Sports Law | Asia-Pacific

Allens offers a comprehensive, top-flight service to sports organisations and corporate clients. Its leading commercial and IP practice provides licensing, brand protection and ambush marketing advice for clients competing in and hosting major sporting competitions, and the firm offers complementary expertise in broadcasting and media rights. It also advises on anti-doping and other disciplinary issues and has a longstanding involvement with key international and Australian sports bodies, including the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Allens' clients include event and venue owners, marketing agents, promoters and equipment manufacturers as well as teams and personalities, notable names including the Australian Olympic Committee, News Corp and Tennis Australia.

Hall & Wilcox is much sought after for its expertise advising sports bodies and sponsors on event and venue sponsorship. It has an impressive track record of assisting national sports organisations with governance reforms and IP licensing mandates, and its disputes practice offers specialist expertise in sports-related employment matters. Hall & Wilcox's longevity of involvement in the sports law area ensures an impressive list of clients and in-depth understanding of working with sports organisations, including national leagues and governing bodies, elite events hosts and organisers.

K&L Gates fields a well-rounded team, active across a wide range of sporting sectors and offering expertise in matters ranging from advice on constitutional reforms and employment and immigration issues, to appearing for both sporting organisations and players at disciplinary tribunals and appeal boards. The law firm also advises on commercial activities such as the negotiation of franchising deals, and is particularly noted for its adeptness at handling intellectual property and trade mark matters. K&L Gates's clients include numerous national and international sporting organisations, such as the Australian Football League, Cricket Australia and Melbourne Victory Football Club.

Bird & Bird maintains this Australian arm of its global sports law practice, which is well placed to provide coordinated advice on cross-jurisdictional issues, particularly within the Asia-Pacific region. It acts for global, national and regional sporting governing bodies, and for private sector companies operating within or interacting with the sports sphere across a broad range of issues, including commercial and media rights, betting, sponsorship and regulatory questions. Bird & Bird also advises on the management of individual sporting events and on contentious matters, and it counts among its clients such names as Rugby Australia, Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile and Asian martial arts promoter ONE Championship.

MinterEllison has a strong reputation for advising on events organisation, stadium agreements and facilities licensing agreements with multiple sports bodies. It is also equipped to handle sponsorship arrangements, regulatory and compliance matters, IP and broadcasting issues and reputation management, drawing upon the broader resources of the national firm as and when appropriate. The law firm possesses specialist knowledge of the racing and football codes and a premier disciplinary investigations capability. Significant clients include Collingwood Football Club, National Rugby League and the Australian Olympic Committee.