Biography
John Wilson is a partner in the Seattle office of K&L Gates, where his practice focuses on sports law, technology transactions, and commercial agreements. He represents clients in structuring, drafting, and negotiating sports and entertainment transactions including naming rights deals, sponsorship and influencer agreements, celebrity/athlete endorsements, media rights agreements, intellectual property license agreements, and stadium construction contracts. He has experience advising clients positioned on both the team/league and the sponsor/brand side of deals. He also serves as outside general counsel to a group holding a minority interest in the Tacoma Defiance, a professional soccer club competing in the United Soccer League.
Mr. Wilson's professional work extends to his commitment to pro bono services and community engagement. He has argued before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of a Mexican immigrant seeking asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture to a citizen of Mexico based on his past military service and involvement in the arrest of several members of the Los Zetas drug cartel. He also serves on the Board of Trustees for Make-a-Wish Foundation of Alaska & Washington and is the president of Pacific Northwest Soccer Club, a youth soccer club with more than 1,000 players.
