Christian Spaulding is an associate in the firm's Litigation Practice Group. Christian brings a wealth of experience spanning sports and entertainment law, complex litigation, real estate, intellectual property, corporate governance, and regulatory compliance. He has advised global sports organizations, Grammy award-winning entertainers, and corporate clients on complex legal matters, including brand protection, contract enforcement, business operations, and regulatory compliance.
Christian has led negotiations and enforcement efforts on contracts, sponsorships, and licensing agreements while also resolving shareholder disputes and safeguarding intellectual property rights for some of the most prominent names in professional sports and entertainment. He has successfully managed trademark, copyright, and patent rights for global brands, including the removal of counterfeit products, license agreements, and the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights. As an active member of the Sports Lawyers Association, Christian has led CLE-accredited discussions on legal and business issues in professional sports, reinforcing his industry knowledge and leadership.
An experienced litigator, Christian has successfully represented clients in complex business and commercial disputes, including high-stakes contract litigation, business torts, fraud cases, real estate conflicts, and employment disputes. His ability to manage disputes from pre-litigation through trial provides a comprehensive advantage in navigating business risk and resolving conflict. Additionally, he has represented corporate clients, professional sports organizations, and investors in high stakes matters involving distribution agreements, shareholder disputes, licensing and sponsorship enforcement, corporate governance conflicts, and financial recoveries. Christian has also represented court-appointed federal equity receivers in securities enforcement actions, which included the recovery of hundreds of millions of dollars of assets and real estate. His ability to navigate litigation, arbitration, and settlement negotiations provides a unique and valuable skill set.
Christian also brings with him a wealth of experience in real estate transactions, lease negotiations, land use disputes, and quiet title actions. He has successfully negotiated commercial leases for clients ranging from emerging businesses to multi-billion-dollar real estate investment firms. Having successfully litigated real estate purchase agreements, development agreements, and entitlement disputes, Christian possesses a proven track record in the real estate sector.
Representative Matters
Any result the lawyer or law firm may have achieved on behalf of clients in other matters does not necessarily indicate similar results can be obtained for other clients.
- Represented the predominant mixed martial arts organization in enforcing intellectual property rights, including copyright and trademark protections, and working to remove infringing domain names and publications.
- Provided legal counsel to a major professional sports league in shareholder disputes, contract litigation, licensing matters, and royalty issues.
- Represented the estate of iconic musical artist in enforcing copyright protections, including taking action against infringing works.
- Represented a legendary singer and actress in enforcing copyright rights related to musical performances and literary works.
- Represented members of a high-profile family in protecting intellectual property rights, including the prevention of counterfeit products.
- Represented an aftermarket automotive parts manufacturer in preventing patent infringement, including taking action against infringing products at trade shows and events.
- Represented various manufacturers of building materials and garage products in litigation stemming from patent infringement and trade secret misappropriation.
- Provides regular counsel to professional athletes and television personalities in various legal matters, including agreements, asset management, and entity formation.
- Represented innovator and manufacturer of patented sporting equipment designed to mitigate head trauma in football and other applications, in large scale litigation including corporatewaste, enforcement of judgments, bankruptcy proceedings, and recovery of company assets.
- Represented a real estate investment company, holding a multi-billion-dollar portfolio in negotiations and litigation related to commercial leases.
- Represented the seller of a series of petroleum distribution outlets in Southern Nevada in purchase agreement dispute.
- Represented a real estate investor in recovering over $10 million worth of property fraudulently taken through conversion, pursuing legal action to recover the divested assets.
- Represented a land seller in litigation regarding a buyer’s failure to fulfill purchase agreement conditions, successfully defending against claims related to land use and fraud, prevailing at summary judgment on all claims, later affirmed by the Nevada Supreme Court.
- Represented a commercial landlord in defending against a tenant's claim of constructive eviction, prevailing on all claims, including counterclaims for breach of lease.
- Represented a commercial landowner in a quiet title action, successfully extinguishing an easement and securing a quiet title order.
- Represented a landowner in a case involving a 1957 land patent and a federal highway right of way, obtaining declaratory relief to correct public records and quiet title to the land.
- Represented the owner of a prominent casino in a quiet title action concerning land wrongly categorized as a private right of way, securing declaratory relief and correcting the public records.
- Represented a homeowner in a construction defect action involving defects in a residential property built by a homebuilder.
- Represented an automotive dealership in defense of a breach of contract action. Successfully asserted counterclaims to invalidate an automatic renewal contract and recover improper charges, ultimately prevailing on all claims and securing attorney's fees and costs.
- Represented a global leader in hospitality and retail textiles in a variety of legal matters, including distribution agreements, contract negotiations, and other related business issues.
- Represented a court-appointed federal equity receiver in an SEC enforcement action related to a $600+ million Ponzi scheme, focusing on asset and real estate recovery as well as asset management.
Professional & Civic Activities
- Internship, Zuffa LLC (The Ultimate Fighting Championship), Legal and Regulatory Affairs, 2015
- Judicial Extern, Hon. James C. Mahan, U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, 2014
- Judicial Extern, Hon. Susan W. Scann, Nevada Eighth Judicial District Court, 2014
- Clerkship, Nevada Eighth Judicial District Court, Department XXIX
Honors & Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America, "Ones to Watch" (BL Rankings) Litigation - Banking and Finance, 2023 - present
- Mountain States Super Lawyers, Rising Stars (Thomson Reuters), 2021-present
- Vegas Inc., Top Lawyers, Business Litigation, 2021
