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May 03, 2024 -
Setting Goals For Kicking Corruption Off FIFA World Cup Field, Law360
In a Law360 Expert Analysis, partner Sandra Moser and associate Emily Ahdieh discuss the risks for businesses of violating anti-corruption laws when participating in world sporting events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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March 25, 2024 -
Spotting and Mitigating Anticorruption Risk Ahead of 2026 World Cup
History is rife with examples of corruption associated with major sporting events like the World Cup, which capture the attention of spectators and viewers around the globe. These events offer the chance for businesses and individuals to capitalize on a worldwide audience and expand into new markets, gain exposure, and grow their brand and reputation. However, such events can also present significant risks of violating anticorruption laws and drawing the attention of enforcement agencies monitoring for signs of inappropriate business practices from participants ranging from lesser-known players to highly recognizable political leaders.
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February 21, 2024 -
2026 World Cup: Navigating Labor, Employment, and Immigration Challenges
The 2026 Men’s World Cup is expected to draw in a substantial cross-border workforce, meaning participating employers should prepare ahead of time if they want to successfully navigate this global event--including with respect to labor-management, immigration, workforce, and other challenges across multiple jurisdictions.
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December 06, 2023 -
UK Government Consultation Defines New Independent English Football Regulator Role
Following the UK government’s white paper on reforming football club governance published at the beginning of 2023, the results of the government’s consultation with the industry and key stakeholders have now been released. The latest report sets out the key focus areas and reveals the current outlook on what the new independent regulator might oversee.
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December 01, 2023 -
Legal Lessons From Past World Cups To Keep In Mind For '26, Law360
Partners Doneld Shelkey, Jason Mills, and Levi McAllister and associate Samantha Ojo co-authored an article for Law360 discussing the legal lessons learned from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
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November 17, 2023 -
Legal Lessons Learned from Recent World Cups
The 2022 Men’s World Cup in Qatar and the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand set new standards for sustainability, human rights, and sponsorships—and with those new standards come new challenges.
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May 01, 2023 -
Sports Sponsorship Agreements in the Digital Age
Technological advances and changes prompted by COVID-19 have driven an evolution in sports sponsorship agreements, from traditional advertising to a digital-heavy and more accessible sponsorship environment. But with those advances arise a series of emerging legal issues, including sponsor entitlements, new IP clearance requirements, and challenges raised by the metaverse. Morgan Lewis lawyers analyze some of the biggest trends in sports sponsorship agreements in the digital age.
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April 27, 2023 -
Still Hot: Why Global Sports Keep Attracting Record-Breaking Investments
Private equity firms, financial sponsors, and sovereign wealth funds continue to invest in global sports organizations. Financial sponsor–led investments were more prevalent at the beginning of the century in Europe and elsewhere around the world, with Formula One, soccer, and rugby among the sports forging the path over the last two decades.
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April 27, 2023 -
Equity, Environmental Justice, and Civil Rights: Cornerstones of the Biden Administration’s Environmental Agenda
Recent action by the Biden administration has made clear once more that advancing equity, environmental justice, and civil rights is a key component of the environmental agenda that it seeks to address through a “whole of government” approach.
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March 31, 2023 -
New Independent English Football Regulator: A Potential Game-Changer?
Following an English football fan–led review, the UK government recently proposed numerous changes for the game’s clubs, key among them being the appointment of an independent regulator with oversight for many areas of fan concern.
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March 29, 2023 -
Power in the Platform: How Global Sports Brands Can Move the Needle Toward Gender Equality
In honor of International Women’s Day, Morgan Lewis Chair Jami McKeon and global sports industry team co-leader Louise Skinner hosted a panel of barrier-breakers in the sports industry to talk about the role and responsibility of global sports brands in pushing for greater gender inclusivity and equity.
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February 2023 -
Responsible Labor Report: 2022–2023
The prevention of forced labor in the global supply chain has been elevated in visibility and consequence over the last several years. In 2022, the emphasis focused largely, though not exclusively, on trade remedies. The United States enacted the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, the European Union proposed a ban on imports made with forced labor, and the United Kingdom proposed updates to the Modern Slavery Act. Outside of trade, litigation alleging claims of misrepresentation is pending in the US courts, and in the EU there are multiple investigations into allegations of forced labor in the fashion retail supply chain.
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February 01, 2023 -
Understanding the Business of Sports: Samantha Ojo
For most athletes, working in one professional sports league is a dream come true. But associate Samantha Ojo didn’t stop at just one. Before she joined Morgan Lewis’s global sports industry team, Samantha worked for the NFL, NFL Players Association, LA Clippers, and the MLB Players Association, gaining a true appreciation for how a professional sports team runs. She applies that knowledge, along with her college athletics experience, as a labor and employment lawyer for our sports clients. Samantha shares a bit more of her story, and tells us how being an athlete has made her a better lawyer and colleague.
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November 23, 2022 -
Is a Toxic Workplace a Sports Deal Killer?, International Employment Lawyer
Partners Sharon Perley Masling and Louise Skinner and associate Liz Polido wrote an article for International Employment Lawyer explaining how sports team investors are taking a closer look at an organization’s culture during the dealmaking process. The piece discusses the importance of assessing workplace culture before an acquisition or merger, and notes that an increased focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts makes it likely these efforts will continue.
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November 16, 2022 -
ESG Enforcement Is on the Rise: Are You Ready?, Reuters
Partners Kelly Gibson and Liz Goldberg, along with associate Michael Hacker, wrote an article for Reuters addressing ways companies and asset managers can help ensure disclosures related to environmental, social, and governance issues do not invite an investigation or enforcement action from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
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2022 -
Getting the Deal Through – Labour & Employment 2022 – Environmental, Social and Governance Considerations for Responsible Global Employers: Focusing on the ‘S’
Getting the Deal Through – Labour & Employment provides international analysis in key areas of labor and employment law and policy for corporate counsel, cross-border legal practitioners, and business people.
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May 31, 2022 -
The Conversation Is Changing for Athletes’ Mental Health, Sports Business Journal
Partner Sharon Perley Masling drafted an article for Sports Business Journal on how sports teams and leagues can support athletes’ mental health.
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April 25, 2022 -
Next Frontier for Sports Investing Is Developing Faster than its Regulations, Sports Business Journal
Partners Jack Concannon and Don Shelkey authored an article for Sports Business Journal about legal issues raised by the quick expansion of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) into the sports industry.
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March 09, 2022 -
DraftKings Persuades PTAB to Invalidate Competitor's Mobile Gambling Patent
The Patent Trial and Appeal Board found in a recent inter partes review—DraftKings Inc. v. Interactive Games LLC—that DraftKings’ proposed combination of prior art would have been obvious when Interactive Games’ mobile gambling patent was filed, and was therefore unpatentable. The outcome of this case demonstrates the ineffectuality of arguing that there is no motivation to modify the primary reference because it works as is, as well as the importance of understanding whether an invention feature is truly necessary and whether removal of such would render the invention inoperable for its intended purpose.
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March 03, 2022 -
No Longer a Rookie: The Evolution of Sports as An Asset Class, Sportico
In Sportico, partner Jeff Moorad writes about the evolution of investment opportunities within the sports industry.
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June 30, 2021 -
Don’t Be Caught Offside: Key Immigration and Travel Considerations for the Sports Industry
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the sports industry was one of the first to be in a position to move its people around the world, with sporting events often a test case for further easing measures. Now with varying levels of restrictions being eased globally, we are seeing more events take place within the context of restricted travel. This constantly changing landscape makes managing and traveling to large international events a challenge for sporting professionals and those who work in the industry.
