Earlier this year, the AFR published an article (28/8) profiling the enigmatic area of legal practice known as ‘sports law’. In that article, the following was written:

more sports lawyers

Johnson Winter & Slattery partner Mark O’Brien negotiated a confidential settlement for former Wallabies winger Lote Tuqiri… in his high profile breach of contract against the ARU. The litigator also acted for [rugby league player]Sonny Bill Williams last year… But for a lawyer with such well-known sporting clients, O’Brien is dismissive about the rise of sports law. ‘There’s no area of sports law. It’s really just contract law, intellectual property or trade practices law’. He argues that sports law courses at university are a waste of time and lawyers who refer to themselves as sports law experts are engaging in a marketing ploy.

These comments must have come as a rude shock to ex-AFL footballer Nick Holland who is profiled in the current edition of the Victorian Law Institute Journal, which notes:

Mr Holland now specialises in … sports and media law with Holding Redlich in Melbourne. He is also a member of the LIV Sports Law Committee.

Err … but there is no such thing as Sports Law! Is doing a sit-up whilst dressed in a suit in the corridor of a law firm ‘sports law work’?

The article goes on:

Mr Holland… said the high work ethic needed as an AFL player translated well into a ‘tough, pressurised and demanding law firm climate where you also need to step up or be found out… the intensity is the same.’

With all this athleticism and intensity, is there time to get all this sports law work actually done?

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