Twin Cities Enterprise has introduced Suzanne Spellacy has been named a 2024 “TCB Notable Common Counsel” honoree. Spellacy “is being acknowledged for her steering in negotiating a first-of-its-kind partnership between the Timberwolves, Lynx and iHeart Media, along with the signing of main retail accomplice, Fanatics.”
“I really admire this recognition and am grateful for the chance to work with the wonderful management staff on the Timberwolves and Lynx,” stated Spellacy.
“Suzanne has been a useful asset to our group, bringing not solely her deep authorized experience but in addition her unparalleled institutional data,” stated Timberwolves and Lynx CEO Ethan Casson. “We’re lucky to have her guiding us by way of the numerous sides of our operations, and her contributions have been essential to our continued success.”
As the primary inner Common Counsel for the Timberwolves and Lynx, Spellacy joined the group’s Govt Workforce in 2021 with greater than twenty years of expertise. In her function, Spellacy oversees all authorized issues, together with contract negotiations, company transactions, mental property, dispute decision, employment regulation and league guidelines and rules.
Over the previous 18 months, Spellacy led all negotiations of two new important partnerships for the group, together with the revolutionary and first-of-its-kind partnership between the Timberwolves, Lynx and iHeart Media. The multi-year settlement, named KFAN (KFAN FM 100.3) the group’s flagship radio station for choose Timberwolves video games and a majority of Lynx video games. The Timberwolves additionally turned the primary NBA staff with an unique streaming channel on the iHeartMedia platform.
Spellacy led negotiations for the franchises’ new retail accomplice, Fanatics. The brand new merchandising settlement resulted “in unimaginable Timberwolves retail progress at a 270% YOY improve, and important in-arena and e-commerce gross sales progress.”
Spellacy has “deep data of the rising authorized points for NBA groups and the sports activities business, together with novel mental property rights, altering rules impacting social media, evolution in sports activities property investments and the intersection of efficiency analytics and privateness. Spellacy’s management, preparedness and talent to supply clear and direct steering have contributed to the group’s latest progress and success.”
Past serving as Timberwolves and Lynx Common Counsel, Spellacy “works to assist and uplift the authorized group, usually dedicating her time and experience to numerous causes. Most lately, Spellacy served on the planning committee and as a presenter on the inaugural convention for NBA Workforce Counsel in September 2023, and frequently organizes networking occasions for authorized colleagues inside Minnesota’s skilled sports activities groups and amongst members of the broader Minnesota authorized group.”
Previous to becoming a member of the group, Spellacy served as authorized counsel for the Taylor Company, was a shareholder with Twin Cities regulation agency Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A. and most lately, served as Common Counsel and Company Secretary for Jack Hyperlink’s.
