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• Sports & Media Law

• • Overview

  Put Simply...

  Sport and media law covers a broad range of practice areas in management, entertainment and media such as films, TV, music, books, etc; general media such as print, advertising, sponsorship, programming content, on-line, gaming, etc. The practice also includes intellectual property law, handling copyright, brand & trademark infringements and personal representation of an individual or group of people in defamation, privacy, data protection, event management, etc.
  
  Often considered to be glamorous and high profile work, the reality is that more often than not, your work is concerned with the legal nitty-gritty rather than attending highly publicised events and rubbing shoulders with celebrities. Most large firms offering full-service legal advice do have departments devoted to sport and media but it is preferable to join smaller boutique firms which specialize in these areas exclusively. The mix of work which is available can be both contentious and non-contentious and often means working under great pressure.

  What is involved in Sports & Media Law?

  The working atmosphere in most places where media and sport law is practised is very informal, modern and friendly. This does not mean that work is not to be taken seriously, because most often cases and deals will usually involve huge sums of money. However, as a salaried solicitor, your pay levels will actually be lower than those paid to lawyers in large firms where corporate, banking and finance rule the roost. You will be providing advice on business agreements, contracts of performance, employee management & benefits; financial transactions and litigation.
  
  This part of the job is largely the same as you would do in a regular corporate and commercial driven law firm. If working for the defendant, lawyers will handle cases on defamation, libel, slander, encroachment on privacy, unsubstantiated allegations or declarations against individuals. Claimants’ lawyers will usually advice important individuals on matters described above by negotiation or in court. A defendant lawyer’s client roster can include broadcaster, publishers, newspapers etc, on claims filed against them for libel and other matters.
  
  Entertainment law as a whole covers radio, music, television, films, art, theatre, books, magazines, etc, where your work will consist of advising on commercial contracts, intellectual property matters, content standards, and employee management among other things. Sports’ solicitors can represent players, clubs, sports agents, ruling/regulatory associations or sponsorship companies as an external consultant. Sports today is big business, and as a legal professional in this industry, you will need, to use a sporting analogy, be constantly on the ball and juggle matters covering almost all practice areas in law – commercial, finance, intellectual property, technology, telecommunications and professional liability/negligence among others.

  What is needed for Sports & Media Law?

  You will need to be commercially savvy, outgoing, enthusiastic and have your finger on the media pulse. As a beginner, there will be a lot of grunt work like drafting agreements, contracts, etc. It is vital that you enjoy interacting with people and your networking skills remain sharp and current.Much of your work may involve hand-holding celebrities and other high-profile individuals, so it is important to be empathetic and patient. Other skills involved will be current and updated knowledge on commercial matters, reputation management, IP laws and precedents, criminal negligence and personal injury, and having a talent for advocacy.
  
  You should be able to provide quick, creative and simple solutions to clients’ problems and be totally proficient on the ins & outs of the media or sporting segment you are involved in. It is also critical that you be discreet and conscientious, flexible and get used to handling big egos.

  Current Climate for Sports & Media Law

  Privacy laws are constantly undergoing changes and the advent & rapid growth of new media such as the internet, mobile telephony, etc mean that attitudes and outlooks are also in flux. Other instances like proliferation of hate-mail or hate-groups on social networking sites, suspicious email and chat-room shenanigans by terrorists are more alarming developments, leading to increased scrutiny by law enforcement authorities.
  
  Sports law is seeing rising instances of corporate takeovers of clubs and leagues, the most recent being the takeover of Manchester City Football Club by the Abu Dhabi Investment group.
  
  

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