Member Spotlight: PCV, Cyprus

Hosted by Pelaghias, Christodoulou, Vrachas LLC (PCV) and sponsored by AESIS, the 2025 Globalaw European, Middle East & Africa Regional meeting (GLEMEA) gathered 104 delegates, speakers, and guests from 30 countries in Ayia Napa to explore timely legal topics, make new connections, and experience the best of Cyprus.

The meeting opened with remarks from Globalaw President Peter Brown, Executive Director Angela Lopez Molina, and host firm Chairman and Managing Partner Alexandra Pelaghias-Christodoulou. It was followed by a keynote address from Nikodemos Damianou, Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation, and Digital Policy.

The interactive 2-day meeting included informative business sessions and panel discussions on

• Funds and investments in Cyprus
• Cryptoassets
• Building business in and through Cyprus
• How AI is revolutionizing finance, insurance, law and marketing
• The EU AI Act
• How Cyprus serves as a bridge between continents

As a bonus, PCV organized a series of roundtable discussions a day before the event, giving members greater insights into Cyprus’s business, industry and market landscape. 

GLEMEA concluded with a lively gala dinner, which featured the presentation of a donation to Vagoni Agapis. The Globalaw Foundation and funds raised from a silent auction contributed a total of €6,700 to the charity. Congratulations to Cohen Amir-Aslani for winning the bid on an authentic Cornelius Papadimosthenis painting! 

Thanks to the generosity of our members, Vagoni Agapis will enable six law students in Cyprus and abroad to complete their studies by covering accommodation, tuition, and living expenses.

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Get Ready for GLAMM 

Ahlawat & Associates is hosting this year’s Globalaw Annual Members Meeting (GLAMM) in New Delhi, India, November 18-23. Mark your calendar and register today so you don’t miss the last member gathering of the year, which includes an optional day trip to the Taj Mahal!

Go to Registration →

Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, McInnes Wilson reflects on the people and principles that have shaped the firm’s journey. Former Managing Director and CEO Paul Tully shares the firm’s story, what makes McInnes Wilson unique, and how Globalaw membership empowers its delivery of strategic and bespoke cross-border legal solutions.

What is the story behind the firm’s founding, evolution and growth?

McInnes Wilson was founded in 1975 by Peter McInnes, who opened a small office on Edward Street in Brisbane, Queensland, with a vision that strong relationships would serve as the foundation for lasting success. A few years later, Peter was joined by John Wilson, and the firm became known as McInnes Wilson.

Starting as a small insurance and property firm in Brisbane, McInnes Wilson has since grown to have offices across six Australian cities with nearly 400 team members and has established itself as a leading national commercial law firm with an expanding international presence.

In 2025, we proudly celebrate our 50th anniversary, marking five decades of legal excellence and trusted client partnerships. Throughout this period of rapid growth, we have maintained a strong alignment to the core values and commitment to genuine client relationships that Mr McInnes embodied at the firm’s founding.  

What are the primary practice areas and/or industries?

McInnes Wilson is a full-service commercial law firm with market-leading expertise across a broad range of practice areas, including corporate and commercial advisory, taxation and structuring, government, health, private client services, commercial litigation, insurance, employment, planning and environment, and construction and property. We provide guidance to clients across diverse industries both nationally and internationally, including through cross-border transactions, dispute resolution and regulatory compliance facilitated by our Globalaw network.

How would you describe the firm’s culture and what makes McInnes Wilson special?

We foster a culture rooted in loyalty, authenticity and a deep respect for our history. Nearly 20% of our employees have been with the firm for over a decade, reflecting our strong sense of belonging and shared purpose. Many of our leaders started their careers with us, and we remain dedicated to nurturing talent and fostering a values-driven workplace. 

McInnes Wilson is proudly independent and distinctly Australian, with a strategic national presence and deep local insight. This allows us to deliver tailored legal solutions with a personal touch. 

How does Globalaw membership add value to McInnes Wilson?

