Lenz & Staehelin's sports practice covers all legal areas affecting athletes and sports organisations, including handling structuring for federations and events. The team has particular expertise in sports dispute resolution, notably before the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The practice is co-led by Xavier Favre-Bulle, who also heads the firm’s arbitration team, Stephan Erni, whose focus lies on sponsorship and IP transactions within the sector, and Sevan Antreasyan, a specialist in IP licensing and litigation. Lucien Masmejan is active on organisational mandates, and Hikmat Maleh and Peter Ling contribute across advisory and contentious matters.
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Key clients
- Auto Sport Suisse
- INEOS Group
- National Hockey League
- On Holding Swisscom/CT Cinetrade, Teleclub
- Swiss Handball Federation
- Vail Resorts
- Water Sports Tribunal
- World Anti-Doping Agency
Work highlights
Advised the Swiss Handball Federation on a cooperation and license agreement with RED+.
Represented Swisscom, Cinetrade and Teleclub with respect to the foreclosure of ice hockey content in pay TV from distribution over the TV platforms of Swisscom and other operators.
Advised the NHL on Swiss law matters.
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Practice head
Xavier Favre-Bulle; Stephan Erni; Sevan Antreasyan
Other key lawyers
Lucien Masmejan; Hikmat Maleh; Peter Ling