By Rebecca Davis O'Brien

Attorney Michael Avenatti, who seized the spotlight last year as a lawyer for adult-film actress Stormy Daniels, was charged Monday with attempting to extort Nike Inc. for more than $20 million.

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan said Mr. Avenatti told lawyers for Nike that he and an unnamed co-conspirator would release damaging information about the company if Nike lawyers didn't make millions of dollars in payments, according to a complaint unsealed Monday in Manhattan federal court.

The allegations arose out of Mr. Avenatti's representation of a client, identified in the complaint as the coach of an amateur men's basketball program in California, which prosecutors said had a sponsorship agreement with Nike.

Mr. Avenatti couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

Nike didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

This is a developing story and will be updated shortly.

Write to Rebecca Davis O'Brien at Rebecca.OBrien@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 25, 2019 13:45 ET (17:45 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2019 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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