EXPERIENCE

 

David Foster is an experienced problem solver, business strategist, and litigator who has consistently provided organizational leadership as well as insightful and clear counsel to his clients, colleagues, and members of his community.

 

During an almost decade long tenure as Deputy General Counsel for the National Basketball Players Association (“NBPA”) David was consensus builder and advocate who was heavily relied upon during the last two collective bargaining negotiations between the National Basketball Players Association and the National Basketball Association and the most recent negotiations for the WNBPA as well.  During these negotiations David used his experiences as a former local and federal prosecutor to develop highly successful negotiating strategies which led to substantial improvements to the wages and working conditions of NBA and WNBA players.  In particular, David specialized in developing the strategies that led to expanded business opportunities in emerging markets such as sports betting, continued protection of player driven data and a more equitable share of the overall revenue generated from the business of basketball. 

 

As a trusted representative of the NBPA, David frequently appeared on panels and testified before multiple government bodies on behalf of the NBPA on issues related to sports betting, union rights, technology, risk mitigation, the value of player driven data, and the cultural impact of athletes in today’s society.  As an advisor, players would rely on David’s negotiating skills when dealing with sensitive off-court issues, personal conflicts, and any investigations by governing bodies.   David represented the NBPA on the NBA/NBPA Social Justice Coalition, the wearable technology committee and several other NBA/NBPA committees tasked with growing the business of basketball.  In addition to these responsibilities, David served as the Interim Executive Director for the NextGen Basketball Players Union, the union for G league players.  Using his skills as a communicator and motivator, David efficiently managed his team and its budget through a successful growth stage of the union which led to increased wages, benefits, and working conditions for all players.

 

Prior to joining the NBPA, David was a prosecutor for over a decade serving first as an Assistant District Attorney in Queens County, New York and then as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey during which time he was responsible for cases involving white collar fraud, political corruption, and organized crime. It was during this time that David was able to gain significant experience in conducting long term investigations into complex white collar business strategies and uncovering improper conduct.

​

David graduated from Princeton University with a Bachelor of Arts in History and then went on to receive his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law.  In 2019, David became the first person from the NBPA to earn a Sports Business Journal 40 under 40 award.  David is a member of the Board of Directors for the non-profit Read Alliance and serves as an advisor for the Fordham Sports Law Forum.

​​

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

​​

​

HONORS AND AWARDS

​​