Andrea Kimball '97
Forging the Path to Pro Sports General Counsel
May 1, 2020
Andrea Kimball '97 began her legal career with a judicial clerkship with the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. Following the two-year clerkship, she made partner at Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps in San Diego, where she was the deputy chair of the business litigation and intellectual property department. She also led the firm's pro bono and diversity programs.
When Andrea left Luce, she went to Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal in Kansas City, Mo., which later merged with other firms and became Dentons, the world's largest law firm. Andrea stayed at Dentons until 2016 when she had the opportunity to leap to the world of sports — an area she is passionate about as a former college athlete.
Andrea is thrilled to be serving as vice president and general counsel of Sporting Kansas City. This year, the American professional soccer club celebrates 25 years as one of the 10 charter members of Major League Soccer.
With all Major League Soccer matches on hold for another month, Andrea is grappling with what every sports executive is at this time — what will pro sports look like in the future? With play set to resume on June 8, she is very excited to pick up the season with a team intent on winning another MLS championship.
Andrea earned her bachelor's degree in business and political science at Western Michigan University (WMU) and her juris doctor at The University of Toledo College of Law. At WMU, she played four years of college basketball and one year of college softball and was named the university's top female scholar-athlete. Following college, Andrea played basketball in the inaugural season of the National Women's Basketball League in San Diego.
Watch our sports law alumni panel from the COVID-19 Legal Issues Forum series on May 1, 2020. The recording features an in-depth discussion with Andrea Kimball '97, Brian Goldberg '85, and Matthew Mitten '84.
Q&A with Andrea Kimball
How did you find your way to Toledo Law for your education?
I was fortunate to meet former Dean James Klein at a banquet for Mid-American Conference
(MAC) college athletes, and when he heard I wanted to attend law school, he invited
me for a visit. Given I was from Southern Michigan, and that I enjoyed previous trips
to UToledo to play basketball, attending Toledo Law made sense for me.
Do you have a favorite memory from attending Toledo Law?
JoJo's, hanging out and working in the Law Review office, and spending time with my
friends — several of whom I remain close with today although we are spread throughout
the country.
How did Toledo Law prepare you for your career?
The hands-on experience was first-rate. Professor Ron Raitt's evidence class allowed
me to recite key evidentiary rules to my colleagues, and by my second month in private
practice, I was being tossed into a jury trial in Los Angeles. The legal clinics at
Toledo Law were very pragmatic, and I learned invaluable skills, such as how to communicate
with clients and become a zealous advocate. That clinical experience stuck with me,
and I have continued to have at least one pro bono case at all times.
What were the turning points in your career that led you to where you are now?
Growing up playing sports, I always knew I wanted to be a sports lawyer. Professor
Phil Closius's sports law class confirmed that for me, so when this opportunity presented
itself to be general counsel for a pro sports team, I jumped.
What is the most challenging aspect of your work, and how does your legal education
and training help you?
The human resources portions of my job are the most challenging. We have a broad employee
base — from game-day chefs to front office executives to coaches to ticket takers
— each with unique employment issues. Thankfully, when I was in private practice,
I litigated cases in many areas — entertainment law, intellectual property and trade
secrets, employment, contracts, product liability and insurance. Being somewhat of
a generalist litigator for 20 years, helped me develop a broad tool kit of skills
that helps me tackle HR challenges, as well as see what can go wrong with a poorly
drafted contract.
What have you found most satisfying about your career?
Being a part of a team and working to make the product on the field the best possible.
The first season with the team, I did not fully appreciate that my legal work directly
translated not only to our financial success (through risk management, contracts,
and support of the various business units) but also to the team's wins and losses.
Obtaining a visa or green card for a key player or coach directly impacts the team's
ability on the field. I was most proud in 2017 when we won the U.S. Open Cup and collected
my medal.
Do you have any suggestions for current law students or new lawyers who might be interested
in pursuing this practice area or career path?
Never give up! I worked in Big Law for 20 years before I returned to sports. And for
litigators, do not assume you do not have the skills to be in-house — you do! I know
several other general counsels who did not practice corporate law and have become
general counsels for sports teams and other entities.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Watching my two kids play sports, fish, Michigan football, hiking, and anything outdoors.
What are you passionate about?
Seeing more women in professional sports, especially in C-suite roles.