Peter Bynoe

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Peter Bynoe

Residence Chicago, Illinois
Education J.D., Harvard Law School
M.B.A., Harvard Business School
B.A., Harvard College
Occupation Lawyer, businessman
Employers DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary US, LLP
Title Partner
Board member of Citizens Communications, Rewards Network, Danielson Holding Corporation

Peter Charles Bernard Bynoe is a Chicago attorney and businessman who was the first African-American to buy any part of an NBA team,[1] and he is among the most influential minority figures in sports.[2][3] Bynoe played an instrumental role in forming a consortium to buy the Denver Nuggets and then finding substitute capital when some of the original financial arrangements fell through.

Bynoe kept the Chicago White Sox from leaving Chicago by developing a New Comiskey Park (now known as U.S. Cellular Field). He has become a prominent negotiator for professional sports teams' venues. In addition, he is involved in the development of the 2012 Summer Olympics and hopes to be involved in the 2016 Summer Olympics planning. Bynoe serves on several boards of directors.

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[edit] Background

Bynoe's father is West Indian and his mother is American.[1] Bynoe grew up in Boston, Massachusetts as a regular Boston Celtics spectator and Boston Red Sox fan who could not attend games due to racial hostilities at Fenway Park. Bynoe's father was a lawyer who had represented Bill Russell and was a public official.[4]

Bynoe's entire post-secondary education was at Harvard University. He obtained his bachelor's degree cum laude at Harvard College. His master's degree had an emphasis in finance and marketing at Harvard Business School. His Juris Doctor had a focus on corporate planning and regulation at Harvard Law School. In addition to being admitted to the practice of law before the Illinois State Bar, Bynoe is a licensed real estate broker in Illinois.[5] The following is his educational summary:

  • J.D., Harvard Law School 1976
  • M.B.A., Harvard Business School 1976
  • B.A., Harvard College 1972 cum laude[5]

[edit] Career

Bynoe began his professional career in 1976 at Citibank.[1] In 1982 Bynoe was passed the Illionis bar examination.[6] Bynoe founded and managed Telemat Ltd., a business consulting firm started 1982. His career changed in 1987 when Harold Washington, whose election campaign he had worked for and contributed to, called Bynoe to inform him that the Chicago White Sox were threatening to leave Chicago.[4] From March 1988 to June 1992, Mr. Bynoe served as the Executive Director of the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, a joint venture of the City of Chicago and State of Illinois, which gave him complete supervisory, planning and executing responsibility for the $250 million construction of New Comiskey Park for the Chicago White Sox, which was completed as scheduled and well within its budget.[5]

Bynoe fronted a consortium with Chicago businessman Bertram Lee, tennis legend Arthur Ashe and Democratic National Committee Chairman and future US Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown, and attempted to buy the National Basketball Association Denver Nuggets in 1989.[7] The deal had almost fallen through because the lead partner was unable execute it. However, Bynoe, with the assistance of David Stern, Jay Pritzker, and Jerrold Wexler, was able to salvage the transaction over the course of six months.[4] Bynoe sold his interest in the franchise in August 1992.[5] COMSAT's Video Enterprises subsidiary put up 62.5% of the $65 million needed to purchase the Nuggets.[7] Bynoe then served as Managing general partner of the Nuggets.

Bynoe served as a consultant to the Atlanta-Fulton County Recreation Authority and the Atlanta Committee to Organize the Olympic Games to plan the 85,000 seat Centennial Olympic Stadium within a $210 million construction budget. The stadium has been converted to the 45,000 seat Turner Field baseball stadium for the Atlanta Braves who use it under a lease agreement Bynoe negotiated.[5] Bynoe became a partner at DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary US, LLP in 1995 when he joined the firm and is now a member of the firm's Executive Committee.[8] Mr. Bynoe as head of DLA Piper's Sports Facilities Practice Group has negotiated new facilities for the Cincinnati Reds and Bengals, Miami Heat, Washington Redskins, Milwaukee Brewers, and Columbus Blue Jackets.[5] Mr. Bynoe specializes in infrastructure projects and represents institutional clients such as: The Boeing Company, Sara Lee Corporation, Essence Communications, and CNA Insurance.[5] Bynoe is currently involved in the 2012 Summer Olympics, hopes to be involved in a successful Chicago 2016 Olympic bid, and was a backer of Barack Obama.[4]

Bynoe is currently a Director of Rewards Network, and Danielson Holding Corporation. Mr. Bynoe has chaired the Chicago Commission Landmarks, the Chicago Plan Commission, and the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority. Mr. Bynoe is Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Goodman Theatre, a Trustee of the Rush University Medical Center, and a Director of The CORE Center for the Prevention, Care and Research of Infectious Diseases.[5] Bynoe has been a director of Covanta since 2004.[9][8] On July 30, 2007, Bynoe was announced as a director (effective October 1)[10] for Citizens Communications. In the past, Bynoe has been a member of the Harvard Board of Overseers.[11] He has also served as a director for Uniroyal Technology Corporation, Jacor Communications (acquired by Clear Channel Communications, J&G Industries, Huffman-Koos, Inc., the River Valley Savings Bank, and Blue Chip Broadcasting (acquired by Radio One, Inc.[5]

[edit] Honors

Bynoe has been designated an Illinois "Super Lawyer" for 2005 and 2006 based on research jointly conducted by Law & Politics and Chicago magazines.[10]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c Peter Bynoe Biography. The HistoryMakers (2000-03-28). Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  2. ^ The Ivy Dozen. ivyleaguesports.com (2003-05-23). Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
  3. ^ Fortune Announces 2005 Diversity List. Time Warner (2005-08-08). Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  4. ^ a b c d Picher, Keith, Leading Lawyers Network, "Peter Bynoe: When It Comes to Sports Stadiums, He Takes The Ball And Runs With It," September 2007
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Our People: Peter C.B. Bynoe, Partner. DLA Piper. Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
  6. ^ Lawyer Search: Attorney's Registration and Public Disciplinary Record for Peter Charles Bernard Bynoe. Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois (2008-05-16). Retrieved on 2008-05-18.
  7. ^ a b Johnson will be NBA's first black majority owner. ESPN.com (2002-12-18). Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  8. ^ a b Peter C.B. Bynoe, Director. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  9. ^ Peter C Bynoe. Forbes.com LLC. Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
  10. ^ a b Peter C Bynoe. Forbes.com LLC (2007). Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  11. ^ Smith, Brigid (2007-07-30). Citizens Communications Appoints Peter C.B. Bynoe to Board of Directors. Citizens Communications. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.