McInnes Wilson has been a proud affiliate of Globalaw since January 2015. Our membership aligns with the network’s commitment to excellence, collaboration and global service delivery, and has played a key role in expanding our international capabilities.

Our firm actively participates in Globalaw initiatives, including regional meetings, practice group collaborations and task forces. Our lawyers contribute to cross-jurisdictional projects and knowledge-sharing forums, reinforcing our international perspective and commitment to global best practices.

Through our Globalaw affiliation, we have successfully handled international matters such as:

• Tokyo: Advised on the purchase of an interest in an Australian insurance company referred by Chuo Sogo Law Office, P.C.
• Germany: Advised on and negotiated a settlement deed for a contract dispute referred by Goehmann Lawyers.
• Indonesia: We continue to act for a client of Bagus Enrico & Partners in its Australian operations, from establishment of the local operations through to assisting with its commercial and property needs.
• England: Advised on employment and workplace relations related matters for a client referred by GunnerCooke.

These collaborations ensure our clients receive seamless, high-quality legal support wherever they operate—an approach that reflects the mindset we have cultivated over five decades.

Visit www.mcw.com.au for more information about McInnes Wilson.

The Australian Olympic Committee and the Australian Sports Foundation (ASF) have partnered together to launch the Aspiring Australian Olympic Funding initiative. This new initiative is a strategic fundraising platform designed to provide financial support to emerging Summer and Winter Olympians whilst enabling individuals and entities to make fully tax-deductible donations through the ASF, a registered Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) under Australian tax law.

Under this initiative, all donations of $2 or more made through the Australian Sports Foundation are tax-deductible, providing an incentive for philanthropic giving. Depending on the donor’s marginal tax rate, the effective cost of a donation may be reduced by 32% to 45%, making it a cost-efficient way to support underfunded Olympic sports. For instance, a $1,000 donation could yield a tax refund of up to $450, bringing the net cost down to just $550.

Many of Australia’s Olympic athletes often earn below the national average and personally cover the costs of training, travel, and competition. By using the Australian Sports Foundation’s tax-deductible giving structure, this initiative opens the door for both corporate sponsors and individual donors to make a difference. Contributions not only help ease the financial burden on athletes but also directly support their preparation and performance.

How McInnes Wilson can help?

We provide comprehensive sports law services, supporting athletes, sporting organisations and businesses in contract negotiations, governance, intellectual property, sponsorship agreements and dispute resolution. Our team understands the unique challenges of the sports industry and offers strategic legal solutions to protect rights, manage risks, and ensure compliance with industry regulations.

You can find more information about McInnes Wilson Sports Law and transactional, advisory and tax experience here. Or contact our team:

Michael Fredericks

mfredericks@mcw.com.au

+61 7 3231 0420

Morgan Gallagher

mgallagher@mcw.com.au

+61 7 3231 0684

The Asia Pacific region has experienced a noticeable increase in commercial sports teams recruiting athletes from outside their home countries. For instance, basketball, volleyball and football players in the Philippines are increasingly sought after by Hong Kong, South Korea, and Japan clubs. Similarly, the recruitment of foreign student-athletes, primarily in basketball, volleyball, and football, is rising at the country’s universities and colleges. 

Yet, sports law remains largely unregulated in the Philippines and many other jurisdictions. The absence of clear legal frameworks often creates ambiguity regarding an athlete’s rights and obligations, and many are unaware of their legal protections and responsibilities.

This article explores the key issues and considerations affecting sports law in the Asia-Pacific region.

Contractual Protection

Too often, athletes sign contracts without fully understanding the long-term implications, leading to disputes over payments, sponsorship obligations, image rights, or contract termination terms.

Furthermore, the internationalization of sports has significantly impacted contractual agreements. Contracts involving foreign athletes often raise complex legal issues, such as jurisdictional considerations, applicable law, and cross-border enforcement.

Additional complications arise with young athletes, requiring parental involvement or representation, and raising concerns about consent, capacity, and enforceability.

