Sports and Entertainment
The sports and entertainment industry in Australia is sophisticated, constantly changing and developing.
Conducting business in this industry, including undertaking transactions or disputes, can involve complex and important legal issues.
How we can help
Our Sports and Entertainment team is well known for its high-quality, prompt and commercially focused work on high-profile, high-value and strategically important matters.
We have in-depth understanding of sporting and entertainment enterprises and the regulatory framework in which they operate. Our team has worked on many large transactions, M&A, governance issues, rules and regulations and disputes across the sports and entertainment industry.
We advise some of the largest and most prominent sporting and entertainment entities in Australia and internationally, public and private corporations, governing bodies, athletes, sponsors, agencies, and high-profile individuals involved in significant transactions and disputes.
Our multidisciplinary team assists clients on all matters including commercial, governance, media – transactional, media – regulatory, litigation and sports disputes, intellectual property, property, employment and industrial relations, individuals, and public liability.
‘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.’
Chambers Asia-Pacific Guide 2023
Our sports and entertainment expertise
We have extensive multidisciplinary experience in acting for clients in the sports and entertainment industries. Our team can assist clients with all sports and entertainment law matters, including:
- Commercial – structuring and negotiating commercial agreements, including media rights, sponsorship and marketing agreements, venue and stadia hiring agreements and general contract preparation, standard terms and conditions, and sales and purchases of sporting and entertainment businesses.
- Governance – drafting and implementing rules and regulations, structuring and restructuring sporting organisations, competitions and clubs, and advising on directors’ duties and governance obligations.
- Litigation – commercial and non-commercial disputes and disciplinary matters.
- Intellectual Property – licensing of intellectual property rights, copyright protection, trade mark applications, infringements and oppositions.
- Property – venue financing arrangements, building and construction projects, hiring, management and usage agreements.
- Employment & Industrial Relations – employment and contractor agreements, workplace strategies, industrial and common law disputes, termination of employment, redundancies, discrimination claims, immigration and visa applications.
- Individuals – talent agreements, athlete management advice, employment and sponsorship arrangements, taxation advice and disputes.
