Global law firms King & Spalding LLP and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP to serve as founding partners of the PTPA’s pioneering Athlete Counsel & Equity (ACE) Program
Washington, D.C., Jan. 29, 2025 – The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), the leading advocates for professional tennis players worldwide, today announced the launch of its Athlete Counsel & Equity (ACE) Program. This initiative, co-founded by WTA player Tara Moore, will provide professional tennis players navigating complex legal challenges with expert pro-bono support through prominent global law firms King & Spalding LLP and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP. The PTPA ACE Program is the first of its kind in tennis, ensuring equitable access to world-class legal expertise, regardless of a player’s financial standing and personal resources.
The program will initially focus on assisting players with contentious cases related to anti-doping and anti-corruption issues – areas often fraught with high stakes and legal complexity. After an initial intake of each case, the PTPA will connect players with legal counsel to provide services at no cost. As the founding partners of the PTPA ACE Program, King & Spalding and Weil, Gotshal & Manges have committed substantial time and resources to supporting players’ unique legal needs.
Both firms are globally recognized for their expertise in navigating challenging legal battles. King & Spalding LLP is a global firm with 24 offices in 10 countries and more than 1,300 attorneys. The firm’s leading international disputes practice counsels clients across various industries and has a wealth of experience in the sports sector, including representing clients before the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the FIFA Ethics Committee and international domestic courts, and advising on various regulatory, sponsorship and media and TV rights issues. Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP features nine U.S. offices, five European offices, and one Asia office, and has a storied history working across high-profile athlete advocacy cases, including work with the National Women’s Soccer League Players Association, MLB Players Association, NFL Players Association, and NBA legend Oscar Robertson.
“We are proud to partner with the PTPA to address this critical need and support professional tennis players through the ACE Program,” said Tom Sprange KC, King & Spalding London Office Managing Partner. “When looking to defend their professional integrity, tennis players are faced with convoluted and costly legal processes, often without access to sufficient financial or legal support. These players can find themselves in exposed, vulnerable situations and deserve robust frameworks that ensure their careers and reputations are not unfairly jeopardized by a lack of resources. We look forward to working with the PTPA to ensure players have the resources and legal support they need to defend themselves.”
“The professional tennis ecosystem has made it financially impossible for most players to defend themselves fairly,” said Drew Tulumello, Co-Head of Weil’s Complex Commercial Litigation Group. “Players need access to experienced legal support, and Weil is eager to work with the PTPA and its members to help even the playing field.”
Ahmad Nassar, PTPA Executive Director, added: “Professional tennis players are governed by an opaque and deeply flawed legal system that places an enormous burden on them instead of the powers at large. The launch of the PTPA ACE Program underscores our commitment to player welfare and solidifies our role as the only truly independent players representative. While others in tennis could have and should have launched a similar initiative long ago, the PTPA is taking action now to deliver real, meaningful solutions. Players cannot afford to wait for governing bodies to step up; we are providing the support they need today.”
The PTPA ACE Program was inspired by the experiences of Tara Moore, who was cleared by the Court of Arbitration for Sport of an anti-doping violation in December 2023 after a grueling 19-month battle and provisional suspension. During this time, the PTPA worked closely with Moore and her legal team. Moore’s personal experience navigating the ITIA’s legal process and the emotional and financial toll it took inspired the creation of this pro-bono program to assist players facing similar challenges.
“All players are entitled to due process – financial constraints or a lack of resources should never stand in the way of their rights,” said Moore. “The fight to prove my innocence left me with hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt and overwhelming emotional distress. My hope is that the PTPA ACE Program and these incredible legal teams will ensure that no player has to face these challenges alone, especially in cases involving integrity issues. Every player deserves the chance to defend themselves without fear of financial or emotional ruin.”
Looking ahead, the PTPA aims to expand the ACE Program by collaborating with additional premier global law firms to scale legal support for players further. Additional details about the program will be shared with players and their teams in the coming weeks.
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About the Professional Tennis Players Association
The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) is a global organization that unites and mobilizes tennis players to foster transparency and fairness in professional tennis. As an independent entity, the PTPA is dedicated to advancing and safeguarding the rights of professional men’s and women’s tennis players throughout their careers. By prioritizing crucial aspects such as health and safety, schedules, rules, purses, benefits, and education, the PTPA endeavors to build an equitable and sustainable competitive environment for present and future generations of players. Headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area, the PTPA operates on a global scale. For more information, visit www.ptpaplayers.com and connect with @ptpaplayers on social media.
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