A sports lawyer is a legal professional versed in the contents and workings of sports law. Since sports law is a combination of different fields of law applied to the context of sports, sports lawyers are usually well-trained in the corresponding fields of law. However, their training generally specializes in how these aspects appear in sports. Entertainment specialists represent teams, leagues, media companies, organizations, professional athletes, coaches, and agencies.
It is essential to know what services sports law specialists offer. Some of these services include:
Lawyers for sports law offer counsel to clients regarding the nuances of sports law. The attorney can provide legal advice about contractual and legal issues to athletes, agents, or other stakeholders in the sports law space. The best sports lawyer informs these stakeholders of the legal implications of their agreements and steps to seek redress.
With an extensive knowledge of legal intricacies, sports law firms can offer excellent draftsmanship in creating legal documents. These include contracts and application of court processes. The lawyer ensures the documents are free of mistakes and the terms are not open to any legal loopholes.
Lawyers for entertainment may also represent any sports law stakeholders before a competent court of jurisdiction, in the media, or before a tribunal. While self-representation is possible for most tribunals and press conferences, having a sports lawyer do it is usually safer.
This involves deliberating on contracts, deals, and agreements. The best entertainment lawyer can help their clients negotiate the best agreements, thus protecting them from being bound by unintended contracts. These may include trademark and image agreements, employment contracts, etc.
Entertainment law firms are experts at franchising players, teams, leagues, etc. They can help manage the creation of licensees and subsidiaries, such as charity organizations and sister teams, while navigating the legal implications and balancing the books.
With the vast array of services of a sports law attorney near me, when exactly is it necessary to procure one's services? Depending on what services you expect of a lawyer, there are different points at which you could hire. These include:
Attorneys sports law usually charge by the hour. On average, they charge between $250 and $400 per hour. The costs may vary based on the city where they practice law, their experience level, pedigree, etc. Attorneys entertainment may also choose a different rate approach, such as charging flat fees, commission-based payments, retainer fees, etc. Payment will depend on the kind of services you want to secure and for how long you want to do so.
No. As much as they may seem similar, sports law agents and lawyers are not the same. Lawyers handle the legal aspect of an athlete’s career, while an agent handles lifestyle aspects, such as marketing and traveling.
No. Intellectual property is an integral part of sports law, as is torts, contractual law, etc. It governs aspects such as naming rights, kit designs and broadcasting ventures. Intellectual property law has its own dealings completely separate from sports law.
Yes. Where necessary, sporting lawyers also advise sports stakeholders in sports on tax considerations and how they can be on the right side of tax laws in their practice areas.