Legal Advice & Assistance

 

 

Based upon over 15 years of experience as a lawyer, Mat Jessep and Game Legal regularly advises clients across various industry sectors on a broad range of corporate and commercial legal issues, including: Mergers & Acquisitions; Corporate Structuring and Incorporation; Capital Raises; Governance; Regulatory Compliance; IP Protection and Commercialisation; Commercial Contracts; Athlete, Employee, and Contractor Engagement; and Dispute Resolution.

 

See below for our representative track record in the areas we provide expert legal advice on:

 

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MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

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State Sporting Organisation 

Advised and acted for a NSW-based State Sporting Organisation (SSO) on its acquisition of a majority equity interest in a sports streaming platform and on the reverse sale of its in-house broadcasting rights and media library to the target company.  These transactions also involved the assignment of trade marks and other IP, vendor/founder releases, employment agreements, debt agreements, and new governance documents. Mat led and completed this matter from late 2024 to April 2025.

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Team Bliss Esports 

Advised and acted for Team Bliss Esports on its acquisition of legacy Australian esports organisation, Chiefs Esports Club. This transaction's purchase price involved an innovative cash component and profit share agreement for a post-completion period.  The translation also ensured that this beloved esports brand continued to compete on global stages and in tournaments.

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​Brisbane Bullets 

Advised and acted for the US-based fund purchasing the Brisbane Bullets of the Australian-based National Basketball League (NBL) from the NBL.  Mat drafted the share purchase agreement and advised our US-based clients on the deal structure under Australian law and completed the transaction within weeks prior to the start of the new 2019/20 NBL season. (Mat Jessep led and completed this matter while employed by another firm.)

 

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INCORPORATION & STRUCTURING

 

German Tech Co

Advised and acted for Berlin, Germany-based technology company on the incorporation of its wholly-owned Australian-based subsidiary.  We acted to register the new company with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), drafted governance documents, liaised with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) as to non-resident shareholders, and advised the new board on an ongoing basis as external counsel.

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Skipping Australia 

Advised Skipping Australian Inc on its incorporation as an Australian public company, limited by guarantee.  This restructure was required by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) in order for Skipping Australia to be recognised as a National Sporting Organisation (NSO).  Our advice included assisting members of the state-based incorporated association to understand the process, the drafting and settlement of a new company constitution in a form that the Sports Commission would approve and be compliant with the Corporations Act, and to assist with governance requirements for member approval of the resolution to restructure.  Skipping Australia Limited was granted NSO status.

 

Australasian Gaelic Games 

Advised the members and committee of the Gaelic Football & Hurling Association of Australasia Incorporated on its incorporation as an Australian public company, limited by guarantee in order for Australasian Gaelic Games to be recognised as a NSO by the ASC.  We worked with the committee to establish corporate members of the new entity and worked on all governance requirements in support of the resolution to restructure the new entity. Australasian Gaelic Games Ltd, is now a recognised NSO.

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CAPITAL RAISING

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Good Game Well Played 

Acted for and advised this technology start-up on:

• seed funding from the German-based Adidas leAD Sport Accelerator fund;

• series A round;

• series B round;

• various Simple Agreements for Future Equity (SAFEs);

• founder shares vesting; and

• crowd-sourced funding capital raises.

We provided full document support and worked with the founder over many years to structure the company and its assets in order to attract and better accommodate both sophisticated institutional investors and crowd funders.

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​Guinevere Capital Esports & Entertainment 

Acted for and advised an international fund on:

• post-M&A capital raises in the UK market; and

• various SAFEs and convertible notes.

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SB Esport Holding ApS

Acted for and advised this Denmark-based gaming technology company on a warrant purchase agreement and side letter.

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GOVERNANCE

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Water Polo Australia

Advised Water Polo Australia Limited on suggested amendments to the constitution in order to update the document in line with ASC best practice and to establish voting rights for the new Athlete Commission. We drafted the changes and provided full support to members and the Board by way of the explanatory memorandum and meeting notices and agenda.

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Swimming Australia

Advised Swimming Australia Limited on questions as to conflict of interest on the Board.  We investigated the matter and drafted an advice on the issue.

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Karate Victoria

Advised this state-based sporting association on questions raised by members following the implementation of the relevant NSO's new membership policy. We advised the association of how the various rights and obligations under its rules and the requirements of the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012 (Vic) would accommodate the NSO's new membership policy.

 

 

 

REGULATORY COMPLIANCE

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Hong Kong-based Gaming Co

Advised this online gaming platform of compliance issues of various games under the Interactive Gambling Act in Australia.  We provided further advice on the regulator and its processes following any allegations or reports of non-compliance.

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Japanese Video Game Publisher

Advised this major video game publisher based in Japan on regulatory requirements for running lotteries and trade promotions in Australia under various state-based legislation as well as the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (Cth) as regards a card-based game.

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Media Agency

Advised on event rules and entry conditions against all nine (9) State, Territory, and the Federal jurisdictions in Australia on how the event may or may not comply with the laws, giving recommendations as to how to comply.

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IP PROTECTION & COMMERCIALISATION

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Pickleball Australia

Advised Pickleball Australia on its intellectual property strategy and how to protect and enforce the value in its commercial signatures under the Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth), tort law, and consumer law. We applied for various trade mark registrations with IP Australia in furtherance of the overall commercial strategy of the organisation.

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Designer

Advised and acted for a designer on the assignment of copyright in various works to a wine maker for the purposes of creating distinctive labels for a range wines.  This was the designer's first commercial transaction where her rights were being assigned to a third party.

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BarTV Sports

We have provided legal support to this niche sports streaming service on various commercial documents and agreements, including a template digital advertising services agreement to operate between it and all advertisers.

