Sports Law

International sports dispute resolution and sports industry legal services are among Llinks' core areas of strength. We have long maintained a leading position in this field, having built not only an excellent professional reputation but also substantial practical experience. A core team member serves as an arbitrator for the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and was appointed to the CAS Ad Hoc Division for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. Having presided over or participated in hearing multiple influential CAS cases, our team possesses a deep understanding of international sports dispute resolution mechanisms and adjudication standards. In the realm of domestic sports dispute resolution, a team partner serves as a committee member, director of the press committee, and arbitrator of the China Sports Arbitration Commission (CSAC), having heard and adjudicated multiple domestic sports arbitration cases.

Llinks has long served as the retained legal counsel for several top-tier clubs across various levels of Chinese professional leagues. We have represented clients in over a hundred complex cases submitted to the Chinese Football Association (CFA), the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), FIFA, the Basketball Arbitral Tribunal (BAT), and the CAS. Several of these cases have become landmark precedents, exerting a profound influence on sports law practice both in China and internationally.

In 2017, Llinks' sports law lawyers were invited by the Policy and Regulation Department of the General Administration of Sport of China to participate as members of the sixth specialist group for the revision of the Sports Law of the People's Republic of China. They conducted special research on the sports arbitration system, participated in the drafting of Chapter IX on Sports Arbitration, and received a letter of appreciation from the General Administration of Sport. They also provided expert input on the draft amendments to the Regulations on the Protection of Olympic Symbols submitted to the State Council, thereby deeply engaging in the development of China's sports legal system.

Furthermore, the Llinks Sports Law team actively contributes to sports public welfare and industry development. We have provided legal support for reforms in the Chinese professional football leagues and the CBA league, and offered professional consultancy for the standardized operation of event organizations like the Volleyball Super League and the China Professional Baseball League. By holding positions such as council members of the China Sports Law Society, members of the International Association of Sports Law (IASL), China Ambassador for the Swiss Arbitration Association, and domestic liaison for the Sports Lawyers Association of the United States, our team lawyers continuously promote exchanges and cooperation between domestic and international sports law communities, supporting the modernization and international integration of China's sports governance system.

Our client base is extensive, covering national single-sport associations, elite athletes, sports agents, professional clubs, league associations, youth sports training institutions, and various sports industry enterprises. This includes renowned domestic and international basketball legends and international football superstars, among other sports leaders, as well as entities involved in commercial cooperation projects for major sports events. We have provided legal services for projects such as the 19th Hangzhou Asian Games partnership and the 2022 Qatar World Cup rights-holding broadcaster project. Over more than a decade of specialized practice, the team has provided comprehensive, high-standard legal services for event organization, commercial operations, and related sponsors and organizers across more than ten different sports, including football, basketball, volleyball, esports, sailing, baseball, softball, figure skating, equestrian, boxing, horse racing, endurance motorsports, and cycling.