ASEAN Para Games 2015

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Rajah & Tann Singapore - Official Legal Partner for ASEAN Para Games 2015

Following the firm's participation as the Official Legal Partner in the 28th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, Rajah & Tann Singapore has been appointed as the Official Legal Partner for the 8th ASEAN Para Games 2015. The firm’s involvement with the Games is also very much in line with the firm's corporate social responsibility efforts towards the disability sports fraternity.

We spoke with Lau Kok Keng, Head of Intellectual Property, Sports & Gaming who is the lead partner for the Para Games to find out more.

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  1. What is one legal issue that is often underestimated/challenging when advising for major sporting events and how does Rajah & Tann Singapore aim to overcome it?

    The most under-estimated legal issue is the need to seek proper legal advice and to have the arrangements relating to the organisation of the sporting event properly documented in writing. Hosting a major sporting event is no longer just about sporting competition. Many commercial activities are created around major sporting events, including merchandising, sponsorship and hospitality. Opening and Closing ceremonies of major sporting events these days may have bigger budgets that the sporting activities themselves. The interests of the stakeholders to these events need to be recognised and adequately protected in order for the event to have long-term commercial viability.

    Sport Singapore recognised the importance of including lawyers with sports law expertise in the team supporting sporting events right from the start when they organised the 1st Asian Youth Games back in 2009. As official legal advisors to the Asian Youth Games 2009, 28th SEA Games 2015, and 8th ASEAN Para Games 2015, Rajah & Tann Singapore has, demonstrated the relevance of and need for legal support for sporting events. The firm supported by providing legal advice variety of matters including commercial contracts, intellectual property rights protection, clearance and enforcement, games dispute resolution processes, and third party claims.

  2. How has your experience with the 28th SEA Games helped you in preparing for the upcoming ASEAN Para Games?

    We gain valuable experience from every Game that we are a part of by managing issues that arise before, during and after the Games. Our SEA Games experience will come in handy especially in the areas which overlap with the Para Games such as the drafting commercial agreements that are entered into between the Games organisers with sponsors and suppliers, and managing potential issues arising from branding or ambush marketing. However, the firm is mindful that the Para Games may throw up different scenarios which we have not experienced at the SEA Games, given that this is the first time that Singapore is hosting a multi-sport event for para-athletes.
       

  3. Besides providing legal advice for sporting events, what are some legal partnerships Rajah & Tann Singapore has with the sports sector in Singapore or in Asia?   

    We regularly advise sports governing bodies and federations such as FIFA, UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and of course, Sport Singapore. We have also acted for various football clubs with commercial interests in Asia, and had advised on the establishment of the legal infrastructure for legalised sports betting in Singapore. On the personal front, I am an arbitrator with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and have served as Vice Chairman of local professional SLeague club Geylang international FC for the past 3 years.

  4. Sports law is a practice area that not all law firms have. What value does Rajah & Tann Singapore see in being one of the few firms that specialises in this legal area? What are the opportunities for this practice in Asia?

    It's not exactly a case of fools rushing in where angels fear to tread, although admittedly, sports law is still a relatively nascent area that is not the most lucrative practice that lawyers can engage in as far as Asia is concerned. But over the last couple of years, we have certainly seen more premier sporting events taking place in Singapore with the completion of the Sports Hub, and more investment being made in sports by Asian-based businesses. We still have a long way to go to catch up with Europe and North America, but as an early entrant to this field, we hope to consolidate our position as the leading sports law practice in Singapore and the ASEAN region, and put ourselves in a position where we are able to avail ourselves of the opportunities when they do arise from time to time.
  1. Does the firm see itself playing a more active role in growing interest in the area of sports law?

    We would certainly like to be more involved in growing Singapore sports law practice, but as in every other area of legal practice, growth is very much client-driven, and the success of any law firm in any area of practice would very much depend on the environment or eco-system it is in. The more Singapore recognises the economic potential of the sports industry and puts in the same level of commitment and effort in bringing investments into this industry as it has done in, for example, the banking and financial sectors, the more wins, achievements and recognition in the sporting arena our athletes secure, the higher the level of interest in sports participation and spectatorship will be, and the demand for legal services in the sports industry will correspondingly increase as well. This growth cannot be achieved by law firms alone, but requires the input and effort of all relevant stakeholders. 

  2. Would you be able to share some tips for lawyers aspiring to practice sports law?

    You must first and foremost have a passion for sports, not necessarily as an active participant (since legal practice will seldom afford you that luxury), but as an avid and hungry consumer of knowledge of the industry and its developments. You must also be prepared for a broad based practice (since sports law is an industry based practice rather than one that is focused on a specific area of substantive law), but yet be able to focus on very niche and specialised areas as well. Finally, you must want to connect with the industry, and spend the time to do so - for example, by being a volunteer official with a sports federation in order to better understand the operational issues the sport faces, and in turn, attain a deeper appreciation of the specific needs of the industry.