Scope of Services
Our sports law practice offers holistic legal solutions across the professional, amateur, and grassroots levels of sport. We represent athletes, leagues, franchises, governing bodies, event organizers, sponsors, and broadcasters, navigating the rapidly evolving commercial and regulatory sports ecosystem in India and abroad.
A. Contracts & Commercial Structuring
We advise on the full spectrum of commercial contracts that drive the business of sports—from player signings to league formations.
Key Services Include:
(i) League Formation and Joint Venture Structuring:
Assisting sports federations and private entities in setting up leagues through JV or SPV structures, including stakeholder governance, IP contributions, and profit-sharing models.
(ii) Franchise and Licensing Agreements:
Advising on the acquisition, operation, and transfer of sports franchises, including franchise fees, royalty models, and team branding rights.
(iii) Player, Coach, and Support Staff Agreements:
Drafting and negotiating employment, representation, and performance contracts that address compensation, image rights, termination, and anti-doping clauses.
(iv) Sponsorship, Branding, and Endorsement Deals:
Structuring and negotiating endorsement agreements for athletes and sponsorship contracts for events and teams, including exclusivity, activation rights, and usage terms.
(v) Event Organization and Vendor Contracts:
Drafting contracts for venue hire, ticketing platforms, broadcast logistics, security providers, and other vendors involved in staging sports events.
B. Intellectual Property & Media Rights
We help protect and monetize the intangible value generated through sports branding, broadcasting, and digital innovation.
Key Services Include:
(i) Trademark Registration and Enforcement:
Registering team names, league logos, slogans, and merchandise branding; enforcing rights against counterfeiters and infringers.
(ii) Protection of Event Formats and Content Rights:
Safeguarding ownership of league/event formats, statistical data compilations, and production rights in live or recorded sports content.
(iii) Broadcasting and Digital Streaming Agreements:
Negotiating television and OTT media rights, sub-licensing deals, simulcast arrangements, and ad-revenue models with platforms and networks.
(iv) Athlete Content Monetization and NIL Protection:
Advising athletes on monetizing their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights, especially in the context of influencer deals and personal branding campaigns.
(v) Merchandising, Gaming, and NFT-related Advisory:
Drafting IP licenses for merchandise, gaming avatars, fantasy league participation, and digital collectibles (NFTs).
C. Compliance & Risk Advisory
We guide clients on regulatory obligations, safeguarding norms, and integrity frameworks in sports.
Key Services Include:
(i) Anti-Doping Regulations and Hearings:
Advising on compliance with WADA/NADA codes, representing athletes in anti-doping hearings, and assisting in therapeutic use exemption (TUE) filings.
(ii) Player Welfare, Safety, and Safeguarding Policies:
Drafting safeguarding policies to prevent harassment, abuse, and exploitation; conducting awareness training for staff and athletes.
(iii) Betting and Match-Fixing Regulations:
Assisting sports bodies in implementing anti-corruption codes, integrity audits, and reporting protocols for suspicious activities.
(iv) Grievance and Disciplinary Procedures:
Establishing internal disciplinary frameworks; representing stakeholders in disputes involving team conduct, code violations, or breach of ethics.
(v) Data Protection and Digital Compliance (DPDP Act):
Ensuring compliance with India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, particularly for apps, wearables, biometric data, and fan engagement platforms.
D. Disputes & Arbitration
We provide strategic legal representation and advocacy in sports-related disputes across forums.
Key Services Include:
(i) Contractual Disputes Between Franchises, Teams, and Vendors:
Litigating and resolving conflicts over breach of sponsorship, franchise, media, or vendor agreements.
(ii) Salary and Transfer-Related Matters:
Representing players or clubs in disputes involving unpaid dues, breach of contract, and player movement.
(iii) Selection or Disciplinary Challenges Before Sports Bodies:
Filing appeals and defending clients in selection disputes, suspensions, or code of conduct violations.
(iv) Representation in Arbitration (Institutional/Ad Hoc):
Representing stakeholders before CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport), national federations’ dispute panels, or private arbitrations.
(v) Takedown, Defamation, and Media Misuse Claims:
Legal action against defamatory publications, unauthorized content distribution, or media exploitation of athlete privacy.
Our sports law practice is built on a deep understanding of the business, regulatory, and cultural nuances of sport. Whether it’s representing an elite athlete, setting up a league, or resolving a media rights dispute, we ensure our clients receive practical, risk-conscious legal support to compete and grow with confidence.
