Esports

"The next generation of sports fans are esports fans."

Ted Leonsis

Esports & the Law

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We are esports experts, having develop specialised skills and our track record in the local Oceania sports scene as it has developed further, as well as in the UK and North America. We have advised TOs, teams & orgs, players, investors, and sponsors on a range of corporate and commercial legal issues at play in their growing sector, including the following:

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Publishers

• Anti-doping Issues

• Asset Sales

• Crisis Management & Mitigation

• Disputes

• Employment Law

• Endorsement Negotiations

• Governance 

• Intellectual Property Rights Registration, Protection, & Management

• Joint Ventures

• Licensing & Merchandising

• Media Rights Transactions

• Mergers and Acquisitions

• Rule Sets drafting

• Sponsorships

• Sports Integrity

• Sports Marketing

• Standardised Player Contracts

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Esports Tournament Operators, Organisations, & Leagues

• Anti-doping Issues

• Asset Sales

• Business Start ups, Incorporation, & Structuring

• Capital Raising

• Crisis Management & Mitigation

• Disputes

• Employment Law

• Endorsement Negotiations

• Governance & Constitutional matters

• Intellectual Property Rights Registration, Protection, & Management

• Joint Ventures

• Licensing & Merchandising

• Media Rights Transactions

• Mergers and Acquisitions

• Player Contracts & Participation Agreements

• Property Transactions

• Rule Sets drafting

• Sponsorships

• Sports Integrity

• Sports Marketing

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Esports Agents & Player Representatives

• Agency and Laws Regulating Agent Conduct

• Business Opportunities & Structuring

• Commercial Contracts & Agreements

• Endorsement Opportunity Negotiations & Contracts

• Intellectual Property Rights, Protection, & Management

• Licensing & Merchandising

• Media Agreements

• Sponsorships

• Player Contracts & Agreements

• Property Transactions

• Sale & Transfer of Business

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Rights Holders & Investors

• Commercial Agreements

• Investments

• Joint Ventures

• Licensing & Merchandising

• Media Rights Negotiations & Transactions

• Mergers & Acquisitions

• Sponsorships – individual players and teams

Recent Experience

Guinevere Capital – general commercial law matters

Advising the various esports assets in the Guinevere Capital portfolio - Excel Esports, Dire Wolves, Sydney Drop Bears, N8 Sports, Supa-Stellar - on a range of commercial matters, including intellectual property, capital raising, shareholder agreements, acquisitions, and disputes. (Some work completed while employed at DWF Australia)

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Good Game Well Played Academy - capital raising

Advising GGWP Academy on its seed round with leAD Sports Accelerator (a fund set-up by the grandchildren of the founder of adidas) and subsequent fund raising. Also advising on intellectual property and commercial agreements.

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The Chiefs Esports Club – commercial agreements

Advised Chiefs on a commercial agreement to generate sponsorships as well as player contracts. (Work completed while employed at DWF Australia)

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Kanga Esports – player contracts

Advised Kanga on the drafting of a player agreement for their Paladins team, competing in the USA. (Work completed while employed at DWF Australia)

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Players, Coach, Manager – contractual dispute

Acted for the players, coach, and manager of 'Tainted Minds', an LOL team in the OPL, in relation to a dispute with team management. The matter was resolved privately and Riot Games handed down a competitive ruling against the organisation.

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Esports Consulting

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We have been working in esports since 2016, working in the scene and developing skills and experience beyond legal advice, including the following:

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• Asset valuations and commercialisation strategies

• Brand protection and commercialisation

• Contract negotiation and player endorsement deals

• Corporate advisory - structuring and governance

• Crisis management and mitigation

• Fan engagement

• Governance models

• Integrity reviews and Reports

• Investor relations

• Marketing and advertising

• Media rights negotiations

• Regulation compliance

• Risk identification and mitigation

• Sponsorship engagement

• Stakeholder engagement

• Stakeholder protection (minors and minorities)

• Start-ups

• Structuring 

• Venue feasibility 

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