Behind the Deal: How Legal Minds Are Shaping the Future of Sports
Join South Asians in Sports for an exclusive virtual fireside chat featuring some of the most influential South Asian legal and business leaders across the sports industry. This conversation brings together the minds behind the contracts, partnerships, and strategies that shape how leagues operate, how players are protected, and how the business of sports evolves.
From player empowerment and NIL to global partnerships, AI, data privacy, labor relations, and the launch of an entirely new professional league, this event goes inside the deals and decisions driving today’s sports landscape.
Meet the speakers:
Chelsey Antony is Senior Business Counsel, Commercial Strategy & Legal for NFL Players Inc., where she helps lead legal and commercial strategy across licensing, NIL, international expansion, partnerships, marketing, and brand protection for the NFLPA and its 2,000+ active players. A former Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree in the sports category, she previously served as Staff Attorney for the Philadelphia 76ers and other HBSE properties and sits on several industry boards, including GENYOUth and the Tulane Sports Law Alumni Advisory Board. Chelsey earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin and her J.D. from Tulane Law School. Outside of work, she enjoys staying active through sports and fitness classes, indulging her love for dance (as a former college Bollywood dancer), reading for pleasure, and traveling.
Hrishi Karthikeyan is the Senior Vice President and Head of Business Strategy at the NBA, where he leads global commercial partnerships, IP licensing, data strategy, and privacy initiatives. With nearly 20 years of experience as both a sports executive and attorney, Hrishi has shaped the league’s approach to fan data, emerging technologies, and revenue optimization while negotiating major deals with partners like Nike, Fanatics, Take-Two (NBA 2K), and New Era. Previously a senior lawyer for NBA Properties, he advised on licensing, marketing, NIL, and regulatory matters across 250+ global partners, making him one of the league’s most trusted voices at the intersection of innovation, legal strategy, and business growth.
Vanish Grover has recently joined the NWSL where he will oversee labor, investigations, litigation and player relations. He joins the NWSL after nearly eight years at Major League Baseball, where he worked in the Labor Relations and Baseball Operations Departments. Prior to his time at MLB, he clerked for the Hon. J. Matsumoto in the Eastern District of New York and worked at the firm Davis Polk & Wardwell.
Moderator:
Zahir Rahman currently serves as General Counsel for a new sports venture set to launch in 2026. Most recently, he was Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of the Las Vegas Raiders and Allegiant Stadium, where he oversaw the organization’s day-to-day legal and business affairs. During his tenure in the NFL, Zahir built the Raiders’ Legal Department from the ground up and played a key role establishing the club in Las Vegas following its move from Oakland. Zahir was also instrumental in bringing the Super Bowl to Las Vegas for the first time in the city's history, and he served on the Super Bowl Host Committee, the Super Bowl Host Committee Charity, and chaired the Administrative Subcommittee.
About South Asians in Sports (SAIS)
South Asians in Sports is the premier network of professionals across the sports industry. From the field to the front office, we're building a global community that connects, amplifies, and elevates South Asian excellence in sports. Learn more at sainsports.com.