E. Miles Prentice III, Esq. ’64 Attorney, Eaton & Van Winkle Owner, Minor League Sports Teams
Miles Prentice usually wears a baseball cap advertising one of the teams he owns. But he wears many other metaphorical hats as well—as a leading commercial lawyer in New York, as a member of several policy think tanks, and as a business entrepreneur. He is the kind of person who does not see barriers, just opportunities. When Prentice was searching for a college, he wanted a place that would open his mind and prepare him for the road ahead. Washington & Jefferson College did just that. At W&J, Prentice was grateful for the chance to express himself both inside and outside of class, and he valued W&J’s close-knit community. He believes faculty and staff members are the cornerstone of what makes the College extraordinary. “W&J has professors who are not only good teachers, but also wonderful human beings,” Prentice says. He credits the W&J football program for teaching him the important lessons of how to win with humility and lose without giving up. The totality of these experiences left a lasting mark on Prentice and has shaped him throughout his successful career. After graduating from W&J, Prentice entered law school at the University of Michigan and then joined the military, where he eventually became a captain. Shortly after leaving the army, Prentice began his law career, earning partnership at several firms. Today, he is a partner at Eaton & Van Winkle in New York City, where he practices commercial and financial law, with an emphasis on the representation of foreign and domestic corporations, banks, and insurance companies in their U.S.-based and off-shore activities. In addition to practicing law, Prentice owns three baseball teams in the Texas and Southern Leagues. He also owns a hockey team and is in the process of starting a soccer team. Outside of sports, Prentice is working to expand the thriving restaurant chain Five Guys Burgers and Fries. He also is involved with the Center for Security Policy, a national security think tank, and the Hudson Institute, a public policy research organization.
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