The percentage of American women in leadership positions insports varies by sector, but it is generally low. For instance, women holdapproximately 20-34% of senior administrative roles in professional teams,while their representation in the highest levels of governance forinternational sports federations is around 21-27%. Additionally, women accountfor less than 20% of team doctors in professional and collegiate sports,according to the Women Sports Foundation and the Journal of Sport forDevelopment.
Megha Parekh is the Executive Vice President and Chief LegalOfficer of the Jacksonville Jaguars. She has been with the team since 2013 andplays a key role in their executive leadership. Parekh is responsible for avariety of legal and business matters, including transactions, acquisitions,investments, compliance, dispute resolution, risk management, employee growthand development, government relations, intellectual property, security,technology, and stadium and real estate development projects. She is instrumentalin shaping the Jaguars' long-term vision and strategy, including the ambitious"Stadium of the Future" initiative and broader development efforts inJacksonville. Her work sits at the intersection of entertainment, law, andcivic innovation, helping position the Jaguars as a driver of economicdevelopment and community engagement in Northeast Florida.
During her time with the Jaguars, Parekh has contributed tovarious significant projects, including the acquisition of Fulham FootballClub, the launch of All Elite Wrestling and its television broadcast deal, theconstruction and opening of Daily's Place amphitheater, and various namingrights and concessions agreements, as well as the Jaguars' international gamesand other Khan family sports and entertainment-related projects.
Before joining the Jaguars, Parekh was an attorney atProskauer in New York, where she was part of the Sports Law Group and advisedclients across professional leagues and franchises. She holds both herundergraduate and law degrees from Harvard, graduating magna cum laude.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Parekh isdeeply committed to community service and volunteering. She supportsindividuals in moments of mental health crisis as a volunteer with Crisis TextLine and helps create safe and stable housing for families in need with Habitatfor Humanity. Guided by her personal experiences, she also advocates forsurvivors of trauma. Parekh serves on several boards, including theJacksonville University Public Policy Institute, and promotes access,inclusion, and leadership development in both sports and the legal profession.
She has been recognized as one of SportsBusiness Journal’s“Forty Under 40” and has been featured among the most powerful women in sportsin the NFL’s series “Earnin’ It.” Parekh believes in the transformative powerof sports and music to create stronger, more connected communities and toenhance individuals' lives.
Instagram: @meghalegalgirl10
LinkedIn: @MeghaParekhrekh