Gaming and sports betting tech provider Scientific Games has merged its legal and public policy teams into a Global Legal and Public Policy department.
Executive Vice President James D. Schultz will lead the department, while Deputy General Counsel Phil Baeur, who has been with the company since 1999, will be promoted to general counsel and corporate secretary, reporting to Schultz.
Schultz served in high-profile government roles before joining Scientific Games, including general counsel to the governor of Pennsylvania and senior associate counsel and special assistant to the president of the United States in the Office of White House Counsel. He also led government practice groups at Holland and Knight LLP and Cozen O’Connor.
“As part of this succession plan, we have an opportunity to strategically align our operations with Jim’s and Phil’s combined talents. Jim Schultz’s wide-ranging legal expertise and his deep knowledge of state and federal government operations will provide our business teams with additional strategic support as we continue to pursue new opportunities to expand our global operations. The combined organization under Jim will allow us to support our growth plans more efficiently and strategically,” said Pat McHugh, Scientific Games CEO.
“Since joining Scientific Games in 2022, I have witnessed the strong work we do for our government partners which in turn enables them to serve their taxpayers and residents to provide meaningful programs across all service sectors. In my new position, our goal will be to maximize our services to the benefit of these constituencies,” Schultz said. “Phil Bauer is a trusted legal advisor with in-depth industry knowledge and will serve us well as we continue to grow our business.”
In addition, Christine Wechsler, senior vice president of public policy and government relations, will take on the expanded role of senior vice president of legislation and litigation. Chief Legal Officer Dena Rosenzweig will retire on March 31.
Wechsler recently testified before the Maryland House Ways and Means Committee endorsing HB 1218 on behalf of Scientific Games. The bill would allow the Maryland Lottery to offer its games to local residents through online sales channels.
