Morgan, Lewis & Bockius is stepping up its game in sports law with a splashy California hire and the creation of its newest industry group.

Investor and former San Diego Padres owner Jeffrey Moorad is joining the firm's Orange County office in Costa Mesa, California, to help lead a global sports industry initiative with partner Jack Concannon. The new group includes 50 lawyers representing clients across many professional sports leagues and in other sports-related businesses.

“Morgan Lewis has never been branded as a firm that has a big sports practice,” Concannon said. But “we've really had a very broad practice that has never been brought together under a broad umbrella.”