Nets outside counsel to replace Irina Pavlova as head of Onexim

Onexim Sports and Entertainment, Mikhail Prokhorov’s holding company for his US investments, announced Wednesday that it has hired of Maureen Hanlon, the Nets longtime outside counsel, as the company’s President, effective Thursday.

Hanlon replaces Irina Pavlova, who is leaving Onexim on Wednesday

Hanlon has served as primary outside counsel to Onexim for the past eight years, while a partner at Hogan Lovells, the big Washington law firm where she has worked since 1996. She was instrumental in Onexim’s acquisition of 100 percent equity interest in Barclays Center and the Brooklyn Nets, as well as its purchase of a majority interest in Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

In her new role as President, Hanlon will work on special projects with Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment, which is owned by Onexim. She will provide counsel for corporate transactions, in coordination with BSE’s legal department, as well as serve on the Board of Advisory Directors for the Nets and Barclays Center and act as a liaison to Onexim’s headquarters in Moscow.

In over 25 years of practicing law, Hanlon has assisted her clients in acquiring, selling, financing, and reorganizing and has brought together numerous domestic and international entities, primarily in the sports, media and entertainment industries. Hanlon was named to Sports Business Journal’s 2016 Power Players: Outside Counsel.

“I am excited about the opportunity to work with Principal Owner Mikhail Prokhorov, CEO Dmitry Razumov and the BSE team as it continues to grow as a prominent player in the sports and live entertainment industry,” said Hanlon. “The knowledge and experience I have gained as outside counsel to Onexim and BSE over the past eight years, and to other companies in the industry for the past 27 years, will be vital to supporting BSE's development and expansion.”

“I’m delighted to welcome Maureen to the team,” said Prokhorov. “Our business will greatly benefit from her excellent track record, and she is someone we have known and worked closely with over the years to great success. We are looking forward to building on and expanding our current assets to continue bringing world-class sports and entertainment to the people of New York and beyond.”

Prokhorov also thanked Pavlova who first joined the Nets in 2010, when Onexim bought a majority interest in the Nets and minority interest in Barclays.

“I would also like to express my heartfelt thanks to Irina for her hard work over these last seven years,” said Prokhorov. “From the initial deal closing to the construction of Barclays Center and the team's move to Brooklyn, to the development of the HSS Training Center and our new entertainment venues, she has been instrumental in establishing and growing our operations from the ground up.

“Her devotion to the Nets is well-known to the fans, and I'm sure she will be missed. I wish her every success in her future endeavors.”