William Fry, Sports Law, Sports Group

Industries

Sports

We are excited to partner with One Zero and to sponsor the keynote speaker series on 17 September at the international sports business conference held in the Aviva Stadium.

Leo Moore, Partner at William Fry, says "We are delighted to partner the keynote series at the One-Zero conference. Our Sports Group represents clients operating directly and indirectly within the rapidly evolving sports and business of sport industry. We are excited by the learnings to be gained from the podcast series and the key note addresses at next month's conference."

The ‘Calling the Shots’ podcast series was created in the run up to the conference, hosted by journalist Andy McGeady, the series explores the lives and motivations of some of the biggest names in the sports business industry while highlighting how they’re driving innovation in their sectors.

Each of the podcast guests also feature in the line-up for the One-Zero 2019 event at the Aviva Stadium on September 17th.

Full details of the event can be found at one-zero.com

You can listen by clicking on the images below, or download/subscribe wherever you get all your best podcasts.

Eamonn Donlyn Podcast

The legal requirements of the sports industry are diverse and often complex. Our Sports Group has a wealth of experience across the broad spectrum of legal disciplines that exist in the industry. Our team consists of experts from core practice areas such as Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Intellectual Property and Technology, Corporate and Commercial Property.

Our Sports Group represents numerous clients operating either directly or indirectly within the sports industry. We advise clients from every aspect of the industry and understand the different legal challenges that they face. Our clients in this sector include governing bodies, sports clubs, corporates, stud farms, management companies and professional athletes.

Areas of Expertise include:

Commercial Contracts and Acquisitions	Trade marks, copyright and passing off	Naming Rights Agreements
Sponsorship Agreements	Endorsement Agreements	Regulations and Governance
Dispute Resolution	Disciplinary Proceedings	Licensing
Gaming and Betting	Projects & Development	Employment

Our Sports Group has all the benefits and expertise of a full service law firm to provide to our clients in the sports industry and community. We understand the business of sport.

Related Practice Areas

Related Industry

Our clients cover the spectrum of sporting disciplines and our experience includes acting for/advising:

Official legal advisor to the Irish rugby team in Japan 2019
Baker Tilly as Examiner to Munster Football Club Limited (In Examination) which operates division one League of Ireland team Limerick FC
IRFU as its legal advisors to all aspects of its bid to host the Rugby World Cup in Ireland in 2023
We continue to advise the RDS on all aspects of a complex multi-party long term stadium naming sponsorship agreement with a well known European Champions Cup rugby team and a major world player in the insurance market. We are assisting with negotiations, drafting of the sponsorship agreement and related matters.
Leinster Rugby on representing Leinster Rugby and its professionally contracted players at disciplinary hearings for alleged on-field foul play offences.
Horse Racing Ireland on a wide range of matters as governing body to horse racing in Ireland including racecourse development, technology, sponsorship matters, media rights, tote/betting, internal governance and legislation, employment matters and disputes, financing, commercial conveyancing and boundary disputes.
Tote Ireland on various matters relating to the provision of on-site gaming and betting services at Irish Horse racing venues throughout Ireland.
Special Olympics Ireland on a pro bono basis on all legal aspects of hosting the summer games in Dublin.
The K-Club on negotiation of the commercial contract for the hosting of the Ryder Cup together with all ancillary legal matters as host to the Ryder Cup. We have also advised on golf course development, co-ownership arrangements, trade mark disputes, sale of residential property and the transfer of common areas.
Dun Laoghaire Golf Club with regard to all aspects of its hosting the 2016 Curtis Cup.
Aviva on intellectual property matters arising in respect of the naming rights arrangements at the Aviva Stadium (formerly Lansdowne Road). We are also advising another client with regard to the naming rights of a significant national stadium.
Coolmore Stud on various commercial and foal share arrangements and projects including the resolution of a dispute regarding a high profile foal sharing agreement.
Betdaq’s key stakeholders on the acquisition of Betdaq by Ladbrokes.
Bavaria on its exclusive sponsorship of the Formula 1 Exhibition Race in Dublin in 2012, known as the Bavaria City Race. We also act for a number of clients in relation to sponsorship matters including Red Bull, Diageo and the National Lottery.
Portlaoise GAA Club in the development and sale of club lands Roscommon Gaels GAA Club in the resolution of a commercial land dispute.
British and Irish Lions on charitable and trust matters, banking and finance, corporate/company secretarial matters and negotiation of property leases.
Avoca Hockey Club and YMCA Hockey Club with regard to pitch sharing agreements and State grants.
A professional Irish golfer on equipment and endorsement agreement with Callaway.
A professional Irish Athlete on her endorsement agreement with Spar
An international sports broadcaster on its acquisition of an Irish sports business.

14 Nov

2019

Liverpool FC Not Caught Off Balance - Lessons for Brand Partnerships

A recent decision of the English High Court in New Balance Athletics, Inc v. The Liverpool Football Club and Athletic Grounds Limited [2019] EWHC 2837 (Comm) provides important clarity to brand partners and sponsors on the contentious issue of matching rights – an important contractual right found in many sport and media sponsorship deals.

5 Sep

2019