Overview

About Ben

Ben Lauritsen practices in Stoel Rives’ Corporate group, where he counsels clients across industries. Ben’s broad experience in the sports and entertainment space gives him unique expertise in commercial contracts, licensing, brand, marketing, media, and technology that benefits clients in a wide variety of business sectors. Ben’s 10+ years as a general counsel enables him to uniquely understand his clients’ goals and challenges and tailor solutions to meet their business needs.

Ben also advises clients in corporate matters in all business stages, including formation, financing, mergers and acquisitions, bankruptcy, restructuring, and corporate governance.

Prior to becoming a partner at Stoel Rives, Ben served as General Counsel for the Portland Trail Blazers and the Rose Quarter, advising the organization’s senior management, board of directors, and ownership in all legal matters, including strategy, contract negotiations, NBA player and league matters, business operations, and compliance. Earlier in his career, Ben was a corporate associate with Stoel Rives and with Latham & Watkins, LLP, in London, England. He was a law clerk to the Honorable David G. Campbell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona.

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Experience

Experience

Sports/Commercial contracts

  • Serves as primary counsel for the Portland Trail Blazers and the Rose Quarter in key strategic matters, including NBA league matters, player relations, collective bargaining, government affairs, and general business operations.
  • Negotiated and closed multiple landmark media rights deals for distribution of Trail Blazers’ games.
  • Negotiated and closed the first arena naming rights deal for the Moda Center.
  • Responsible for contracts and processes for all sources of the Portland Trail Blazers’ revenue streams, including licensing, sponsorships, traditional/digital media, hospitality, venue operations, and retail.
  • Responsible for supporting all aspects of the Rose Quarter entertainment venue operations, including ticketing platforms, concessionaire agreements, event licenses, artist agreements, music licenses, security, and stagehand collective bargaining,
  • Negotiated a wide variety of technology agreements, including for (SaaS), mobile apps, enterprise, and payment platforms.
  • Launched multiple NFT offerings to memorialize Trail Blazers team accomplishments.
  • Grew annual Foundation giving from $150 thousand to $1.25 million while serving as President of the Trail Blazers Foundation from 2014 to 2020.

Corporate Transactions

  • $15 million purchase of ethanol plant out of bankruptcy by lienholder.
  • $50 million Series-A equity financing for a solar cell manufacturing start-up.
  • $4 million asset sales of two NBA Development League franchises.
  • $8 billion initial public offering for a Russian bank.
  • $400 million equity offering for an Indian real estate developer.
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Honors

Honors & Activities

  • Board Member, Trail Blazers Foundation, 2013–present
  • Board Member, Lewis & Clark Center for Innovation, 2019–present
  • Portland Business Journal “40-under-40” honoree.
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Insights & Presentations

Insights & Presentations

  • Panel Moderator, “How Sports Teams Operate, Lewis & Clark Law School Sports Law Conference, Portland, Oregon, Fall 2022
  • Panelist, “Hot Topics in Sports Law,” University of Miami Global Entertainment & Sports Law + Industry Conference, Miami, FL, Spring 2022
  • Panelist, “NBA Day,” Tulane University Sports Law Conference, Spring 2017



Related News & Publications


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