Sports

Our sports practice is rooted in understanding the people and systems that power the industry.

Our sports practice is rooted in understanding the people and systems that power the industry, the federations, State and non-State event organisers, leagues, teams, athletes, broadcasters, and sponsors that shape sport as both a profession and a global business. We work with decision-makers, structure governing frameworks, conceptualise rights programmes, and prepare foundational documents.Our role is to guide, support, and help address risks and find the right balances in a high-stakes environment.

We approach sports disputes with an awareness of the consequences that extend beyond the legal outcome, for careers, commercial relationships, and institutional standing.

Subsidiary Practice Areas

Commercial Rights & Sponsorship

Supporting leagues, teams, athletes, academies, and sponsors across the full lifecycle of sports rights, from structuring central rights frameworks and accreditation systems to negotiating sponsorships, licensing, merchandise, talent representation, and athlete participation agreements, with a deep understanding of the commercial dynamics unique to sport.

Media & Broadcasting

Advising rights-holders, broadcasters, and organisers on the acquisition, licensing, protection, and enforcement of sports media rights, including territorial and digital distribution structures, accreditation policies, anti-piracy strategy, and the commercial realities of sports broadcasting in India.

Corporate & Transactions

Supporting leagues, franchises, promoters, and investors on the ownership, structuring, governance, and commercial positioning of sports enterprises through transaction advisory, due diligence, promoter arrangements, acquisitions, consortium bids, and investment frameworks.

League Structuring

Helping promoters, governing bodies, and rights-holders design and document the legal and commercial architecture of professional sports leagues, including governance models, franchise participation structures, central rights frameworks, and operational documentation required for launch and growth.

Sports Disputes

Representing athletes, leagues, franchises, and governing bodies across sports-specific dispute forums and tribunals, including disciplinary, anti-doping, transfer, and governance matters, while balancing legal strategy with the broader commercial and reputational impact on careers and institutions.

Advised multiple professional leagues across cricket, hockey, chess, football, tennis, basketball, and emerging sports such as pickleball on their league structures, central rights frameworks, and management of sponsorship, franchise, and media rights.
Represented multiple franchises across professional cricket, football, and kabaddi leagues on their commercial rights, sponsorship engagements, player and coach engagements, licensing and merchandise rights, and digital asset arrangements.
Represented a sports broadcasting platform on the acquisition of sponsorship and media rights across multiple sports events and disciplines.
Advised multiple interested parties across gaming, food and beverage, and mobility sectors on the evaluation, review, and negotiation of bid documents and Requests for Proposal (RFP) for marquee sports properties in India and internationally.
Acted as legal advisor to the successful Indian bid for the Commonwealth Games 2030, to be held in Amdavad (Ahmedabad).

People

See All People

Nandan Kamath

Senior Partner

Nandan advises clients across sport, media, technology, and governance, helping shape the legal, commercial, and policy frameworks that underpin modern sport in India.

Seshank Shekar Rayaprolu

Partner

Seshank advises governments, federations, leagues, and teams on sports governance, regulatory frameworks, and institutional strategy with a focus on long-term effectiveness.

Get in Touch

If you’d like to discuss how we can support your organisation, we’d be glad to start the conversation.