LET’S GO, HAWKS!

As the Chicago Blackhawks’ top lawyer, Marcus LeBeouf knows the road to the Cup starts with a winning culture.

From his time in the front office of NBA and NHL franchises, Marcus LeBeouf knows that when it comes to creating a strong culture, there’s no line between the team that suits up and the organization that encompasses it. Put another way, when it comes to creating a team that wins on the ice and far beyond it, everyone wears a jersey—some have numbers on them, and some are worn by those crunching numbers or numbering contract clauses.

It’s a vision that LeBeouf, who served as assistant general counsel for the Charlotte Hornets basketball team until the Chicago Blackhawks came calling in search of their first-ever general counsel back in 2021, doesn’t take for granted. From their earliest conversations, LeBeouf sensed that he and the Blackhawks organization saw things eye to eye … even if he didn’t have ice hockey on his bingo card.

“I honestly didn’t see it coming,” he recalls. “I was in the running for general counsel at the Hornets, and then this job came available. Chicago being the wonderful city that it is, the Blackhawks being a 100-year-old franchise, and knowing that they have an incredibly compassionate, passionate, and strong ownership group and family leading it. I mean, it was something I couldn’t pass up. It was kind of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Since then, LeBeouf has taken on additional responsibilities and is now the organization’s EVP of Legal Affairs and Human Resources. His remit includes not only the Blackhawks, but also the Blackhawks Ice Center, the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation, Chicago Steel, Rockford IceHogs, and Circa 26. That means he’s involved in everything from M&A activities and traditional HR to visa support, work authorization, real estate development, brand compliance, and broadcast rights, while also being a proactive, strategic attorney from day to day.

And that’s just part of the picture. LeBeouf lights up when he’s talking about the depth and breadth of the Blackhawks organization, writ large. “We’re looking at how to build at the grassroots level. We’ve got the team, and now we’ve got a USHL team and an AHL team. Our strategy is really built around investing in all levels of the game.”

And by every level, he means every level. “We have our Learn to Skate and Learn to Play programming that we support at various ice rinks throughout the state of Illinois,” LeBeouf says proudly. “We try as much as possible to remove barriers [like access to ice time and equipment] so that we can get more people on the ice interacting with the sport and our brand. We’re not just building Blackhawks fans. We’re building people who will be passionate about the sport and educated and knowledgeable about what’s happening. Because that’s where you start to really appreciate the magic.”

It’s magic that LeBeouf is unlikely to take for granted, as he sees the opportunity he’s been given as a blessing. Not only is he operating in the rarefied air of a professional sports front office, but he’s also one of the first Black general counsels in the history of the NHL.

“I didn’t set out to be a trailblazer,” he shares with characteristic modesty. “But I’ve focused more on what this role represents for me. Showing kids and young professionals that there’s somebody who’s doing this job that looks just like you.” As he says, it’s about demonstrating that “if I can dream big and then execute on those ambitions, so can you. And if you don’t know how to do it, reach out to me on LinkedIn, and we will find a way to make time. When all is said and done, I want to be remembered as someone who led with empathy and opened doors wide for others to follow. The fact that I was a talented lawyer should be the footnote.”

And LeBeouf’s boosterism doesn’t stop at the walls of the United Center or Blackhawks Ice Center. He’s a big fan of Chicago (his mom was born there, and he has great-aunts living in town) and loves the North Shore, where he lives with his wife, Alicia, and two kids (Marcus Jr. and Sydney). “We’ve got some great friends that are here, our kids love their school, and we just love the community. It’s been everything that we hoped and prayed for.”

As for his team, LeBeouf says he’s “all in.”

“Hopefully, I’ll see everyone in the arena this fall,” he says. “And prayerfully we’re making a good, strong playoff push. I know that this is a sports city, and I know people want to see us win, so we’re doing everything possible on and off the ice to present a winning, championship experience guided by a culture of service and gratitude.