Sports
“… is well versed in intellectual property law, he is particularly known for advising clients, including governments and international and domestic enterprises, on the complex regulatory structures pertaining to lotteries and wagering in the region and beyond.”:
Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025
With issues ranging from rights management and sponsorship to finance and regulatory matters, the fast developing field of sports law requires a very wide range of legal expertise – and a team, like ours, that’s totally dedicated and always at the top of its game.
Led by Lau Kok Keng, our fast growing Sports Law Practice has few equivalents in the legal industry. Our talented team provides advice of the highest quality to clients right across the sporting spectrum.
Covering Every Inch of The Field
To give you just a flavour of the diversity of the work we handle, we have advised sports bookmakers on legal and regulatory issues; TV broadcasters on issues relating to the use of sports content; sports governing bodies on funding and governance; sports personalities and commercial sponsors on the exploitation of intellectual property rights; and athletes on doping, corruption and misconduct charges.
Notable recent projects include performing legal due diligence for the International Olympic Committee in relation to the Beijing Olympic Games 2008; drafting the legislation and rules for the introduction of Formula 1 betting in Singapore; and being appointed as legal advisors to the Singapore Asian Youth Games Organising Committee, the Singapore Sports Council and professional S-League club Etoile FC.
Within This Practice
Practice areas
Within this practice, we undertake legal work relating to the following:
Player Representation, Image Rights and Endorsement
- Player contracts
- Work permits
- Player transfers
- Endorsement contracts
Strategic Rights Management
- Advising on strategic and planning issues
- Formulation and implementation of business and commercial plans
- Legal and commercial rights structures
Governance and Regulatory Matters
- Advising on regulatory issues and the development of regulatory structures for national and international governing bodies, event organisers, clubs and individuals
- Drafting governing body regulations
- Advising on sports governance issues
- Advising on implementation and enforcement of anti-doping programmes
Sports Finance
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Joint ventures
- Flotation on the stock market
- Strategic corporate options and financial models
- Media franchising documentation, including investment agreements, equity financing agreements and bank loan agreements
Sports Facilities and Stadia Development
- Acquisition and management of stadia
- Construction contracts
- Advice on all planning aspects
Brand Protection and Licensing
- Brand creation
- Trademark and copyright and design protection and enforcement programmes
- Implementation of brand licensing strategies
- Content Licensing
Sports Sponsorship and Event Management
- Sponsorship, merchandising, ticketing and other commercial agreements
- Strategic sports commercial advice
- Protection, enforcement and exploitation of commercial rights
Regulation of Sport
- Advising governing bodies and sports associations on rule making and legal compliance
- Advising on competition law and other external regulatory regimes
Sports Broadcast and New Media
- Television, radio, internet, video and all related commercial rights agreements for acquisition and exploitation
- Rights clearance
- Acquisition, identification and protection of rights and distribution/exploitation arrangements for such content on all media
- Interactive gaming and sports e-commerce arrangements
Dispute Resolution in Sport
- Litigation of disputes
- Alternative dispute resolution
- Challenges to enforceability of rules and regulations
- Challenges to / enforcement of rulings of governing bodies
- Advising on disciplinary procedures and acting in related proceedings
- Disputes over dope testing procedures and results
Sports Betting
- Advising on sports betting structures
- Crafting of sports betting rules
- Advising on regulatory aspects of sports betting
- Advising on customer claims complaints and disputes
Our Clients
- International Olympic Committee
- UEFA
- Singapore Sports Council
- Singapore Pools
- Football Association of Singapore
- Mediacorp
- Starhub
- Singapore Sports Hub Consortium
- British and Irish Lions Tour of South Africa
- Air Sports New Zealand
- Dentsu Pte Ltd
- The Red Card Pte Ltd
- Repucom Asia Pte Ltd
- World Wakeboard Association
- Various national athletes and sports personalities
- Li Ning (China) Sports Goods Co., Ltd
- Super Reds Football Club
- S&M Sportshub Pte Ltd
- North Queensland Fury FC Tour of Asia
- Etoile FC
- Total Sports Entertainment
- Commodities Asia Pte Ltd
- Youth Initiatives
- Dream + Pte Ltd
- Singapore Asian Youth Games Organising Committee
Related Links
Recognition
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Ranked Laywer - Asia-Pacific Region - Gaming & GamblingChambers Asia-Pacific (2025)
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Ranked - Asia-Pacific Region – Gaming & GamblingThe Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2024)
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"... is well versed in intellectual property law, he is particularly known for advising clients, including governments and international and domestic enterprises, on the complex regulatory structures pertaining to lotteries and wagering in the region and beyond.":Chambers Asia-Pacific (2025)
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"Rajah & Tann is very responsive and have a very strong ability to handle complex and sophisticated matters.”Chambers Asia-Pacific (2023)
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"Rajah & Tann have strong business acumen and are solution-oriented.”Chambers Asia-Pacific (2023)
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"Demonstrates strong knowledge of media, sports and technology industries through multi-jurisdictional IP litigation cases."Chambers Asia Pacific (2021)
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The team is "knowledgeable and responsive."Chambers Asia-Pacific (2022)
"... is well versed in intellectual property law, he is particularly known for advising clients, including governments and international and domestic enterprises, on the complex regulatory structures pertaining to lotteries and wagering in the region and beyond.":
Our Sports Team