 

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COMMERCIAL CONTRACTS

 

ESL Australia & Guinevere Capital

We acted for and advised this joint venture on the operation of the League of Legends Circuit Oceania (LCO), under license from Riot Games.  The LCO replaced the OPL as the Oceania region's pathway to global LOL events.  The agreements we provided drafting support on included the team participation agreement and player eligibility and release form template documents.
 

The Spark International

We act for and advised this Australian-based event management company on various commercial contracts, including to book international touring bands, the production of grand final half time entertainment, and televised annual sports awards ceremonies. 

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Team Liquid

Advised this international esports organisation (based in California and the Netherlands) on the terms and conditions of the Australian activation of a global event.  We drafted a compliant set of terms and conditions which supported the global event while ensuring that local laws were not breached.

 

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ATHLETE, EMPLOYEE, & CONTRACTOR ENGAGEMENT

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Melbourne United Basketball

Acted for and advised this NBL club on various player release agreements.  These players each sought a release from their standard NBL playing contract to pursue opportunities in the US-based NBA league.  Each agreement required careful assessment of the player's contract, the NBL collective bargaining agreement, and the NBL's release policies.  We liaised with the league to ensure that relevant agreements complied with league regulations at all times, while ensuring that MUB's risk was mitigated and minimised.

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ESE The Agency - Athlete Division

We act for and advise this female athlete management agency on its agreements with the athletes they represent as well as on the athlete's commercial endorsement contracts with third party brands and organisations.

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Various Clients

We routinely act for clients on the drafting of employment and consulting agreements.  These clients include sporting organisations, media companies, start-ups and established businesses.

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DISPUTE RESOLUTION

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Blacktown City Netball Association 

Advised and acted for this Sydney-based netball association on its successful defence of a claim made by another association.  The claim related to a joint venture agreement with amigos clauses covering extension of etc term and the dispute resolution process.  We advocated for our client up to and including in an arbitration hearing, where the arbitrator determined in favour of our client.

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Tainted Minds - Players, Manager, & Coach

We advised the players, manager, and coach of the Tainted Minds LOL team in 2017.  This matter gained international attention which eventually regulated in the league operator making a disciplinary ruling against the team.

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Various Judiciaries & Tribunals

​Mat Jessep has provided various sporting organisations with dispute resolution support since 2014, including as the NSWRL Acting Judiciary Counsel, judiciary panel member for Cricket NSW, Tribunal President for Swimming NSW, and as pro bono selection dispute panel member proving advice and assistance to athletes challenging Olympic team selection decisions.

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Our border experience includes advising clients on the following areas and legal issues:

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SPORTS LAW

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• Commercial Partnership Agreements

• Competition Law​

• Employment

• Endorsements

• Intellectual Property & Brand Protection & Commercialisation

• Marketing Contracts

• Media Rights Agreements

• Player Contracts

• Risk Mitigation

• Selection Disputes

• Sports Agents

• Sports Disputes & Tribunals

• Sports Governance

• Sports Integrity

  • Anti-Doping ​

  • Anti-Corruption

  • Member Protection

  • Child Safeguarding

  • Behavioural Issues

  • Discrimination & Human Rights Breaches

  • Violence

  • Concussion

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ESPORTS LEGAL ISSUES

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• Capital Raising

• Commercial Partnership Agreements

• Competition Law​

• Dispute Resolution

• Employment

• Endorsements

• Esports Integrity

  • Improper Use of Medicines & Drugs

  • Anti-Corruption

  • Ant-Discrimination & Anti-Harrasment

  • Child Safeguarding

  • Behavioural Issues​

• Incorporation & Start-Up

• Intellectual Property & Brand Protection & Commercialisation

• License Agreements

• Marketing Contracts

• Media Rights Agreements

• Player & Coach Contracts

• Player Representatives & Agents​

• Risk Mitigation

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We also advise more broadly in the following corporate and commercial areas of law:

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​​CORPORATE

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• Asset Sales & Licensing

• Business Start ups, Incorporation, Structuring, & Exits

• Capital Raising

  • Debt structuring

  • Equity capital

• Company Constitutions

• Corporate Advisory

• Corporate Governance & Company Secretarial

• Joint Ventures

• Mergers & Acquisitions

  • Cross-Border M&A

  • Mid-cap

  • Small scale

• Partnerships

• Shareholder Agreements

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COMMERCIAL

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• Contracts & Agreements

• Disputes and Alternative Dispute Resolution

• Leasing

  • Commercial​

  • Retail

• Licensing

• Franchising

• Property Acquisitions & Disposals

• Purchase of Business

• Sale of Business

 

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As well as the following specialised areas of our Commercial Law practice:

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INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

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• Intellectual Property Rights Registration, Protection, & Management

  • Trade Mark Protection & Commercialisation - word, image, colour, smell, geographic indicator

  • Copyright

  • Designs

  • Trade Secrets & Know How

  • Domain Names

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ADVERTISING & MARKETING

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• Anti-Slavery​

• Consumer Law

• Data Protection

• Distribution Agreements

• Export Market Development

• Licensing

• Merchandising

• Privacy

• Regulatory & Compliance​

• Restraint of Trade

• Sponsorships & Endorsements

• Trade Promotions

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EMPLOYMENT

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• Employment Contracts

• Employee Share Plans​

• Independent Contractor Contracts

 

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Meet the Team.

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We can help with most corporate and commercial legal matter - if we can't help, we will try and refer you on to someone who can.  

 

Contact Us for more information and a discussion about how our Legal Services can help you.

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Game Corp Pty Ltd t/as Game Legal ABN 58 605 014 999 is an Incorporated Legal Practice. 

 

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