ESPN Elevates Longtime In-House Lawyer to Chief Counsel Role (1)

ESPN Inc. is promoting Eleanor “Nell” DeVane to the sports and entertainment media company’s top legal role in January, when she will succeed retiring chief counsel Diane Morse.

DeVane has served as a deputy chief counsel at ESPN since 2012, according to a Thursday press release from the Bristol, Conn.-based ESPN. The network, owned by the Walt Disney Co., said she has “performed legal work for virtually every area of ESPN.”

DeVane will report directly to two individuals, one of whom is Disney’s general counsel, ESPN said. Alan Braverman, who currently holds that role, is poised to retire from the ...