As a result, athletes and stakeholders, including sports clubs and organizations, national bodies, sponsors, broadcasters, agents, and data providers, are increasingly engaging legal counsel and representation for contract negotiation, regulatory compliance, dispute resolution, and sponsorship agreements.

Athlete & Sponsorship Agreements

Athlete and sponsor agreements and media rights are essential elements of the commercial framework surrounding modern sports. Today’s athletes increasingly act as social media influencers, endorsing consumer products like cosmetics, food, and apparel. 

Athlete agreements typically include compensation, performance KPIs, image rights, media obligations, off-field conduct, injuries, and digital presence. Resembling talent agreements commonly found in entertainment, they tend to be heavily one-sided and complex, particularly when young or inexperienced athletes are involved, placing disproportionate control in the hands of sponsors, teams, or agents.

Sponsorship agreements usually include exclusivity clauses, activation rights, morality clauses triggered by athlete misconduct or reputational risks, and distinctions between team and personal sponsors.

In the Philippines, such arrangements remain primarily informal and are often carried out without written contracts. This lack of formal documentation exposes athletes to considerable legal and financial risks, including potential exploitation, misappropriation of likeness, and non-payment of sponsorship fees.

Media & IP Rights

As athletes continue to commercialize their personal brands, particularly through digital platforms, questions regarding the ownership and control of their name, image, likeness, and other Intellectual Property (IP) assets will necessitate careful legal consideration and clear contractual terms.

Events and competitions are increasingly monetizing sports data, highlights, and digital content, calling for sharper legal focus on trademark registration, licensing, and enforcement, especially regarding digital piracy, counterfeit merchandise, and unauthorized use of content online. 

Media rights involve various legal considerations, including territorial and platform exclusivity, live and non-live content rights, digital distribution protocols, and revenue-sharing arrangements between leagues and athletes. Key concerns include

• Who owns athlete-generated content on social media?
• How is it monetized?
• What happens when it’s shared or sponsored independently of the league or club?

Dispute Resolution

Dispute resolution in sports is increasingly managed through arbitration and mediation. Institutions like the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) are highly effective in preserving the integrity of sports by confidentially and efficiently resolving cross-border disputes and maintaining procedural fairness across jurisdictions.

Notable examples include doping appeals, disputes over athlete eligibility in international tournaments, and conflicts arising from broadcasting and sponsorship agreements.

Given the industry’s accelerating commercialization and globalization, regulatory bodies and legal counsel must stay vigilant in enforcing anti-corruption standards. This includes implementing whistleblower mechanisms, investigating match-fixing allegations, and adhering to codes of conduct set forth by international federations and national governing bodies.

Anti-Doping Laws

The global framework for anti-doping laws and compliance is primarily governed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which outlines the World Anti-Doping Code, a unified set of standards designed to promote fairness, integrity, and health in sports. Member countries and sporting bodies are required to implement these standards through domestic legislation and regulatory policies.

The Indonesia Anti-Doping Organization (IADO) rebranded in 2022 to function as a professional and independent body, crucial in lifting WADA’s previous non-compliance sanctions on the country. The National Sports Committee of Indonesia (KONI) has partnered with IADO to promote anti-doping education and campaigns at all sports levels, from national to local. 

Understanding IADO’s regulations and WADA’s standards is essential for ensuring athletes and support personnel are educated about anti-doping rules and compliant with testing procedures. Compliance also helps uphold integrity in sports.

A Specialized Law Partner You Can Trust

As the sports industry expands and professionalizes globally, the need for robust, adaptable, and forward-looking strategies becomes even more urgent. Whether addressing governance, commercial rights, athlete protection, or emerging digital challenges, experienced legal professionals are critical for shaping a transparent, fair, and sustainable sporting environment.

Globalaw’s Sports Law Taskforce is a dedicated advisory group of 22 member firms and over 30 attorneys in jurisdictions around the world. Through specialized legal counsel and representation that addresses multifaceted issues and cross-border needs, we help our clients develop and implement a legal framework that protects and empowers their interests for today and tomorrow.

Download the Globalaw Sports Law Taskforce brochure or contact me for more information about our capabilities.