
Our sport and gaming lawyers combine their specialist legal skills with an active involvement in the business side of sport and gaming, and are committed to ensuring that clients can make the most of exciting new opportunities in these ever-growing industries.
In sport, we advise governing bodies, organising committees, sporting clubs and associations, players and agents, sponsors, broadcasters and venues on the most significant commercial, contractual and regulatory issues that face the world of sport today, with a particular focus on the entertainment aspects of modern sport, including mega-events, ceremonies, commissioned content and sports presentation.
In gaming, we advise developers, publishers and financiers on all aspects of production, promotion and exploitation of games, as well as all legal and regulatory aspects of the constantly changing gaming industry.
In addition, the sport and gaming group often works alongside our corporate group to advise on joint ventures, acquisitions and corporate finance in a sport and gaming context.
Our areas of expertise include the following:
- Event staging
- Cross-border competition structures
- Governing bodies
- Constitutional issues
- Broadcasting rights
- Development and protection of brands
- Sponsorship and endorsement
- Merchandising
- Development and publishing agreements
- Intellectual property clearance
- Data protection
- Sports-related mediation and litigation
- Video games tax relief
- Player and manager contracts
- Transfer agreements
- Image rights
- Tax planning
- Agency agreements
- Immigration
Simkins have an excellent media practice constantly evolving with the changes in our industry.
They were incredibly understanding of our unique needs and collaborated in a very flexible way. I would describe the team as very approachable and capable – they took time to listen to our requirements and made recommendations accordingly.
High standards, good, transparent communication between team members, excellent understanding of the issues, plus a can-do attitude. Part of the firm’s culture is an awareness of cost, and the farming out of work to the most reasonably-priced resource.