In August 2024, Bob Wallace began an appointment as interim president of Explore St. Louis. During this appointment, he is on a leave of absence from Thompson Coburn.
Bob Wallace represents teams, prospective buyers of sports teams, companies interested in sports marketing, and civic and government entities facing team relocation or facility issues.
Bob has cultivated more than 30 years of experience in both the St. Louis business community and the national sports arena through his past executive and legal work for the Philadelphia Eagles and the St. Louis Football Cardinals.
He spent 16 years with the Rams, serving as the team’s executive vice president and general counsel. During his 30-year career in professional football, Bob was one of the highest-ranking African-American club executives in the National Football League. He led the Rams’ operations and business departments during two Super Bowl appearances, managed the team’s $200 million budget and served as lead negotiator in the renaming of the Rams’ stadium to the Edward Jones Dome.
In his sports law practice, Bob also assists players, coaches and executives with contract negotiations and separation agreements, and serves as an NFL-approved hearing officer for violations of the league’s drug and conduct policies.
Bob has taught sports law as an adjunct professor at both Washington University School of Law and Saint Louis University School of Law. He also wrote a weekly magazine column, “Business Philosophy,” and has authored several other articles on sports law topics.
Bob is co-chair of the firm’s African American/Black affinity group.
Thompson Coburn Earns Recognition in Missouri Lawyers Media Top Law Firms and Power Lists
December 16, 2024
Bob Wallace, Mark Sableman Named to Sports and Entertainment Power List
September 12, 2024
Bob Wallace Appointed Interim President of Explore St. Louis
July 23, 2024
Fatima Khan and Bob Wallace Named as Diversity & Inclusion Honorees
June 18, 2024
After the Buzzer – Episode 25: Author and Professor Jeremi Duru and Diversity in Sports
April 19, 2024
Bob Wallace Featured for Role as NFL Trailblazer
February 2, 2024
Thompson Coburn Attorneys Named to Missouri Top 100 Power List
December 18, 2023
Bob Wallace, Jr. Named to the Power List 2023 for Sports and Entertainment Law by Missouri Lawyers Weekly
September 28, 2023
After the Buzzer – Episode 24: Sports Journalist Jim Thomas and the 2023 NFL Season
September 17, 2023
After the Buzzer – Episode 23: Sports Journalist Jim Thomas, Part 2
August 21, 2023
After the Buzzer – Episode 22: Sports Journalist Jim Thomas, Part 1
August 17, 2023
After the Buzzer – Episode 21: Mori Taheripour on negotiating sports contracts
May 15, 2023
After the Buzzer – Episode 20: Debbie Spander and Marc Isenberg on NIL Deals
September 26, 2022
After the Buzzer – Episode 19: David Cornwell on LIV Golf
August 12, 2022
After the Buzzer – Episode 18: CEO of LEAD1 Association Tom McMillen
March 31, 2022
After the Buzzer – Episode 17: Part 2: Incoming Missouri Valley Conference Commissioner Jeff Jackson
May 19, 2021
After the Buzzer – Episode 16: Part 1: Missouri Valley Conference Commissioner Doug Elgin
April 29, 2021
The Clock is Ticking: Iowa Jumps into NIL Race with Proposed NIL Bill, effective July 1, 2021
February 26, 2021
After the Buzzer – Episode 15: Sean Frazier, Athletic Director at Northern Illinois University
February 24, 2021
After the Buzzer – Episode 14: Sports agent Leigh Steinberg
February 4, 2021
The NCAA Implements a Four Corners Offense As it Postpones NIL Rule Changes
January 27, 2021
After the Buzzer – Episode 13: Kurt Hunzeker on the XFL BattleHawks
November 4, 2020
After the Buzzer – Episode 12: Charles Harris and Herman Frazier on collegiate sports during COVID times
August 19, 2020
A look at recent student athlete name, image and likeness legislation
July 7, 2020
Regulatory Hurdles for Sports Betting in Illinois During COVID-19
June 16, 2020
After the Buzzer – Episode 8: Eric Stisser reflects on the St. Louis Blues’ championship season
May 21, 2020
As sports teams consider reopening venues, what is their liability due to COVID-19?
