Our sports lawyers have advised and worked on live events such as the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Invictus Games and the PGA European Tour. You will work with lawyers who are true sports experts, who have a passion for live sporting events and an in-depth understanding of the industry and the pressures you face when delivering an event.
Staging a successful sports event or tournament involves the co-operation of multiple stakeholders – the venue, participants, broadcasters, sponsors, promoters, suppliers and the media. You can rely on our industry know-how and experience to negotiate commercially focused arrangements tailored to your specific needs.
Our clients include sports rights owners, sports governing bodies, promoters and managers, sponsors and participants. Drawing on our extensive experience of supporting clients to stage sporting events both in the UK and abroad, we can guide you on both the legal and commercial aspects of your arrangements.
We can advise you on:
- Venue agreements
- Hosting agreements
- Promoter agreements
- Event management agreements
- Sponsorship agreements
- Broadcasting and media agreements
- Competitor terms of participation
- Ticketing arrangements (including ticket terms and conditions)
- Hospitality arrangements
- Supplier agreements
- Merchandising agreements
- Music licensing.
PGA European Tour
We advised on all staging arrangements for tournaments forming part of the European Tour, the European Challenge Tour and the European Senior Tour including drafting and negotiating promoter, venue and sponsorship arrangements.
Rugby Travel and Hospitality
We advised on Rugby Travel and Hospitality’s appointment as the official hospitality sales agent and travel package provider for the 2015 Rugby World Cup and in relation to various agency agreements with sub-agents.
Invictus Games
We advised on all of the legal and commercial aspects of the 2014 Invictus Games, a Paralympic style sports competition (nine sports over four days) for the wounded, injured and sick service personnel held in the Olympic Park and which included an Opening Ceremony and a Closing Concert. This included appointing an event management company to deliver the Games, contracting the BBC to broadcast the Games, drafting and negotiating sponsorship agreements, appointing Ticketmaster to sell the tickets, AEG to stage the concert and drafting competitor terms of participation.
Team Origin LLP
We advised on the delivery of the America’s Cup World Series event in Portsmouth in 2015 which included drafting and negotiating the licence agreement with the series owner, sponsorship, ticketing and hospitality agreements.
Wandsworth Council
We advised on the staging of the first-ever Formula E event at Battersea Park, London with the first race having taken place in June 2015.
Ladies European Tour
We advised on promoter arrangements for tournaments staged as part of the Ladies European Tour annual schedule of tournaments and have also advised the Tour on all aspects relating to the staging of the Solheim Cup in 2011 and 2015.
Hennessy Sports
We advised on venue, promoter and participation arrangements including for the World Heavyweight Championship boxing bout between Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko.
HSBC
We advised HSBC in relation to its hospitality supply arrangements with IMG and CSM for such suppliers have agreed to provide hospitality services in relation to HSBC’s golf, tennis and rugby sponsorship activations for the Open, the Wimbledon Championships, the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and the British and Irish Lions.
London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games
We advised the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games on all of the commercial arrangements required to stage and host London 2012 (including sponsorship, broadcasting, ticketing, merchandising, broadcasting and hospitality).
