Goldberg Segalla partner Joseph M. Hanna, co-chair of the firm’s sports industry practice, joined the hosts of Law 360’s podcast Pro Say to discuss the most recent legal updates surrounding the PGA Tour and the LIV Golf League.

“We are in the midst of a civil war,” said Joe, whose appearance was part of a follow up to his Law360 co-authored piece The Looming Legal Showdown Set To Change Golf’s Course. “They have been investigated in the past, and the DOJ (Department of Justice) is investigating the PGA’s behavior as an illegal monopoly,” Joe added as he broke down the antitrust suit filed against the PGA Tour by LIV.

“Round one is in the books and the PGA Tour won round one. The highlight and theme of that was irreparable harm. Judge Freeman certainly found that there was no irreparable harm to the three LIV golfers and their ability to compete in the FedEx Cup.”

Some of the PGA’s biggest strengths, Joe said, comes from “LIV’s success and ability to draw big names (which) shows that they haven’t been prevented from entering the market at all. It frankly understates that the fact that the PGA Tour isn’t a monopoly.”

HEAR THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE:

“Pro Say: The Antitrust Fight Tearing Pro Golf Apart,” Law360, August 15, 2022

MORE ABOUT GOLDBERG SEGALLA’S Joseph M. Hanna:

Joseph M. Hanna is a commercial litigator and legal adviser recognized for his work in retail and hospitality and sports and entertainment law. With a national practice and industry-wide reputation for leadership, Joe is consistently ranked among the top 10 attorneys based in Western New York in Business First’s annual Legal Elite, and in 2015, Joe was the youngest honoree ever to be named Lawyer of the Year in the Bar Association of Erie County’s 130-year history.