A former DLA Piper partner has been hired as the general counsel of a Major League Soccer expansion team, the organization confirmed Monday.

Eric Hagen joined Austin FC in October as the MLS team’s first general counsel, a spokesperson said. Hagen said he currently is the only in-house attorney for the team, though he had been working already as its outside counsel. He said he would likely add to the legal department as the team hires more front-office employees.