Profilo
Steven Bainbridge, Co-Managing Shareholder of the UAE office and Co-Chair of the Sports Business Industry Group, has deep experience in the sports sector, advising clients on matters including governance issues, athlete endorsement agreements, player contracts, regulatory issues, broadcasting, anti-ambush marketing strategies, merchandising and licensing regulations and agreements, disciplinary issues, and sports-specific venue management agreements. He advises clients, including foreign law firms, corporate entities, government bodies, individuals, and institutions related to sports including motorsports, horseracing, triathlons, mixed martial arts (MMA), rugby and football, cycling, golf, tennis, cricket, and others.
Steve has law firm experience in both North America and Japan, in addition to his work in Dubai. In Tokyo he worked on matters related to broadcasting rights and sponsorship contracts in connection with FIFA World Cups, X-Games, PGA tour sponsorships, videogame licensing, and stadium naming rights deals.
Competenze
Esperienze Professionali - Attività Accademiche
- Advised one of the largest current Saudi Arabian Giga-Projects in the KSA in respect of designing and drafting a comprehensive set of regulations addressing all sports and events activity in a specialised geographical region, including advising on disapplication of base law and developing global best practices for the same.°
- Advised a motorsports management group in respect of hosting a Formula 1 Grand Prix event, as well as on a range of events and initiatives held at the facility, including licensing use of venue specifications and likeness rights for gaming use across multiple media platforms, triathlons, walkathons, 10-kilometre runs, and motorsports endurance races, drag events, Formula Drift competitions, and various auto manufacturer product launches and bespoke recreation packages.°
- Advised a sports governing body on all aspects of IP protection for the recent Asian Cup held in the UAE in 2019, including developing and implementing a comprehensive intellectual property Rights Protection Programme and liaising with all relevant local authorities to implement the same.°
- Advised a tourism development authority on commercial and licensing matters relating to the introduction of a European Challenge golf tour event.°
- Advised a venue operator in connection with the launch of Dubai’s premier multipurpose sports and entertainment arena, including on naming rights, sponsorship, ticketing, and venue hire matters.°
- Retained by a KSA governmental entity to undertake a review of sports club regulations and to provide advice on drafting and implementing certain new regulations.°
- Retained by a sports and events group to provide full legal support, including sponsorship, HSE, event ambassador agreements, broadcast arrangements, etc., in respect of the annual UCI sanctioned professional stage-based road race.°
- Retained by a private commercial rights holder to provide legal support in connection with the first-ever retired international legends T-20 cricket tournament held in the UAE in 2016, advising on corporate governance, anti-corruption protocols, player auction processes, franchising structure, and negotiations with the Emirates Cricket Board on licensing matters.°
- Retained by a sports governing body in connection with a number of issues in the UAE, including negotiations with the General Sports Authority.°
- Retained by a premier international kickboxing organisation, to advise in connection with a kickboxing tournament held in Dubai.°
- Advising a substantial number of professional football clubs, players and agents in connection with matters ranging from compliance to disciplinary proceedings and player contracts across the GCC.°
- Directly advising football clubs, players, and intermediaries in connection with disciplinary procedures and contract queries, motorsports teams in connection with FIA Court of Appeal proceedings, jockeys in respect of tribunal appeals before racing authorities and players and teams in various ad hoc disciplinary matters.°
- Retained to negotiate and draft athlete endorsement agreements and appearance fees for a broad range of corporate sponsors and athletes, including Olympic gold medallists, pro golf stars, Major League Baseball stars, WTA tennis pros, and numerous football personalities.°
- Experience handling matters related to tennis championships, extreme events, and football exhibition tours, amongst others.°
- Acted as counsel for an advertising company that secured Asian broadcast and sponsorship rights for each of the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups. Involved in negotiations for the same client seeking appointment as advertising agent for 2010 and 2014 World Cups and additional FIFA events.°
- Acted as counsel for the title sponsor to a professional golf event on the U.S. tour. Revised documentation, including a four-year sponsorship agreement. Subsequently advised the client on the consequences of premature termination of the same.°
- Acted as counsel for a motorsports racing team upon entry into Formula 1. Reviewed, advised on, and revised all application materials (including associated commercial, compliance and financial documentation) in accordance with applicable regulations.°
- Acted for an advertising agency in negotiations with an automotive manufacturer for its corporate sponsorship (at “title sponsor” level) of major sporting events.°
- Acted as outside counsel for an advertising agency in negotiating, drafting, and amending agreements with professional football teams from England, Germany, and South America, as well as governing bodies UEFA and CONMEBOL, in connection with pre-season tour events scheduled across the Far East.°
- Acted as counsel for an advertising agent in securing the promotional use of an Olympic and Commonwealth Games gold medalist swimmer in promoting certain events and coaching clinics in Japan.°
- Acted as counsel for an advertising agency in securing the appearance of golfers at high-profile Japanese tournaments, including negotiating and drafting terms and conditions of appearances.°
- Acted as counsel for the agent of a Japanese soft drink giant in negotiating and drafting an agreement for the name and likeness use of a U.S. baseball star (Cy Young winner) in television commercials and point-of-purchase marketing, including the protocol for filming sessions.°
- Acted as counsel for an agency that secured the name and likeness rights of a prominent Bundesliga football star for use in TV and point-of-purchase endorsements; included negotiating and drafting all related rights documentation.°
- Acted as counsel for a videogame manufacturer in securing rights and protocols for the use of a WTA top 10 athlete name and likeness use in creating a digital game.°
°The above representations were handled by Mr. Bainbridge prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig Limited.
- General Counsel, Yas Marina Circuit, 2011-2013
Riconoscimenti e Premi
- Listed, Chambers Global Guide
- Spotlight, TMT: Media, Entertainment & Sport, 2024
- Commercial Contracts, 2021-2024
- Corporate/Commercial, 2021-2023
- Listed, The Legal 500 TMT
- Recommended Lawyer, UAE, 2024
- Key Lawyer, UAE, 2021
- Listed, Who’s Who Legal
- Thought Leader, Sports & Entertainment, 2020-2024
- Global Leader, Sports, 2023
- Court of Arbitration for Sport, Arbitrator, Lausanne, 2022-Present
- Word Athletics Disciplinary Tribunal, Member, Monaco, 2017-2022
- International Forum on Sports Law, Steering Committee, 2018- Present
- LawInSport.com, Editorial Board Member, 2017-Present
- International Sports Law Journal, ad hoc Editor, 2021-Present
Formazione
Formazione
- N.C.A. (Hons), Dalhousie Law School
- LL.B. (Hons), University of Manchester, School of Law
- B.Sc., Mount Allison University
Abilitazioni
- British Columbia
- New York
- New Brunswick