CONFERENCE TO ADDRESS KEY ISSUES FACING SPORT

We would encourage all involved in an administrative capacity with a sporting organisation either professionally or as a volunteer to attend this conference details of which are set out below.

Please contact Hilda Maguire at 625 1155 or hilda.maguire@irishsports.ie for assistance in booking a place.

SPORT & LAW: SHAPING SPORT TO BE FIT FOR PURPOSE

The focus of the conference will be very much on the practical as the speakers look to identify some of the challenges facing sports organisations at present and how they might be dealt with.

An outline of the conference programme is set out below:

1.       Session 1: Getting the Organisational Structure of Sport Right:

 Chair:    Jim Glennon, Former T.D. & Senator, Member Irish Sports Council, Chairman of Edelman PR

 David Williams – Chairman Cricket Ireland – will review the organizational review undertaken by Cricket Ireland following the success at the 2007 Cricket World Cup and the contribution it has had to the subsequent growth of the organisation.

 John Hogan – Partner, Leman Solicitors – will provide a picture of an effective structure, the  challenges facing sports organisations as they look to implement changes to their own structure and how best to overcome those challenges.

 2.       Session 2: Dispute Resolution for Sporting Organisations

 Chair – Eoin MacNeill, Partner A&L Goodbody – Eoin will examine the recent High Court Decision in the case Tom Coughlan brought against the FAI and the positive implications it has for sporting organisations

Larry Fenelon – Partner Leman Solicitors – will outline the lessons to be learnt for sports bodies from both Irish & UK sports cases over the last year

David Casserly B.L.  – Former Senior Counsel at the Court of Arbitration for Sport,  FAI Disciplinary Control Officer & Sports Lawyer -  will examine the benefits of alternative dispute resolution and how a sports body might best make provision for them. He will provide an outline of the services of Just Sport Ireland and how it has been used effectively by a number of sports to date.

3. Session 3: Sponsorship

 Chair: Roddy Guiney, Chairman WHPR – Roddy oversees the activation of some of the country’s major sport sponsorships and includes Diageo, An Post & addidas amongst his clients. He also has a close association both current and past with a number of sports governing bodies. Roddy will provide an outline of the key issues that need to be addressed by Irish Sporting Bodies in order to increase their chances of securing sponsorship. He will also outline the key requirements of sponsors before they will look to associate their brand with a sporting body.

Gary McSharry, Partner, Arthur Cox – will provide an overview of how best to document a sponsorship agreement

Judy Goldman, Associate, Beauchamps Solitictor – will provide an overview of how best to manage a sponsorship contract during the recession

 There will be a panel discussion at the end of each session with an opportunity for questions and answers