A Katten team led by Sports and Sports Facilities Partner and Co-Chair Daniel Render and Partner Josh Lewis provided counsel to firm clients, Greg and Dawn Williams, on their groundbreaking $100 million investment in an entity controlled by Spartan Ventures, an entity affiliated with Michigan State University (MSU), as part of their total $401 million commitment to MSU.
Spartan Ventures will serve as the revenue, innovation and development arm of MSU Athletics. The investment will help MSU to modernize and scale its approach to athletics program funding.
The Katten team included Transactional Tax Planning Partner Valentina Famparska, and Sports and Sports Facilities Associates Ethan Asofsky and Jonathan Deitch.
"Greg and Dawn Williams make historic $401 million commitment to MSU and Spartan Athletics," MSU Today, December 5, 2025
"Michigan State athletics announces record-breaking $401 million donation," Detroit Free Press, December 5, 2025
"Michigan State receives $401M gift, including $390M for athletics," ESPN, December 5, 2025