May 19, 2020
COVID-19: Checking in on its impact on the sports world
April 23, 2020
After the Buzzer – Episode 11: Patrick Rishe of Washington University in St. Louis
February 26, 2020
After the Buzzer – Episode 10: Game on: An introduction to eSports
January 6, 2020
After the Buzzer: Episode 5: Athlete activism and community engagement
December 5, 2019
After the Buzzer – Episode 9: Fan safety with Phil Melcher of the St. Louis Cardinals
October 21, 2019
A student athlete’s fight against the system
July 23, 2019
After the Buzzer – Episode 7: The state of sports betting
July 12, 2019
After the Buzzer – Episode 6: Addressing sports crises and diversity with David Cornwell
May 14, 2019
The Road from the Final Four
February 20, 2019
After the Buzzer – Episode 4: Nona Lee and Vicky Neumeyer
November 9, 2018
After the Buzzer – Episode 3: Kenneth Shropshire of the Global Sport Institute
October 16, 2018
After the Buzzer – Episode 2: Mike Tannenbaum of the Miami Dolphins
September 17, 2018
After the Buzzer – Episode 1: Josh Whitman of the University of Illinois
September 10, 2018
What the League giveth: St. Louis’ key role in the history of NFL relocation
December 2, 2016
What I’ve learned about life, law and sports
October 14, 2016
Drones on campus: What higher ed needs to know
February 22, 2016
Drones and sports: A brief overview
September 4, 2015
Neutral arbitrators in sports: What makes it fair?
August 10, 2015
But it’s our locker room: What is acceptable behavior in the sports workplace?
November 18, 2013
A University’s Guide to Avoid Being a Sports Center Breaking News Headline
October 30, 2013
Professional
- Sports Lawyers Association
- St. Louis Sports Commission
- American Bar Association, Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Industries
- The 2007 Final Four Bid: St. Louis Organizing Committee
- The 2005 Final Four: St. Louis Organizing Committee
- Association of Attorney-Mediators
Community
- The Productive Living Board for St. Louis County Citizens with Developmental Disabilities
- Governor’s Council on Disabilities
- Appointed by Gov. Jay Nixon in 2010
- University of Missouri-St. Louis
- Chancellor’s Council, 2005-2021
- Giant Steps
- Chairman of the Board of Directors, 1999-Present
- Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis
- Treasurer
- Board of Directors, Past Chairman
- St. Louis Regional Business Council
- Board of Directors, 2007-2009
- United Way of Greater St. Louis
- Board of Directors, 2003-2009
- Webster University School of Business
- Board of Advisors, 2001-2012
- St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association
- Board of Directors, 2000-2009
- Listed in “The Best Lawyers in America®” (by BL Rankings), 2015-2025
- Named to “The Missouri Lawyers Weekly” POWER List for Sports & Entertainment Law, 2023
- “How Can a University Manage an All-Powerful College Coach?”
Legal Issues in College Athletics, March 2015 - “It Happened In Happy Valley”
Sports Litigation Alert, August 10, 2012 - “The Gladiators Must Perform”
Sports Litigation Alert, June 1, 2012 - “The Book of Basketball: It’s All About Winning”
Sports Litigation Alert, July 29, 2011 - “Mediation in Professional Sports Disputes”
Sports Litigation Alert, June 17, 2011
- “Labor Relations in Professional Sports: Does Federal Law Level the Playing Field?”
2012 8th Circuit Judicial Conference August 9, 2012 - “Ethics for Sports Lawyers, The Lawyer’s Dilemma: Ethics vs. Reality”
2012 Sports Lawyers Association Annual Conference May 12, 2012 - “Tips from the Pros; Winning Contract Negotiations and Representing Challenging Clients”
Missouri Bar CLE/Washington University School of Law, February 17, 2011
