Carolina Panthers Appoint Tanya Taylor as First Black Female General Counsel Amid Allegations of Racial Bias and Failed Construction Project

The Carolina Panthers have hired a new permanent general counsel, Tanya Taylor, who previously held the same position at Radisson Hotel Group Americas. This appointment comes when the team deals with allegations of racial bias in hiring practices and an investigation into a halted $800 million headquarters project. Taylor, the first Black woman to hold the general counsel role at the Panthers, expressed her excitement about the opportunity to transition from the hospitality industry to sports and entertainment.


The Panthers have faced criticism for choosing Frank Reich, a White man who had previously been fired by the Indianapolis Colts, over Black interim head coach Steve Wilks, who had led the team to a 6-6 finish in the previous season. Wilks is one of three Black football coaches suing the NFL for alleged racial bias. Douglas Wigdor, a prominent trial lawyer representing the plaintiffs, states that the league has a "legitimate race problem."

In addition to the issue of racial bias in hiring, team owner David Tepper and his company, GT Real Estate Holdings, settled a lawsuit filed by South Carolina municipalities in December over the failed construction of a proposed Panthers headquarters and training facility in the state. The settlement followed a criminal investigation into using public funds for the project. The Panthers and Taylor have not commented on these matters.

Taylor, a three-decade legal career working in private practice and the hospitality and media industries, is a New Jersey native with longstanding ties to the state where the Carolina Panthers owner, hedge fund billionaire David Tepper, also has connections. Throughout her career, Taylor has advocated for racial justice initiatives and mentored Black executives.

 

 

In 2021, Radisson hired Taylor as the general counsel for the company's US headquarters in suburban Minneapolis. However, she left the hotel chain last year after Choice Hotels International Inc. completed its purchase of Radisson's US hospitality franchise for $675 million. Simone Wu, the general counsel for Choice Hotels, confirmed via email that she is now the top lawyer for the combined company.

Taylor is the first general counsel for the Carolina Panthers since Stephen Argeris, the former legal chief and director of compliance, departed in 2020. Argeris was appointed in 2018 after Tepper terminated the team's previous top lawyer following his purchase of the Panthers for $2.3 billion from former NFL player and Hardee's restaurant franchisee Jerry Richardson Sr., who passed away last week at the age of 86.

Tepper, who bought the Carolina Panthers for $2.3 billion in 2018, has faced challenges on and off the field. The team has struggled to succeed, and there have been accusations of racial bias in hiring. In particular, the decision to pass over Black interim head coach Steve Wilks for the permanent job has drawn criticism. Wilks is one of three Black football coaches suing the NFL for alleged racial bias.

Meanwhile, Tepper and his company, GT Real Estate Holdings, are facing a criminal investigation over the use of public funds for a proposed Panthers headquarters and training facility in South Carolina. GT Real Estate filed for bankruptcy in 2020, and its insolvency proceedings were led by law firms White & Case, K&L Gates, and Farnan.

Despite these challenges, Tepper has stated his commitment to promoting diversity and ending the "old boys' network" in the NFL. As part of this effort, he has hired Tanya Taylor, a Black woman, as the Panthers' new general counsel. The team is also seeking an associate counsel to report to Taylor.

Charles "Chuck" Baker and Irwin Raij of Sidley Austin counseled Tepper on acquiring the Panthers and purchasing an expansion team in Major League Soccer, Charlotte FC. However, Tepper lost his status as the NFL's wealthiest owner in 2022 after selling the Denver Broncos for $5 billion to billionaire S. Robson Walton.