Jeffrey Kessler, a prominent sports attorney known for his influential antitrust cases, has been retained by Paramount Skydance to defend its merger with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). This high-profile merger faces legal challenges from 12 state attorneys general who have filed lawsuits seeking to block the deal. On CNBC, Kessler advocated for the merger, emphasizing its competitive benefits amid allegations that it violates antitrust laws. His role marks a shift, as he moves from representing individuals opposing leagues to defending a major corporation in a complex antitrust dispute.

Kessler is widely recognized for taking on powerful sports organizations such as the NFL, NCAA, NBA, and U.S. Soccer in landmark cases. Among his most notable achievements are two groundbreaking lawsuits related to athlete compensation in college sports. In 2021, he secured a unanimous Supreme Court ruling in NCAA v. Alston, which challenged NCAA restrictions on education-related benefits as an antitrust violation. Additionally, Kessler led the House v. NCAA lawsuit, culminating in a settlement that allowed college athletes to receive compensation from their schools for the first time.

Outside of college sports, Kessler played a pivotal legal role in the U.S. Women’s National Team’s successful equal pay battle against U.S. Soccer. He has also represented players’ unions across major leagues including the NFL, MLB, NHL, and NBA, and was key in winning NFL free agency in the early 1990s. Despite his longstanding role as a plaintiffs’ advocate, Kessler accepted the Paramount-WBD defense due to his belief that the merger will promote competition by creating a stronger streaming rival to industry giants like Netflix, Disney, and Amazon Prime.

Kessler argues that the Paramount-WBD deal will foster competition by supporting quality theatrical releases and strengthening cable channels that back linear broadcasting. He sees this merger as aligned with the antitrust laws’ goal of promoting competitive markets rather than curbing them. His involvement highlights the high stakes of the legal fight, reflecting both the evolving landscape of entertainment media consolidation and the ongoing influence of one of the most powerful lawyers in the sports world now working amidst a broader business context.