Biswajit Sarkar, Advocates - IP AttorneysAn IP Law firm with global practices
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Practice

Sports Law

Advising athletes, teams, leagues and brands on the contracts, rights and rules that shape modern sport.

Overview

Sport is now a business built on contracts and intellectual property: player and coaching agreements, sponsorship, broadcasting, merchandising and the commercial value of an athlete's name and image. The firm advises on each of these, drawing on its trade mark, copyright and corporate practices.

The practice also supports athletes and organisations when things go wrong, from contract and selection disputes to anti-doping proceedings, before federation bodies, Indian anti-doping panels, courts and arbitral tribunals.

What we do

Services

  • Athlete and player contractsPlaying, coaching, transfer and agency agreements
  • Sponsorship and endorsementsBrand partnerships, endorsement and ambassador deals
  • Image rightsProtection and licensing of an athlete's name, image and likeness
  • Leagues, teams and eventsFranchise, participation, hosting and ticketing agreements
  • Broadcasting and event IPMedia rights, event marks and anti-ambush marketing measures
  • Anti-dopingRepresentation before anti-doping disciplinary and appeal panels
  • Governance and federationsAdvice on federation rules, elections and compliance
  • Sports disputesFederation proceedings, arbitration and court actions

Our approach

How a matter progresses

The usual course of a sports law matter in India, from first instructions to a final outcome.

  1. Objective and position

    We understand the athlete's or organisation's goals, existing commitments and the rules of the sport concerned.

  2. Rights and branding

    We protect names, logos and image rights through trade mark filings and clear licensing terms.

  3. Contracts and deals

    We draft and negotiate playing, sponsorship, endorsement, broadcasting and event agreements.

  4. Compliance

    We advise on federation eligibility rules, governance requirements and anti-doping obligations, including whereabouts and medication.

  5. Disputes

    We act before federation bodies, anti-doping panels, arbitral tribunals including the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and the courts.

Questions

FAQs

General information only. For advice on your circumstances, please speak to an attorney.

Can an athlete protect their name and image?
Yes. An athlete can register their name, signature or logo as a trade mark and rely on personality rights, which Indian courts have protected against unauthorised commercial use. Endorsement and image rights agreements should define exactly what a sponsor may use.
What happens after an adverse anti-doping finding?
The athlete is notified and may request a hearing before the anti-doping disciplinary panel, with a right of appeal. International-level athletes may have a further appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Strict deadlines apply, so advice should be taken at once.
Is ambush marketing illegal in India?
There is no specific statute on ambush marketing. Event owners and sponsors rely on trade mark and copyright law, passing off, and contractual controls such as ticket terms and venue restrictions.

Further reading

From our blog

Articles by the firm's attorneys on sports law.

All articles

Official sources

Related practices

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Arbitration and Mediation

Resolution of commercial and intellectual property disputes outside court, in India and internationally.

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