Frederick Nance

About Frederick Nance

Frederick R. Nance is an Executive Group Member & former Global Managing Partner (US) LLP for the global law firm Squire Patton Boggs LLP. The Firm serves clients from 45 offices in 20 countries. Fred’s legal practice focuses on sports and entertainment law, commercial litigation, client counseling and public-private partnerships. Much of his practice over the years included high-stakes negotiations involving community interests with a primary focus on economic development projects. In November of 2016, Fred was unanimously elected by the Firm\'s Global Board to serve as the Firm\'s Global Managing Partner for the U.S. LLP which includes 36 offices in 16 countries. Fred also became a member of the 12 person Global Board which is responsible for the Firm\'s world-wide operations.(Links to related news items below.) At the end of 2022, Fred was succeeded by his Partner Michele Connell who became the firm\'s Global Managing Partner. Fred currently serves on the Firm\'s Executive Group and co-leads the Firm\'s U.S. Sports practice along with his Partner Sarah Rathke. His practice includes the long-standing representation such notable clients as NBA superstar/entrepreneur LeBron James and comedian Dave Chappelle. Fred also has a strong tradition of civic leadership, including, among other positions, serving as the chair of Cleveland\'s member chamber organization, and serving on the Board of Directors of the Cleveland Clinic since 2007 where he currently sits on the Clinic\'s Compensation Committee, London Task Force and Governance Committee, which he chairs. Fred also currently serves as the the board chair of Cleveland\'s Site Readiness Fund which is creating a $100 million fund to assemble, remediate and offer to market old abandoned industrial properties in Cleveland\'s neighborhoods.

Experience

1. Executive Group Member & Global Dei Counsel

   Squire Patton Boggs

   Jan 1978 — Present · Cleveland/Akron, OH, US

   While having held various management leadership positions inside the firm, Nance\'s primary practice focus today is in the fields of Sports & Entertainment and Commercial Litigation. He represents LeBron James in his individual and business capacities, and has done so continuously since 2003 when James was a senior in high school. In 2006, Fred was a finalist for the position of Commissioner of the National Football League in competition with Roger Goodell. Nance has also continuously represented comedian Dave Chappelle since 2007, including negotiating his historic deals with Netflix. On the public company side, he served as a Director of the investment banking firm McDonald & Company, Inc. in the 90\'s; and currently serves on the Board of RPM, International, Inc. where he has been a Director since 2007, and currently chairs RPM\'s Nominating & Governance Committee.Nance was named to the Northeast Ohio Business Hall of Fame in October of 2015. He is one of approximately four lawyers in the last forty years to receive that honor. In August of 2014, Nance was named the Managing Partner of the Year and designated a \"Pathfinder\" by the African-American Managing Partner/General Counsel Group at the National Bar Association\'s Annual Meeting.Nance is a frequent public speaker on topics ranging from economic development and community leadership to the business side of professional sports and personal brand management.

Education

• University of Michigan Law School

  Doctor of Law (J.D.)

  1975 — 1978

• Harvard University

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

  1971 — 1975

Skills

• Mediation
• Strategic Planning
• Social Media
• Event Planning
• Client Counseling
• Courts
• Leadership
• Public Speaking
• Management
• Contract Negotiation
• Appeals
• Litigation
• Commercial Litigation
• Arbitration
• Employment Law
• Intellectual Property
• Corporate Governance
• Sports & Entertainment
• Due Diligence