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    Christopher L. McLean

    Member • Chair of Sports & Entertainment
    Admissions: Maryland, Virginia

    Biography

    Christopher is a Member at Kaufman & Canoles, Chair of the firm’s Sports & Entertainment Team and a Director of ESOP Strategies, LLC. He advises clients on issues relating to corporate law, corporate governance, Benefit Corporations, and M&A, which all complement his broad ESOP background. Christopher has worked with numerous corporations and shareholders in a wide range of corporate ownership succession and exit transactions, including leveraged buyouts, corporate stock repurchases, corporate reorganizations, and ESOP purchase and sale transactions. His ESOP practice focuses primarily on the design, implementation, maintenance, and compliance of ESOPs, while representing ESOP sponsors or trustees.

    Christopher’s Sports and Entertainment practice is rooted in his extensive background in corporate law, M&A and commercial agreements. He has worked with corporations, investors, and sports organizations in a wide range of corporate and commercial transactions in the quickly evolving sports and entertainment industries.

    Christopher’s Trust & Estate practice focuses on the individual client’s comprehensive estate and succession planning with a focus on the specialized needs of athletes, entertainers, and other professionals and executives. He represents individuals in the negotiation of commercial/endorsement agreements, employment agreements, executive compensation arrangements and business opportunities utilizing an inclusive approach so to ensure the compensation structure and tax implications are thoughtfully incorporated into and complement the individual’s broader trust and estate plan while protecting and preserving the client’s interests.

    Recognition & Honors

    • Top Lawyers; CoVaBIZ Magazine, 2023
    • Articles Editor & Administrative Council; Richmond Journal of Law and Technology, 2009-2010
    • Associate Articles Editor; Richmond Journal of Law and Technology, 2008-2009

    Associations

    • Virginia Bar Association
    • The ESOP Association; Legislative & Regulatory Committee Member; Mid-Atlantic Chapter, Vice President – Legislative and Regulatory Matters; Executive Committee Member
    • Professional Services Council (PSC); Member
    • Exit Planning Exchange (XPX); Maryland Chapter Member
    • National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO); Member
    • Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC); Member

    Presentations

    Education

    • University of Virginia; B.A., 2007
    • University of Richmond School of Law; J.D., cum laude, 2010