Michael Buchwald ’08
Vice President and Legal Counsel, National Football League
As VP/legal counsel for the NFL, Mike Buchwald ’08 still draws from lessons learned from his professors in his first year at Maryland Carey Law. In particular, Buchwald credits Professor Emeritus Jana Singer, who led a small-group section class that focused on the nuts and bolts of legal analysis and writing.
“She was a great teacher, and she taught us a framework through which to tackle legal issues,” he says. “It instilled in me and my peers a sense of confidence in being able to handle legal questions, and I still go back to the framework to develop sound, logical legal analyses.”
Buchwald also keeps Professor Don Gifford’s torts class in mind when he heads to work at the league’s headquarters in Manhattan.
“As a first-year law student, Tort Law 101 really helped illustrate the practical application of law to everyday life,” Buchwald notes. “It was a stand-out class and a rite of passage for first-year law students at Maryland. Not to mention Professor Fairfax’s Contracts Law and Professor Sherrilyn Ifill’s Civil Procedure courses, among others, all of which were instrumental in instilling the foundations of the law that I practice today at the NFL.”
But back in law school, Buchwald’s playbook did not foretell working in-house or in the sports world. He attended Maryland Carey Law with the idea of potentially seeking a government-related position in Washington, D.C. After graduation, Buchwald joined the New York City office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom as an associate and gained a wide range of experience working in the firm’s antitrust group, which had a robust sports practice. “Part of my work included advising sports leagues on antitrust matters, but also extended to a number of client matters beyond antitrust,” recalls Buchwald.
When the NFL called looking for a temporary secondee to assist its litigation team, an in-house litigation position had not been on Buchwald’s radar. However, his colleagues thought he would be a good fit for the role and recommended Buchwald interview. He was offered the position, and before long his secondee role morphed from a six-month to a 10-month role, and then a full-time position as assistant counsel in the NFL’s litigation department.
When Buchwald joined the league, he quickly realized the significant level of attention and interest in all things NFL. In fact, legal matters he and his colleagues worked on frequently made front-page news. “Those kinds of situations make you quickly realize the organization you work for is deeply embedded in American culture, and its impact and influence extend well beyond the playing field,” he says. “Being a part of that is both thrilling and humbling.”
In his role, Buchwald often draws on and integrates theory from his Maryland Carey Law courses in torts, contract law, civil procedure, intellectual property, and many others. “My job as a legal adviser and problem solver is to take complex issues, for which the legal analyses are not always straightforward, and translate those analyses into understandable, actionable advice for the organization,” he says. “Having a strong foundation in the basic principles of the law is invaluable, and that foundation for me started at Maryland Carey Law.”
Buchwald also credits extracurricular activities in law school with helping to prepare him for his senior-level position. Working on the Maryland Law Review, he says, created a space for him to develop research and writing skills, and the ability to analyze legal questions with precision and legal support. His participation in the Maryland Law Katrina Project, a student-led effort to help rebuild homes in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, was both an opportunity to give back and to build deeper relationships with classmates.
In Buchwald’s more than 12 years with the league, the NFL footprint has continued to grow dramatically, giving him exciting opportunities to expand his skills and experience. Activities like the NFL Draft have mushroomed into multi-day, fan-oriented events that take place in a different city every year and are broadcast and streamed live to millions of fans. Meanwhile, games are being played in new markets around the world, and the league is helping to grow the sport of flag football, which will be part of the Olympic Games in 2028.
As an attorney in the 32-team league, Buchwald enjoys the benefits of getting to work with top-notch team and league lawyers. “I get to work with the best lawyers and true trendsetters in the industry,” he says, acknowledging fellow alums at the Baltimore Ravens, including Vice President and Deputy General Counsel Toks Arowojolu ’17 and Staff Attorney David Ghostlaw ’22.
Another benefit close to Buchwald’s heart: mentoring students through the league’s internship programs. He also lectures and participates in panels on sports and the law and runs professional exposure days for high school students interested in legal careers in sports.
“Part of my commitment is to give back,” says Buchwald. “So many people helped open doors for me. It is a privilege for me to offer advice and point students in the right direction.”