In speaking with Wrestlenomics, long-time WWE Lawyer Jerry McDevitt is no longer representing the company.
McDevitt revealed that he will no longer represent WWE in its antitrust lawsuit filed by Major League Wrestling, citing plans of retirement for his reason that he will not be moving forward in the case.
Lawyers from Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Warton & Garrison LLP, will now be representing WWE in the lawsuit. Attorneys from the firm who filed on Wednesday to represent WWE going forward will now be Walter Brown, Karen Dunn, William Michael, and Brette Tannenbaum.
The lawsuit, which has been filed in federal court in California, alleges WWE interfered in MLW’s media deals, among other allegations. Earlier this year, MLW’s suit was initially dismissed. However, the judge allowed MLW owner Court Bauer to file an amended complaint.
McDevitt issued the following to Wrestlenomics via an email:
“As you may know, since early 2022 I have been working towards retirement. I had hoped that the Court would again dismiss MLW’s lawsuit as it did the first time. When it did not, and it became obvious that the case would run into at least 2025 in all probability, I advised my client that I would be wrapping things up by year-end and that it would make sense for them to secure counsel who can go the distance on the case now that discovery will be starting. There is also the chance that I might be a witness given the allegations. I will be 74 this January and it just seems like the right time to make necessary transitions.
We have worked with Paul[,] Weiss on other matters and they are an excellent firm who I will be helping get up to speed.
It has been a great 36-year run with a great Company and Vince [McMahon], and I am very proud of all that we accomplished during that time, and I will continue to help them any way I can.”
McDevitt had been representing Vince McMahon and WWE in various legal matters dating back to 1987.
MLW took to Twitter to comment on McDevitt’s retirement, which you can check out below: