in its potential acquisition of a satellite television distributor, including an analysis of the distributor’s sports broadcast rights.
- A publicly-traded global hospitality and entertainment company regarding the cancellation of various live performances at its properties due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Other Trial and Investigations Experience
- The National Women’s Soccer League Players’ Association in a landmark investigation into alleged abuse, harassment, and misconduct in women’s soccer, which aims to identify and address systemic failures in order to better protect player health and safety.
- The special committee of a multi-billion dollar real estate company in an internal investigation into the liability of the officers and directors in connection with its chapter 11 restructuring.
- The special committee of Exide Holdings in an internal investigation into pre-bankruptcy financial transactions related to its Chapter 11 filing.
- CBL Properties in a bench trial against certain secured lenders in connection with their restructuring of more than $4 billion of obligations.
Zach also has an active pro bono practice. He has represented students who faced egregious antisemitism on their college campuses, he has advised student authors and student-run newspapers who faced First Amendment and censorship issues over their works by their institutions, he has represented clients that suffer from physical disabilities in seeking reasonable accommodations from their landlords to provide his clients with greater accessibility to their homes. He has also represented immigrant victims of domestic abuse seeking to lift restrictions on United States residency after the victims had successfully left their abusive spouses.
Zach is a member of the New York City Bar’s Sports Law Committee. He also serves on the boards of the Semester at Sea Alumni Association and the Fordham Law Alumni Association.
Zach received his B.A. from Tulane University and his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Fordham Sports Law Forum and a Notes and Articles Editor for the Fordham Intellectual Property, Media & Entertainment Law Journal.
Selected Publications:
The Time Is Now: Why the United States Should Adopt the British Model of Sports Betting Legislation,” Fordham Intellectual Property, Media & Entertainment Law Journal, Vol. 27, No. 2017 (2017)
The Right to Play: How Sports Leagues Worldwide Interfere with the Fundamental Right to Work,” 25 Sports Law. J. 19 (2018)
Leveling the Playing Field for Sports Agents: How the Two-Hat Theory and the Model Rules of Professional Conduct Collide,” 19 Texas Rev. Ent. & Sports L. 13 (2018)
*Includes matters handled prior to joining Gibson Dunn
Capabilities
- Sports Law
- Antitrust and Competition
- Betting and Gaming
- Intellectual Property
- Labor and Employment
- Litigation
- Media, Entertainment, and Technology
- Private Equity
Credentials
Education:
- Fordham University - 2017 Juris Doctor
- Tulane University - 2012 Bachelor of Arts
Admissions:
- New York Bar