Sports Sector Employment Law

Harmers Workplace Lawyers (“Harmers”) is recognised as one of Australia’s leading sports sector employment law firms. We have a demonstrated history working with sports sector clients, including sports entertainment companies and administrators, associations, elite athletes, coaches and match officials.

Our legal services can be tailored for all sports participants, ranging from regional to international level, and amateur to professional, across all of the Firm’s practice areas, including Industrial Relations, Work Health and Safety, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity, Change Management, Legal Risk Management, Investigations, and Training.

Importantly, our specialised team is familiar with a broad range of sports as competitors, ticketed members and armchair spectators, enriching our legal service to our sports sector clients by providing them with commercially relevant and tailored advice in line with the spirit of your game.

Examples of sports sector matters include:

• enterprise bargaining and industrial award management for Australia’s ski industry;
• acting for the Professional Rugby League Match Officials and its members in industrial disputes and work health and safety matters;
• advocacy against race discrimination in martial arts academies;
• advocacy against systemic sexual misconduct in sports associations;
• acting for Mickey Arthur, former Australian Cricket Coach, in his anti-discrimination and unlawful dismissal claim;
• acting for Simon Katich, former Australian Cricket Opener, in his anti-discrimination claim;
• advising Kerry O’Keeffe, former Australian Cricketer and commentator, in relation to contract negotiations;
• advising Cheryl McCormack, former Australian Netballer in her case against Netball Australia; and
• reviewing and advising bespoke contracts and internal policies.

We have represented sporting clients in employment litigation matters in all federal and state courts and tribunals, including claims in relation to breach of contract and trade practices; unfair dismissal; general protections; and restraint of trade.

Harmers can also provide referrals for administrative and governance aspects of sports law.