August 2012 - Empire State Development - New York State

III.
Proposed Contractor and Contractor Selection Process
Founded in 1842, Foley & Lardner LLP (“F&L” or the “Firm”) is a national firm with
approximately 900 attorneys in 21 offices. Among its many practice areas, the firm specializes
in the sports industry. Mr. Irwin Raij, a partner with the Firm, is co-chair of the Firm’s Sports
Industry Team.
Mr. Raij has represented and counseled major sports clients including a professional sports
league, professional sports teams and owners and acquirers of professional sports teams. He
advises clients in connection with a variety of new stadium development projects, construction
agreements, new and interim lease agreements, acquisition of professional sports franchises,
strategic counsel and commercial matters.
Mr. Raij's experience includes leading the team that represented Guggenheim Baseball
Management in the recent acquisition of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the single largest transaction
ever for a professional sports franchise. He also represented Rangers Baseball Express in its
acquisition of the Texas Rangers. Mr. Raij was appointed by the Commissioner of Major League
Baseball to serve on a three-person committee to determine feasibility of developing a new
stadium for the Oakland A's in Northern California, represented MLB in the relocation of the
Montreal Expos, now the Washington Nationals, to Washington, D.C., and acted as MLB's
counsel in its successful efforts to facilitate the negotiation and approval of new stadiums for
the Miami Marlins and the Washington Nationals. Mr. Raij also has provided counsel to the
Miami Dolphins in their efforts to renovate Sun Life Stadium and has worked with private
developers on the creation of stadium development concepts throughout the country.
Mr. Raij’s role will be to provide ESD with targeted, strategic advice through the course of lease
negotiations.
A Contract Reporter exemption for this contract was granted based on the Mr. Raij’s and the
Firm’s particular expertise in negotiations involving professional sports teams and stadiums.
Pursuant to State Finance Law Section 139-j and 139-k and the Corporation’s policy related
thereto, staff has; a) considered proposed contractor’s ability to perform the services provided
for in the proposed contract; and b) consulted the list of offerers determined to be nonresponsible
bidders and debarred offerers maintained by the New York State Office of General
Services. Based on the foregoing, staff considers the proposed contractor to be responsible.
IV.
Scope of Work
Strategic advice and counsel in connection with Ralph Wilson Jr. Stadium lease negotiations.
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