You excel at your chosen sport because of your hard work and love of the game, but it’s important to remember that there is a business side to being a professional athlete. Protect your rights by knowing when to consult an experienced sports lawyer.
Hiring an Experienced Sports Lawyer Is Key in These 5 Situations
1. You’re Involved in a Contract Dispute
Contracts govern competition, as well as all the work that goes on behind the scenes. Athletes sign contracts to play with specific teams, as well as endorsement contracts. The potential fallout from a contract dispute could be substantial.
Whenever you’re having a contract dispute, you need to consult an experienced sports lawyer. Whether you’ve been accused of breaching a contract, or you believe the other party breached a contract, it’s vital that you have an advocate in your corner. Most sports contract disputes are resolved through mediation or arbitration, but you want to be prepared to go to court if that’s what is necessary to protect your rights.
2. Someone Is Misappropriating Your Name, Image, and Likeness
Your name, image, and likeness are key elements of your personal brand. As such, they must be protected from unauthorized use. The last thing you want is for your fans to be misled about the products or services you support.
If a person or business entity is exploiting your name, image, and likeness for commercial gain, an experienced sports lawyer can put a stop to it. This includes the use of unauthorized photos that invades your privacy.
3. You’ve Been Accused of an Anti-Doping Violation
Anti-doping rule violations can ruin an athlete’s career, so it’s vital that you take action to ensure you are properly defended when charged. There are many reasons a positive test can result, including contaminated dietary supplements and CBD products contaminated with THC.
When your future is at stake, you want to work with an experienced sports lawyer who has represented high-profile athletes facing suspensions and forfeiture of prize money for more than a decade. In-depth knowledge of the World Anti-Doping Code and the science behind drug testing procedures is key to building a winning case.
4. You’re Under Investigation for a SafeSport Violation
SafeSport violations include more than just accusations of sexual misconduct. Hazing, bullying, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and failure to report a violation are just some of the many ways an athlete or coach can find themselves caught up in the SafeSport world.
Investigations related to SafeSport can be challenging. To ensure the best possible outcome, you need an experienced SafeSport lawyer on your side.
5. You Have a Team Selection Dispute
Time is of the essence when you’ve been denied a spot on a national team. Team Selection Disputes must be filed quickly, whether it is within your sport’s governing body, with the American Arbitration Association (for U.S. disputes), or with the Sports Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (for Canadian disputes).
Although governing bodies who select teams based on subjective criteria are entitled to discretion, there are still rules that must be followed to ensure that all athletes are treated fairly. A sports lawyer experienced in handling team selection disputes can work quickly to prepare your case and ensure you are given every chance to compete.
Our Experienced Sports Lawyers Are Here for You
At Global Sports Advocates, sports lawyers Paul Greene and Matthew Kaiser work hard to ensure the rights of all athletes they represent are protected. Devoted exclusively to the practice of sports law, Global Sports Advocates has represented athletes from over 50 countries spanning nearly every sports category.
Contact us online or call us directly at +1-207-747-5899 to schedule an initial 1-hour consultation with one of the top sports lawyers in the United States.
