Firms Stake Territory in New Nats Stadium

For Nationals fans, the new stadium just south of the Capitol is an ideal spot for a family outing on a warm Washington evening, or for guzzling overpriced beer with friends. For D.C. law firms, it’s also an ideal venue for schmoozing with clients.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Sidley Austin, Steptoe & Johnson, Venable, and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman are among the firms that have snatched up prime seats and even luxury boxes largely for the purpose of entertaining clients.

Steptoe litigation partner Filiberto Agusti attended opening day in the firm’s luxury box, which is situated between home plate and first base. Steptoe shares the box with technology company Thales Group. The box, says Agusti, is “very tastefully done. It’s got this glass wall that you can close if the weather gets cold out.” However, Agusti is quick to add that weather isn’t a problem for a true fan. “I’m an old baseball fan…I sat outside and froze,” he says.

Managing partner of Sidley’s Washington office, Carter Phillips, is also a big Nats fan. Though his firm bought four seats located behind home plate in the stadium’s Presidential Section, Phillips has his own seats behind the third base dugout. So far, Phillips says he’s sampled the stadium fare from Red, Hot and Blue and Nats Dogs. Despite long lines, he says the food is “clearly a step up from RFK.”

Gibson’s luxury box (which the firm splits three ways) overlooks the first base line. Venable picked up four seats near first base, and four just left of home plate. And Pillsbury purchased a group of four seats in the Diamond Club section of the ballpark.