Fox Hayes LLP - Sports and Media Law

As a part of the Fox Hayes drive to provide specialist legal advice in niche areas, the practice has complemented its traditional commercial services by recruiting Stephen Taylor Heath as a Partner specialising in the Sports and Media sector.

Stephen is able to draw on his many years experience as In House Counsel for a well known international sports promotion company, and a dedicated horse racing channel, to provide advice and assistance on issues that arise in this sector. He is acutely aware of the issues that arise for organisations involved in sport that draw their main source of revenue from the exploitation of broadcasting and sponsorship rights, and are governed by self appointed bodies.

Stephen has particular knowledge of the unique legal documentation and disputes that exist in the sport of boxing, having acted for Frank Warren's Sports Network organisation since 1995 and from 2000 to 2005 as In House Counsel.

Stephen continues to act for Frank Warren and Sports Network and believes the commercial edge gained by practicing in house sets him apart from other lawyers in this sector.

Stephen is able to draw on the assistance of Fox Hayes Intellectual Property Team headed by Elizabeth Ward, and the Corporate and Commercial Litigation departments ,headed up by Malcolm Jones and Ian Coupland respectively. IP rights in particular are a vital and extremely valuable business asset particularly in the sports and media sector.

With our team of specialist lawyers Fox Hayes are able to provide a comprehensive service in the sports sector to sports promoters, managers and agents, sports governing bodies ,sports clubs and individual sportsmen. In the Media Sector we can provide advice on the matters listed below to clients as diverse as broadcasters, independent programme makers, entertainment promoters, owners of websites with media content and entertainment artists.

Stephen is able to provide comprehensive advice on the following:-

Sports

All commercial agreements required for a typical promotion including sponsorship, venue hire, security, seat hire and licensing.
Club / Player contracts.
Promoter , Manager, Agent agreements.
Representation before Governing bodies
Conduct of disciplinary procedures including drug offences.
Representation in Promoter / Promoter, Promoter / Sportsman and Promoter / Governing body disputes including actions for tortious interference, breach of contract, injunctive relief and conduct of complaint proceedings.
Lobbying of governing bodies and international federations.
Conduct of matters unique to the sport of boxing including drafting of Boxer / Promoter agreements, representation in complaint proceedings before the area council / stewards of the British Boxing Board of Control, disputes with world title governing bodies on such matters as rankings / mandatory title bouts / breach of rules / purse bids, advice on Boxer / Manager agreements and disputes arising from these agreements.
Matters arising from Betting and Gaming
Conduct of Litigation including defamation, breach of contract and damages and injunctive relief.

Media

Media Rights Agreements
Media Distribution Agreements
Media Licensing Agreements
Agency Agreements
Broadcast Agreements
Pay Per View agreements
BT Tower and other live feed supply agreements
Channel hosting/Call Centre agreements
Channel / Programme Production Agreements.
Website creation, banner advertising, clip rights, webcasting and hosting agreements
Radio Broadcast Agreements
Press Association and other Data Supply Agreements.
Advice on Data rights.
Advice regarding OFCOM Broadcasting Code , programme sponsorship.
Dealing with the Foreign Entertainment Unit of the Inland Revenue.