The sports industry is prone to disputes, stemming from high-values, large personalities, strict timelines, as well as many parties often needing to work together or being dependent on each other for contract performance. Sports law is a long-established practice at Moroğlu Arseven. Accordingly, we represent and provide strategic advice to a wide range of sports clients during all types of conflicts which may arise, with particular experience assisting foreign parties to resolve issues in Turkey, as well as to collect or resist debts.
Our track record includes advising on disciplinary processes, disputes over performance, success bonuses, medical or fitness issues, allegations of corruption, doping or match-fixing, terminating or renegotiating contracts, dealing with integrity, employment law or immigration issues, debt collection, as well as arbitrating many disputes before international sports tribunals. Our support in this context also includes pre and post-dispute matters, such as attachment of assets and enforcing decisions. Many sports disputes are very time sensitive, so require responsive and proactive legal advice, as well as interim tools such as injunctions.
Our sports clients represent a wide range of perspectives, including players, coaches, teams, talent agencies, tournament organisers, governing bodies, players’ unions, media publishers, broadcasters, investors, sponsors, ticketing agencies, venue management, as well as promotion and advertising companies.
Sports disputes often play out publicly in the media, so a legal strategy must pay attention to also considering this additional dynamic. Our strong dispute resolution team works closely with clients from the early stages of conflicts to develop tailored strategies and mitigate risks, with close attention to reputation management.
We support parties on both sides during sports investigations, notably regulatory investigations where issues touch on doping, corruption and governance. Our support stretches from policy drafting or planning investigation processes, through to responding to questions or appearing at tribunals.
The firm often represents clients before international sports tribunals, such as the Court of Arbitration for Sport or FIBA’s Basketball Arbitral Tribunal (BAT).
Sports’ licensing, endorsement or merchandising arrangements are often complex and cross-border, inevitably leading to a range of potential disputes. We advise during the full lifecycle of negotiating, managing and terminating such image or endorsement arrangements. Our support includes imbedding dispute resolution mechanisms during contract negotiations, as well as supporting clients to use these processes if a conflict occurs.
