Barnes & Thornburg partner Ryan J. Barncastle has been appointed to the advisory board of the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission (LASEC). The three-year appointment is effective Dec. 1, 2025.
Founded in 1995, LASEC is a nonprofit officially designated to attract, secure and support high-profile sports and entertainment events in Los Angeles. LASEC connects local businesses and communities with these events to create lasting economic, cultural and social impact for the region.
Upcoming major events supported by LASEC include the NBA All-Star Weekend (Feb. 13-15, 2026), the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open for golf (June 1-7,2026), the FIFA World Cup 26 (June 11 – July 19, 2026), the NFL Super Bowl LXI (February 2027), the NCCA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament (March 2027) and the Olympic & Paralympic Games (July-August 2028).
The advisory board provides guidance and support to the LASEC in its mission to bring communities together and create lasting legacies through hosting world-class events.
“We are delighted to welcome Ryan to the LASEC advisory board,” said Kathryn Schloessman, president & CEO of LASEC. “Ryan is an accomplished dealmaker with strong industry connections who will provide the board unique insight to help us achieve our goals of securing major events that leave a lasting impact for our region.”
“As a longtime supporter of LASEC, I am honored to join its advisory board,” Barncastle said. “I am looking forward to working with the other board members and contributing to LASEC’s impact on the region.”
A partner in Barnes & Thornburg’s Los Angeles office, Barncastle is a member of the firm’s Management Committee and serves as co-chair of the firm’s Private Equity practice. He is a business transactional attorney with significant experience in several legal disciplines, including private equity, corporate, real estate, and securities. His experience as a dealmaker across a broad spectrum of industries enables him to guide Barnes & Thornburg's clients, who include sports franchises and their owners, athletes, production companies and businesses that serve the sports and entertainment ecosystem more broadly, in connection with a wide array of high-stakes legal matters.