David P. Franklin

Of Counsel

Pittsburgh

(412) 620-6543

(412) 275-2390

Recent News:

Cozen O’Connor Advises Philadelphia Union in a Multi-Year Partnership Agreement With Penn Medicine

Cozen O’Connor advised the Philadelphia Union, a professional soccer club that competes in Major League Soccer, in a multi-year partnership with Penn Medicine, a leading academic medical center.

Dave has a diverse corporate practice, counseling privately held and publicly owned companies in the transportation, manufacturing, funeral services, medical, retail, sports, media, and technology industries. He handles a variety of matters on behalf of clients, including acquisitions, dispositions and mergers, joint ventures and strategic alliances, distribution agreements, outsourcing arrangements, internal reorganizations, employment issues, and complex commercial contracts.

Dave also practices in the sports and entertainment fields and has been actively involved in the development and structuring of cutting edge marketing and advertising relationships, licensing and sponsorship agreements, celebrity endorsement contracts, and stadium and arena naming rights projects. He represents professional sports franchises and their sponsors and is a member of the Sports Lawyers Association. Dave has handled several high-profile transactions in the sports and entertainment fields, including the drafting and negotiation of the multi-year naming rights and sponsorship agreement for the NFL stadium in Pittsburgh and the NHL arenas in Buffalo, N.Y.; Newark, N.J.; and Pittsburgh, as well as a sponsorship agreement between the PGA Tour and one of their largest sponsors.

Dave’s broad practice also involves the representation of a number of owners and contractors in the negotiation and drafting of design and construction projects. He has handled many important projects for the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, including the negotiation and drafting of the professional design and construction agreements for the $35 million Dinosaurs in Their Time project and the renovation of the Scaife Galleries. Dave also assisted the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh with the design and construction agreements for the renovation of five branches in the City of Pittsburgh, including the main branch in Oakland.

Dave earned his bachelor’s degree from University of Richmond and his law degree from University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

Experience

News

Cozen O’Connor Advises Philadelphia Union in a Multi-Year Partnership Agreement With Penn Medicine

March 01, 2024

Cozen O’Connor advised the Philadelphia Union, a professional soccer club that competes in Major League Soccer, in a multi-year partnership with Penn Medicine, a leading academic medical center.

Steelers, Kraft Heinz in Discussions About Extending Stadium Naming Rights

March 15, 2022

David Franklin discusses the 20-year naming rights agreement between the Steelers and Kraft Heinz in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Cozen O’Connor Expands Pittsburgh Office with the Addition of David P. Franklin and Paul D. Steinman

January 14, 2020

New hires mark another milestone for fast-growing Pittsburgh office

Events & Seminars

Past Events

Industry Sectors

Education

  • University of Pittsburgh School of Law, J.D., 1992
  • University of Richmond, B.A., 1989

Awards & Honors

AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell

  • Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court -- Western District of Pennsylvania

Miracle League of the South Hills, Board of Directors

Mt. Lebanon Football Association and Mt. Lebanon Baseball Association, Board Member

Mt. Lebanon School District Strategic Planning Committee

Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh, Former Board Member

The First Tee of Pittsburgh, Former Board Member

CASA of Allegheny County, Former Board Member