Sport is no longer just a game—it’s a complex legal arena. Explore the legal frameworks, risks, and responsibilities shaping modern professional and amateur sport. From safeguarding and disciplinary procedures to employment law and the legal challenges of grassroots sporting organisations. Gain the insights you need to advise confidently and protect your clients in an increasingly regulated environment, reducing the risk of sanctions and reputational damage.

Presenters

Marianne Barker, Barrister, Owen Dixon Chambers West
Marianne has had extensive experience in all areas of intellectual property, trade practices, general commercial law and sports law. Her practice has encompassed appeals, trials and various types of interlocutory applications for orders including injunctions, civil search and seizure orders and contempt orders. Her clients in the trade marks area have included various owners of famous trade marks. She has also acted in copyright and design matters. Marianne has also acted in mechanical and pharmaceutical patent matters. She has also acted in allied areas such as breach of trade secrets, Crown use of IP, the IP aspects of tax appeals (R & D) and in the trade practices area she has acted in various consumer law and price fixing matters. Her sports law practice grew out of her pro-bono work for Olympic athletes and she was, for several years, the President of the Taekowondo Appeals Tribunal and was awarded the Denis Callinan prize in 2019 which recognises members of the Australian New Zealand Sports Law Association (ANZSLA) who render commendable community service in the field of sports law.) Marianne has acted in non-selection cases for athletes and coaches as well as in matters concerning member protection and more recently in safeguarding matters brought against coaches. Finally, she also practises as a Mediator. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and has had various board positions on not-for-profit boards.

Nikki Dryden, Senior Lawyer, Game Legal
Nikki supports grassroots and community sport organisations to build safe, participant-centred environments. With extensive legal and governance expertise, she helps clubs strengthen governance, protect members, resolve disputes, and ensure safe, legally compliant environments for all participants. With increasing complexity across child safety, member protection, and privacy laws, Nikki helps sport administrators and Boards reduce risk and strengthen trust – from local clubs to state and territory wide structures.


Matt Krog, Director & Founder, Aus Sports Law
Matt Krog is a highly respected corporate, commercial, and sports lawyer with over a decade of experience advising athletes, sporting organisations, and commercial entities. As the founder of Aus Sports Law, he is recognised as a leader in the field, providing strategic legal and business solutions tailored to the unique demands of the sports industry. He is also a Director of Sports Gold Coast, where he contributes to initiatives that promote and support the connection between business and sport in the region. Matt’s expertise spans corporate structuring, commercial transactions, intellectual property, and regulatory compliance. He has played a key role in advising on high-performing clients on commercial matters, governance matters, and investment structures, ensuring his clients are well-positioned for long-term success. His deep understanding of sports law, combined with his commercial acumen, makes him a trusted advisor to athletes, businesses, sporting organisations and investors navigating complex legal landscapes. Beyond legal practice, Matt has held advisory roles on disciplinary panels and boards, contributing to governance and regulatory oversight in Australian sport. Through Aus Sports Law, he shares insights and analysis on key legal developments, helping to shape the conversation around sports law in Australia.


Juanita Maiden, Partner, Mullins Lawyers
Juanita is a Partner at Mullins Lawyers specialising in Sports Law. She advises clients in the sports and events industry on commercial agreements, governance & constitutions, disciplinary issues & complaint handling, and tribunal hearings & appeals. Juanita is the Deputy Chair of the International Rugby League Judiciary and currently sits on other sports disciplinary panels including for World Sailing, Paralympics Australia, AFL Queensland and as Deputy Chair of the Queensland government appointed Qld Racing Appeals Panel. She has previously guest lectured at the University of Queensland in sports law and regularly speaks on sports law topics. Her board experience includes as a current Director of Queensland Cricket and previously of Stadiums Queensland. Juanita previously was the CEO of a National Basketball League Club in Australia, becoming the first female to do so.

Jacquie Seemann, Partner, Thomson Geer
Jacquie is a partner in the Employment and Safety team at Thomson Geer Lawyers who has practised employment, discrimination law, and education law and sport law since 1990. She works in both the public and private sectors, and her expertise spans a wide range of industries including sport, education, health and aged care, financial services, IT, retail and transport. Her sports law clients include sports clubs and their owners, representative sports associations, employer associations, and community and disability services organisations. Her sports law experience includes assisting a national sports organisation (covering 18 sports): drafting integrity policies including membership applications, Code of Conduct, training materials, management guides and tribunal rules; advising sporting organisations about constitutional reform, and drafting new constitutions; drafting coach and player contracts; advising about player, parental and coach misconduct, and commissioning external investigations; assisting a disability services organisation in relation to safety and liability issues arising from its participants playing sport; and, representing an employer association in the Fair Work Commission in the modern award review process – resulting in the inclusion of a new classification in the award for elite sports people undertaking part-time apprenticeships. Jacquie is recognised for her expertise in sports law by Best Lawyers in Australia, and she is a member of the General Purposes Tribunal of Football NSW.