Hogan Lovells Advises Major League Pickleball on Merger with PPA Tour

The consolidation of the two entities is backed by a US$75 million investment from private equity firm SC Holdings, D.C. Pickleball Team owner Al Tylis, PPA Tour owners Tom Dundon and the Pardoe Family, and several existing MLP team owners.

The transaction combines the leading individual bracket-style tour and team-based professional pickleball formats, with the PPA Tour and MLP retaining their distinct brands and the unique and exciting formats fans and players enjoy. More than 150 professional pickleball players - including the top ranked players in the world - have signed multi-year contracts with the new entity, with many of them set to participate in an expanded calendar that combines individual (PPA Tour) and team (MLP) events.

The Hogan Lovells team was led by partners Steve Argeris (Washington, D.C. and New York), Jon Talotta (Northern Virginia), senior associates Joseph Erdos (New York), Zachary Siegel (Philadelphia), associates Danielle Litwak (New York), Sean MacDonald (Northern Virginia), and law clerk Spencer Hopkins (New York). Additional deal support was provided by partners Mark Weinstein, Michael Kuh, Chris Donoho, and Martha Steinman (all New York), Carin Carithers (Washington, D.C.), senior associates Bothwell Graham, Elizabeth Adams (both Washington, D.C.), Samuel Yergin (Northern Virginia), associate CJ Harrington (Washington, D.C.), and law clerk David Duquette (New York).