Service: Sports Law

The global sports industry is a high growth and high value market.

In an era of increased regulation, players, governing bodies, broadcasters, corporate sponsors and participants in between have to grapple with legal complexities, from the rules that govern play through to the commercial agreements that bring sport into the homes of fans.

How we can help

Our sports law practice is one of the most multi-faceted and developed in the Asia-Pacific region, offering depth of experience in many areas of the law as it applies to the sports industry.

Strategic approach

Our team has the practical knowledge and insight to deal with the unique commercial and reputational issues that arise in the sports industry.

Depth of experience

We have a diverse and high profile client base. We have acted for participants at all levels, including governing bodies, event and venue owners, broadcasters, marketing agents, corporate sponsors, sports foundations, promoters, equipment manufacturers, sporting teams and sports personalities.

We have advised on a broad spectrum of sports law issues, including:

acquisition of teams
anti-counterfeiting investigations
brand protection, exploitation and ambush-marketing
broadcasting agreements, including copyright protection and anti-siphoning
defamation
event management and venue agreements
merchandising and sponsorship agreements
on-line sporting ventures
player contracts
team transfer and competition rules
ticketing arrangements

International Olympic Committee

Advising on copyright, trade mark and related commercial issues in relation to broadcasting agreements for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, as well as agreements for the 2010 Winter and 2012 Summer Olympic Games.

Commonwealth Games Federation

Advising on the host city contracts, broadcasting rights, marketing agreements, intellectual property assignments, and licensing issues in relation to the 2006, 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Rugby World Cup Limited/IMG

Advising on the licensing of broadcasting rights for the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cups. We have also advised on trade mark, copyright, broadcasting and ambush marketing issues.

Australian Grand Prix Corporation

Advising on intellectual property registration and enforcement, anti-counterfeiting strategies, general licensing and contractual issues in relation to both the Australian Grand Prix and the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.

Australian Rugby Union

Advising on the allocation of grants to state and territory rugby unions as well as trade mark registration, protection and disputes.

V8 Supercars Australia

Advising on Internet and mobile telephone rights, broadcasting rights agreements, production arrangements, sponsorship arrangements, trade marks and anti-counterfeiting issues.

Victorian Major Events Corporation

Advising the organisation responsible for bringing major sporting events to Victoria, including the Formula One and Rugby Union's Bledisloe Cup, since its establishment in 1993 on a wide range of matters.

Sky Channel

Acting for the world's leading multi-venue racing broadcaster, to protect the use of Sky Channel's broadcasting rights against copyright infringement by third parties showing racing footage over the Internet and on mobile telephones.

FOXTEL, News Limited and Premier Media Group

Successfully acting for these clients in highly publicised, landmark Federal Court proceedings concerning claims that the acquisition of the AFL rights by News and the on sale of those rights to FOXTEL, Nine and Ten, the acquisition of the NRL pay TV rights by Premier Media and the content supply agreement between FOXTEL and Optus breached trade practices legislation.

Australian Olympic Committee

Representing the AOC in a misleading and deceptive conduct claim against Telstra in relation to an advertising campaign run by Telstra in the lead up to the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio. Regularly advising the AOC on Olympic insignia protection.

Fox Sports

Advising Fox Sports on its landmark partnership with Cricket Australia and Seven West Media to broadcast cricket in Australia for six years. Advising Fox Sports on the adoption of the KAYO brand in relation to its groundbreaking standalone sports streaming service launched in November 2018.