Hawks' owner settles malpractice suit with firm

ATLANTA -- The group that owns the Atlanta Hawks and recently sold the Atlanta Thrashers has settled a $195 million legal malpractice lawsuit against the law firm King & Spalding.

Steve Collins, who represents the firm, said Wednesday that King & Spalding and Atlanta Spirit settled the complaint this month.

Atlanta Spirit is a group of investors that owns the Hawks and the operating rights to the Philips Arena, where the team plays. The group sold the Thrashers in June to a group of Canadian investors who moved the team to Winnipeg.

The group said in a January lawsuit that the firm negotiated a ``fatally flawed contract'' to end a dispute with Boston-based co-owner Steve Belkin.

Collins said the terms of the settlement were confidential. The Atlanta Spirit did not immediately comment.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2011/9/241897