© 2021 by » Sports Law
Key Services:
- Stakeholder Litigation
- Contractual Matters
- Dispute Resolution
- Arbitration & Sports Tribunals
- Sports Event Venue Management
- All aspects of Sponsorship
- Brand Protection & Management
- Broadcast Agreements
Sports Law
The decision to establish our specialised Sports Law practice was demand-driven, a direct reflection of the importance that sports now holds in the region.
It was clear that there was a need for a specialised legal practice with a full understanding of the specificities, legal framework and commercial realities which now are all integral to the modern international sports industry.
Saleh Alobeidli & Co is the first firm in the Middle East to place dominant focus on the specialised area of Sports Law. Our firm has represented clients in various sports area's including football, horse racing and motor racing.
Our Sports Law team works exclusively on sports related matters, providing the region's most comprehensive range as well as depth of service to our clients.
The firm was founded by its managing partner, Saleh Alobeidli.
Our Sports Law team has the necessary skills and experience to advise and support our clients on all aspects of sports and sports law, with special emphasis on the following areas:
Stakeholders and Commercial Relationships
Players' contracts; coaches' contracts, sports clubs; sports associations and governing bodies, disciplinary issues; doping; sponsors; media & social media and other forms of "new media" communications.Sports Event and Venue Management
Advising on all legal aspects of the bidding; execution and commercial optimisation of major events from bedding application & management through to ticketing, stadiums & sports facility; media & broadcasting; health, safety, insurance and environmental issues as well as all sustainability initiatives and developing profitability strategies to generate additional revenues before and after the main events.All Aspects of Sport, Team, Player and Event Sponsorship
Acting for right holders, event managers, athletes and organisations who commit significant resources to this crucial aspect of marketing, including advising on regional advertising guidelines and restrictions.Alternative Dispute Resolution
Representing sporting bodies; football clubs; sports clubs; players & athletes and other sports related clients before various national sports dispute resolution bodies, including the judicial bodies at the Football Association of the UAE (UAEFA), Emirates Racing Authority (ERA) and many others. Our team has the capability to represents sports clients at various sporting bodies in the GCC and worldwide including FIFA, FIBA, FIA and EFI as well as the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).Broadcast Agreements
Television, radio, mobile phone and online control production, distribution management and exploitation, from the perspective of right holders, broadcasters and broadcast partners, related to sports competitions.Brand Protection and Management
Merchandising and other licensing arrangements; merchandise distribution and sale arrangements; anti ambush marking and anti-counterfeiting strategies and enforcement; trademark advice and registration, copyright protection and exploitation.
Our team has been involved in a broad range of sports related matters:
- Providing various management services and products to football clubs and other sports entities, in collaborating with Deloitte.
- Acting as the legal counsel for the Abu Dhabi Sports Council.
- Acting for the Pro League Committee for matters including the drafting of the technical regulations related to its Competitions.
- Acting as the legal counsel for various football clubs in the GCC.
- Representing both football clubs and players in various disputes before national judicial bodies, FIFA DRC and CAS.
- Representation before the Appeal Committee at the Emirates Racing Authority (ERA).
- Advising the Saudi Football Association in relation to drafting the new Statute for the Saudi FA.
- Advising the Saudi Pro League Committee for contractual commercial matters.
- Acting as a counsel for a world-class advertising agency in the negotiating, drafting and amending an agreement with a professional national football team.
- Advising an Olympic Gold Medallist in relation to the promotion of local events and brand management.
Key Contact
Saleh Alobeidli
Managing Partner