When New York Knicks owner James Dolan settled claims last week that he failed to notify the government of additional shares he’d taken in the Madison Square Garden Company, the U.S. Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission announced in news releases that he agreed to pay a $609,810 fine.

Behind the scenes, Dolan, the executive chairman and CEO of the Madison Square Garden Company, had reached another deal: His law firm, Debevoise & Plimpton, was going to pay the penalty.