Shirin Malkani Senior Counsel

Shirin Malkani, co-chair of the firm’s Sports industry group, has worked with premium content businesses across emerging technologies and platforms for over 20 years, with an intensive focus on live sports rights. Having spent seven years at the National Basketball Association (NBA) as consumer viewing habits changed and distribution paradigms shifted, she structured and negotiated complex commercial transactions spanning digital subscription and ad-supported streaming services, linear television, mobile-only products, and virtual reality and augmented reality (AR/VR) offerings. Shirin has served the sports industry in both legal and business roles and offers a valuable mix of practical guidance and market insight to companies ranging from high-growth startups to established media players.

Since joining Perkins Coie, Shirin has served as chief counsel to YouTube in its acquisition of exclusive rights to NFL Sunday Ticket, advised the start-up National Pickleball League (NPL) on formation and commercial rights, and represented both right holders and content distribution platforms.

Shirin began her career in the late 1990s as a technology transactions attorney, exploring early dot-com business models and seeking to adapt existing intellectual property and contractual constructs to new digital media platforms. She has deep experience representing websites for top media industry brands, makers of mobile devices and mobile apps, outsourcing firms, and software developers. Shirin leveraged that broad-based commercial experience to serve as general counsel three times in diverse industries, including free-to-play games, magazine publishing, and data-driven marketing services. In addition to her legal practice, Shirin has spent considerable time in entrepreneurial circles as an investor, a co-founder of a website for luxury kids’ clothing consignment, and an advisor to startups on product development, go-to-market strategies, and licensing.

Shirin is a member of the Legal Advisory Council of Sanctuary for Families, a nonprofit serving survivors of gender-based violence.