Sports Law
Asia-Pacific Guide 2024 : Australia
Band 2
Contact number
+61 2 9226 9888Chambers Review
Bird & Bird maintains this Australian arm of its global sports law practice, which is well placed to provide coordinated advice on cross-jurisdictional issues, particularly within the Asia-Pacific region. It acts for global, national and regional sporting governing bodies, and for private sector companies operating within or interacting with the sports sphere across a broad range of issues, including commercial and media rights, betting, sponsorship and regulatory questions. Bird & Bird also advises on the management of individual sporting events and on contentious matters, and it counts among its clients such names as Rugby Australia, Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile and Asian martial arts promoter ONE Championship.
Work Highlights
- Bird & Bird advised IMG Arena on legal and practical measures in the Australian market to protect the exclusivity of betting rights to matches and other sporting events.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The team have extensive knowledge of the local sport industry and its challenges. They have proven adept at managing a number of complex and sophisticated matters, and the experiences of the Bird & Bird staff are extensive, with a range of complementary skills."
"We very highly rate Bird & Bird's ability to handle complex and sophisticated matters, and have been especially pleased with their ability to do so at short notice and with quick turnaround times."
"The team have extensive knowledge of the local sport industry and its challenges. They have proven adept at managing a number of complex and sophisticated matters, and the experiences of the Bird & Bird staff are extensive, with a range of complementary skills."
"We very highly rate Bird & Bird's ability to handle complex and sophisticated matters, and have been especially pleased with their ability to do so at short notice and with quick turnaround times."
Notable Practitioners
Richard Hawkins is an established figure in the sports law scene, frequently acting for sporting organisations across a wide range of sports and being particularly noted for his expertise in rugby and tennis.
"Rich Hawkins is great with both internal and external clients. He has great knowledge and is commercially focused."
"Rich Hawkins is an astute commercial lawyer with extensive experience in the Australian sports law market. He always makes himself available to provide practical guidance and advice."
"He's calm, smart and commercial. Being a former GC has given Rich an insight into what in-house counsel need from private practice firms. His advice is always clear and he works with us to understand what we need."
"He is a highly experienced and technically adept lawyer with first-class drafting skills. Rich has a calm but confident style which is reassuring for clients. He is the go-to legal adviser in the sports and media spaces for complex and highly important matters that need a trusted and respected adviser."
"He is a pleasure to work with at all times."