Frank Saviano
Age: 33
Company: Proskauer
Title: Associate
Where born: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Education: Trinity College (B.A., political science), University of Virginia School of Law
Family: Wife, Carly; son, Frankie (2); daughter, Ella (2 months)
Favorite way to unwind: Playing with my kids, and catching up on DVR with my wife.
Most thrilling/adventurous thing I’ve ever done: Bungee jump.
Person in the industry I’d most like to meet: New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese.
If I could change jobs with anyone for a day, it would be: Tom Colicchio.
2015 will be a good year if: Both my kids sleep through the night.
My fellow Forty Under 40 class members would be surprised to know that I: Met my wife at a Halloween party while dressed as a Care Bear.
LARRY LETTERA
ASCAR’s new media rights deal. MLS and the U.S. Soccer Federation’s new rights deal. The U.S. Golf Association’s deal with Fox, and the NBA’s sale of the Los Angeles Clippers to Steve Ballmer.
These are just a few of the significant sports
{podcast}
SBJ Podcast:
Forty Under 40 editor Mark Mensheha and Executive Editor Abraham Madkour discuss this year's class, some of the more interesting stories in it and how the selection process works.
deals that Proskauer associate Frank Saviano has worked on in just the past 18 months, positioning him as one of the standouts on the legal side of sports, even still early in his career.
“At the end of the day, clients want someone who works hard, knows the landscape for the terms, and can help them get the most fair deal, so whether it’s MLS or Pac-12, if you’re in the room and you’re able to add value and can be relied on, clients really appreciate that,” he said. “But yeah, I might be the youngest one in the room sometimes. I’ve gotten over it and I hope those on the client side have too.”
Regardless of age, Saviano has quickly become a source of deep industry and technical knowledge, especially in the landscape of media rights deals. He joined Proskauer’s corporate department in 2009 after graduating from the University of Virginia School of Law and serving as a summer associate with the firm. He previously was a paralegal with the NFL in the league counsel’s office, as well as a legal assistant at Skadden Arps in its antitrust/sports group.
Saviano credits those at Proskauer for the success he’s had thus far in his career, as well as hard work.
“The legal profession is one where you learn from the partners and those senior to you, and there’s no way to be in the position that I am in now without their support,” he said. “[Proskauer Chairman] Joe Leccese and [partner] Wayne Katz both have given me the ability to go out independently and negotiate some of the deals but also be there at any day or time to answer questions or share advice.”
— Ian Thomas
