Wesley Zirkle

Wes is a former General Counsel and Chief Operating Officer of domestic and international companies having had an interesting and diverse career representing celebrities, advising Fortune 1000 companies on their sponsorship programs, growing a small business into a global leader in its field, and leading marketing agencies.

He has extensive experience as a trusted advisor to owners of privately-held companies, guiding entrepreneurs on growing their companies responsibly to maximize value. As General Counsel to the world’s largest motorsports sponsorship agency, he was part of a five-member leadership team who sold a portion of the company to a private equity group, more than doubled its value during the Great Recession, and successfully executed a sale to an English-based publicly-held company. After the sale, Wes oversaw the administration of the parent company’s US-based holdings and served on its Board of Directors.

As part of his international practice, Wes advises US-based companies desiring to open foreign offices and is especially adept at counseling on nuances of English law including the Bribery Act and TUPE.

Wes also is highly skilled in the legal issues of motorsports marketing, having negotiated more than $1 billion in sponsorship and marketing programs across all racing series including in NASCAR, Formula 1, INDYCAR, NHRA, World Rally, Formula E, and International and Domestic sports car series.

Wes graduated from Wabash College with a degree in Religion and a minor in Economics. He also studied Comparative Religion at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. He received his law degree from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law.

Wes is an adjunct professor of transactional law and contract writing at the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. Wes is a member of various associations and boards, including the Board of Directors of the United Methodist Foundation of Indiana. In 2008 he co-founded The Racing Attorney Conference (TRAC), a group dedicated to facilitating learning and networking among attorneys practicing in the various motorsports series. He is a frequent speaker at law schools and at legal seminars regarding the issues surrounding motor racing and sponsorship.