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Forty Under 40

Forty Under 40: David Greenspan


BARBARA NITKE
David Greenspan in recent years has been involved in some of the most high-profile legal matters in sports, including Tom Brady’s case against the NFL and Jenkins v. NCAA, a case that could overturn the NCAA’s rules restricting how much college athletes can earn.

As a partner at Winston & Strawn, Greenspan works hand in hand with renowned partner, players rights and union attorney Jeffrey Kessler. He was a Forty Under 40 honoree in 2014, as well, and his work and accomplishments have only continued to pile up since then, as he was also a lead counsel on the cases that NFL players Adrian Peterson and Ray Rice brought and won against the NFL.

“David is good at everything, which is why he is so useful,” said Kessler, who has been working with Greenspan since he was two years out of law school. He said Greenspan has “incredible instincts” and “excellent judgement” and that he has “100 percent confidence” in him. “David: I view him as another version of me,” Kessler said.

When working cases, the duo begins by brainstorming strategy and dividing up the work equally. It’s a complementary relationship, Greenspan said. “I think sometimes I am talking him off the ledge and he is pushing me out on the ledge,” Greenspan said of their brainstorming sessions. “I think it’s good for both of us.”

The work he’s done has led Greenspan to become co-chair of Winston & Strawn’s college sports practice group. And it all began from a point at which Greenspan said he didn’t seek out a career representing players. “I was a young associate and Jeffrey showed up [at the firm],” he said. “I went from working a little with him to a lot, to all the time. I just got lucky.”

— Liz Mullen

David Greenspan

Winston & Strawn | Partner
Age: 39
Where born: Abington, Pa.
Education: University of Pennsylvania (B.A.), University of Pennsylvania Law School (J.D.)
Family: Wife, Beth; children, Morgan (9), Max (5)

Advice I’d give to my younger self: Look down the road, not just at the road.
2016 will be a good year if: I continue to successfully raise my kids as Philadelphia fans living in a New York suburb.
Person in the industry I’d like to meet: Author Michael Lewis. He brings to light novel perspectives on the business of sport while packaging his insights into compelling stories.

I’d like to change jobs for a day with: Philadelphia Eagles head coach: best seat in the house, and why not be in charge?
Group supported: Hassenfeld Children’s Center of NYU Langone Medical Center.
Most thrilling/adventurous thing I’ve done: “Thrilling” and “adventurous” are not my calling cards, but in the past year I did eat duck tongue, frog legs, jellyfish and a live prawn while traveling in Asia.
You'd be surprised to know: I took sports law my third year in law school only because I figured it must be the easiest class available and I never even bought the textbook.


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