Michael Gearon and Bruce Levenson have emerged as the lead owners of the Hawks and Thrashers following a long legal battle and ownership split.

Gearon and Levenson have purchased Boston-based Steve Belkin's 30-percent share of the NBA Hawks, NHL Thrashers and Philips Arena.

"At the end of the day we had a business partner we were in a dispute with and we settled that matter," Levenson said.

The ownership split began in 2005 over Belkin's objection to the Hawks' trade of Boris Diaw, two first-round draft picks and a $4.9 million trade exception to the Phoenix Suns for guard Joe Johnson.