Sports Law
Our Sports Law attorneys provide a wide range of services to clients. We assist our clients in achieving their business agendas in connection with solving their sports law and SafeSport problems. We are adept at handling high profile adversarial situations, such as representing clients in litigation over internal investigations, disciplinary matters, arbitrations of business disputes, rights of privacy, and various disciplinary proceedings.
SafeSport Protection
When the US Center for SafeSport was established, it was given authority over abuse or misconduct allegations within the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and its recognized National Governing Bodies (“NGB’s”). SafeSport’s authority includes allegations of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. Because the SafeSport code applies to all participants in the US Olympic and Paralympic movement, our attorneys assist athletes, coaches, trainers as well as contracted individuals in a whole host of categories of abuse and misconduct involving N.G.B.’s. We assist clients in connection bullying, cyberbullying, hazing, sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment and non-consensual sexual contact matters. We counsel our clients in all stages of SafeSport violations, including reporting and intake, investigation, and the ultimate resolution. We negotiate types of sanctions for potential SafeSport violations, including written warnings, probation, suspensions or other eligibility restrictions, in order maximize our clients’ strengths. We advise N.G.B.’s in all areas of SafeSport protection and compliance.
Sports Governance
N.G.B. is responsible for making sure that its members comply with all governing rules and regulations. Most N.G.B.’s work with the International Federation of their sport, the National Olympic Committee, and the International Olympic Committee to advocate for their athletes. Sports governance is essential to resolving disputes, sanctioning improper behavior and advancing the collective interests of the athletes and coaches. Our attorneys can assist the handling of internal disputes with the federations, providing advice regarding crisis management, and assuring compliance with regulations. We provide advisory services that help our clients navigate best practices for proactively avoiding situations that may lead to conflict and litigation. Additionally, we assist clients with matters involving internal grievances and alternative dispute resolution. Additionally, we advise N.G.B.’s in all aspects of Sport Governance.
Sports Contract Disputes
Contracts govern competition as well as various sport relationships, including coaching among athletes, clubs and their participants. We assist clients in negotiating sponsorship agreements, player and coach contracts, and providing advice in order to resolve contract disputes. If necessary, we are also skilled at representing coaches, athletes, and representatives in connection with arbitrations and court proceedings. Our attorneys are devoted to the practice of Sport Law and SafeSports law in all of their detailed aspects and affairs.