Linklaters Hires FIFA Pair from Paul Weiss

Linklaters has hired FIFA litigators H. Christopher Boehning and Daniel H. Levi from Paul Weiss in New York, strengthening its US disputes platform and global sports practice as the firm continues to expand in the American legal market.

Boehning has joined as a partner, chair of Linklaters’ Global Sports Practice and chair of US Strategic Disputes. Levi has joined as a partner in the firm’s Litigation, Arbitration & Investigations practice.

Boehning brings more than 30 years’ experience in major commercial disputes, investigations, regulatory enforcement and international arbitration. Levi has practised for more than 25 years, focusing on product liability, insurance, M&A litigation and commercial disputes.

The appointments follow the pair’s work for FIFA and FWC2026 US, Inc. in Kermanian v FIFA, a June 2026 proceeding before the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Individuals seeking to take Iran’s pre-revolution Lion and Sun flag into a FIFA World Cup match applied for an emergency temporary restraining order against the tournament’s prohibited-items policy.

Judge Curtis Kin denied the application following arguments on procedure, standing, stadium operations and rights under the California Constitution. Boehning appeared for FWC2026 US, supported by a Paul Weiss team that included Levi, Jonathan Tam, William Marks and Marc Price Wolf.

Boehning and Levi’s previous commercial disputes work includes matters for biotechnology company Regeneron. Their move follows Linklaters’ recruitment of a US trial team led by Adeel Mangi, with Muhammad Faridi, Diana Conner and George LoBiondo, and an international arbitration team led by Joe Profaizer. The appointments add further litigation and arbitration experience as Linklaters continues to expand its US practice.

Sports mandates increasingly combine commercial litigation, regulatory investigations, arbitration, governance and event operations. Solicitors, barristers and in-house counsel handling major tournaments or sports investments may face disputes involving rights ownership, sponsorship, security policies, media arrangements and cross-border enforcement. Urgent applications can require commercial policy, constitutional rights and event delivery to be addressed together across several jurisdictions.

The recruitment of senior partners can create practical issues for law firms, particularly around conflicts, client transfers and the integration of new teams. Confidential information must be protected and ongoing matters should continue without disruption during the transition.

Boehning and Levi’s impact at Linklaters will depend on the New York disputes and sports mandates they bring to the wider firm. Rival practices expanding in the sector will need lawyers who can work across litigation, regulatory matters and transactions, rather than relying on the reputation of individual partners.