Sports Law
Commercial and asset protection advice for people in sport
A playing career is a business with a short trading life. The money arrives early, the contracts are one-sided, and the decisions made in the first few seasons decide what is left at the end. We act for athletes, coaches and the people around them on contracts, structuring, asset protection and the ventures that come after the game, with advice from a lawyer who played 124 games of AFL football and then spent 30 years in property, finance and business.
Who you will work with
Damian Bourke, Consultant Lawyer
Damian played 102 games for Geelong and 22 for the Brisbane Bears before a 30-year career delivering property developments worth some $300 million, structuring joint ventures and arranging project finance. He returned to legal practice in 2026 and leads the firm’s sports law work and its Geelong presence. He is also a nationally accredited mediator, which shapes how he approaches a dispute: settle what can be settled, early, and fight only what needs fighting.
He is supervised by the firm’s Principal, Tsungai Mukushi, and works alongside the firm’s commercial, franchise and dispute lawyers, so a sports matter that turns into a leasing, employment or litigation matter stays in one place.
Scope
What we help with
Most of what an athlete needs is commercial law applied to an unusual career: high income for a few years, public profile, contracts written by the other side, and pressure from family, friends and advisers to put money to work. The legal work is to protect what is earned, structure it properly, and make sure every deal is understood before it is signed.
Playing and coaching contracts
Terms, tenure, payment, image rights, termination and injury provisions, and how the contract sits against league, association and collective agreement rules. Explained in plain English before signing.
Asset protection and structuring
Companies, trusts and holding structures set up early, so the income earned in a short career is protected from later business risk, relationship breakdown and poor advice.
Sponsorship, image rights and endorsements
Sponsorship agreements, endorsement deals and licensing of name and image. What you are giving away, for how long, and the obligations that survive the deal.
Business ventures and investments
Buying into a franchise, a property development or a private company, joint ventures with teammates, and the due diligence that should happen before any money moves. Advice from someone who has done these deals himself.
Disciplinary and integrity matters
Representation before tribunals, integrity units and appeals bodies, and advice on process fairness before a hearing is lost on procedure.
Life after playing
Transition planning, business structures for the next career, employment and consulting agreements, and protecting what was built during the playing years.
Also relevant
Related services
Related reading
Related reading
Articles and briefings from the firm on this area. Plain English, no lecture.
Next step
Have a sports law matter?
Tell us what it is. If we are not the right firm for it we will say so and point you somewhere useful.