Kirkland Advises Cleveland WNBA on Expansion of Ownership Group

Kirland & Ellis advised Cleveland WNBA, led by Rock Entertainment Group Chairman and majority owner Dan Gilbert, on the expansion of its ownership group. With strategic investment from Monarch Collective, a private equity firm dedicated to women’s sports, and several prominent business and community leaders with connections to Northeast Ohio, the franchise strengthens its commitment to excellence and the growth of women’s basketball. The WNBA first announced that Cleveland would become the home to the league’s 16th team on June 30, 2025 and is set to begin play in 2028 at Rocket Arena. Kirkland also represented the team in the league expansion.

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The Kirkland team included corporate lawyers Frank Saviano, Jason Krochak, Adam Rosenthal, Bob Gilligan and Sophie Abrams; and tax lawyers Mark Schwed and David Gilbert.