James Tobias > Onside Law LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Onside Law LLP
642A King’s Road
London
SW6 2DU
England

Work Department

Commercial, Intellectual Property, Corporate

Position

James specialises in advising clients at the intersect of sports, media and technology and has broad experience advising clients across the sports and media industries on all commercial matters.

James has a particular expertise in media rights exploitation and distribution, the production and acquisition of content, high-value sponsorship and endorsement agreements and complex contractual joint venture arrangements. James also regularly advises clients on Web3 strategy, the application of digital technologies to the sports industry and the establishment and delivery of new sports tournaments and competitions.

James advises a range of stakeholders across the sports, esports and media industries, including international federations, national governing bodies, clubs, brands, broadcasters, production companies, digital platform operators, technology start-ups, sponsorship agencies and influencers.

Prior to joining Onside Law in 2019, James trained and worked in the Entertainment and Media Group at Reed Smith where he undertook multiple client secondments, giving him a valuable insight into the internal pressures and sensitivities facing clients and how to effectively advise them.

Career

2019 – Present: Partner – Onside Law

2013 – 2019: Senior Associate

Education

2011 – 2012: BPP Law School (LPC)

2010 – 2011: College of Law, Bloomsbury (GDL)

2007 – 2010: University of Nottingham (History (BA Hons))

Personal

Sits on the advisory board of Street League.

Lawyer Rankings

London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Digital content & social

Sports boutique Onside Law LLP is best known for operating at the intersection between sports and media, with a particular strength in advising Web3 and NFT companies within the digital sports market, as well as sports governing bodies, clubs and rights-holders. Adam Leadercramer‘s expertise can be seen in advertising matters and live sports television production contracts; he heads up the practice alongside James Tobias, who handles the acquisition, production, licensing and exploitation of audiovisual content on traditional and digital media platforms. Recent team promotions include Tobias to partner in September 2022, and Roisín Cregan to senior associate in October 2022.

London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Sport

(Next Generation Partners)

James TobiasOnside Law LLP

Sports boutique Onside Law LLP leverages its network of offices in London, Switzerland and Australia to advise clubs, players, managers, international federations and intermediaries on both contentious and non-contentious matters. Co-founder Oliver Hunt, regularly supported by associate Robin Cumming, is a key port of call for elite golfers and footballers in need of assistance on commercial and business mandates, including sponsorship deals, media, and image rights. Hunt also assists football clubs and competition rights holders. Chris Walsh, supported by newly promoted partner Ross Brown, are key advisors for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), working with the organisation on a range of disciplinary proceedings and investigations. Brown – alongside Jamie Singer, James Tobias and Ben Hanglin – also support governing bodies in rugby and tennis on anti-doping and anti-corruption matters that reach the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The quartet also also works with clients in rugby on sponsorship and media rights arrangements. Co-founder and head of the corporate team Simon Thorp works with legal director Harriet Leach, who is a key adviser to a number of female sporting organisations. Specialist technology and digital media practitioner Adam Leadercramer supports on sponsorship deals. Data privacy and protection expert Sophie Wilkinson supports recently promoted partner Leon Farr on instructions from world governing bodies on the hosting and bidding arrangements for major events. Contentious instructions are chiefly handled by commercial litigator Stevie Loughrey.

London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Film & TV

Sports law boutique Onside Law LLP is best known for advising sports-related talent on broadcast appearances, as well as rights holders and broadcasters on licensing arrangements that concern media rights, production and content distribution. James Tobias – who was promoted to partner in September 2022 – handles contractual arrangements relating to the licensing of sports media rights and the production and exploitation of original content. Founding partner Jamie Singer is further noted for his commercial practice.