One of the Houston Texans' top leaders left the team for a new role at a local law firm.
Sunil Jamal, former associate general counsel for the NFL team, joined Dallas-based Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr PC in its Houston office, effective June 23. Jamal joins as a corporate shareholder and will lead the firm's newly established sports and entertainment practice. Jamal will also maintain an active corporate and merger and acquisitions practice.
Over his nearly five years with the Texans, Jamal provided legal counsel for corporate governance, commercial transactions, sponsorships, intellectual property, health care and regulatory compliance. Prior to joining the team, he was a corporate attorney at Houston-based Baker Botts.
“Sunil brings a unique skillset, strong relationships, and a hard-working attitude that make him the ideal leader to launch (the sports and entertainment practice),” Munsch Hardt CEO David Coligado said in a press release. “His deep experience within a professional sports franchise, combined with a corporate legal background and genuine excitement to build something new, is a rare and powerful combination.”
Munsch Hardt started the new sports and entertainment practice due to the rapid growth of sports in Texas and the expansion of the entertainment industry through influencer licensing, sponsoring and brand partnerships, the firm said. The firm will offer legal guidance to teams, athletes, sports-adjacent businesses, restaurant owners, influencers, investors, musicians and entertainment professionals.
Munsch Hardt’s new practice comes at a crucial time in the sports industry in particular. The House vs. NCAA settlement will go into effect on July 1, allowing universities to share revenue with student athletes and increasing scrutiny over NIL deals. Houston is also set to host seven matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — and immigration issues are taking center stage.
The Trump administration’s immigration policies present challenges to World Cup staffing, according to sister publication Sports Business Journal. Additionally, the president’s travel bans are also creating uncertainty as the U.S. expects to welcome 6 million foreign visitors.
“The convergence of sports, media, and capital presents incredible opportunities and legal complexities,” Jamal said in the press release. “Our goal is to be the go-to team for organizations and investors building the future of sports and entertainment. I am excited to join Munsch Hardt to provide middle-market support to these exciting and dynamic businesses.”
The launch of the sports and entertainment practice with the addition of Jamal is the latest move for Munsch Hardt in Houston.
The firm first opened its Houston office in 2004 at Pennzoil Place, at 700 Milam St., and absorbed Houston-based Harrison Bettis McFarland LLP in 2014. It increased its space at its downtown office by 40% in 2018. Munsch Hardt then doubled its space at the building in 2022, now occupying 41,000 square feet on floors 8 and 9.
Joining Jamal in the sports and entertainment practice are Michael Krywucki, Kitty Henry, Sameer Karim, Pooneh Momeni, Luke Lechler, Kevin Lippman, Mark Taubenfeld, Irina Plumlee, James Ray and Robert Rhodes. The team’s expertise include stadium lease development, naming rights and sponsorships, immigration and name, and image and likeness (NIL) deals.
Munsch Hardt is No. 31 on the Houston Business Journal’s 2025 Largest Law Firms in Houston List, based on its 52 local lawyers as of early 2025.
To read the full article, click here.