IS LAW KILLING SPORT?

The increasing intrusion of law and lawyers into the sporting arena will be debated at a special public forum at the University of New South Wales next Monday, 29 October.

Well known sports lawyer Deborah Healey, who practices with Blake Dawson Waldron, will address the issue "Is Law Killing Sport?" The lecture will be followed by a panel discussion.

Deborah has acted for both state and national sporting organisations as well as for promoters, sponsors and individuals on a range of issues. Deborah says there has been an increase in sports litigation which mirrors the big increases in the sporting economy. "People might not like it, but everyone involved in sport is entitled to the protection and certainty which the law provides. Society needs rules and sport is no different to any other area."

According to panellist and lawyer, Nicholas Pappas, the law and sport traditionally crossed paths, only when someone was hurt on the playing field. "The whole South Sydney- News Limited case shows that sports law is no longer only about people on a sporting field - sport is now big business and because it is big business, it is attracting the kind of litigation that you see in big business." Mr Pappas' firm represented South Sydney Rugby League Football Club in its battle against News Limited and the National Rugby League.

The other panellists will be Greg Keenan, Managing Director of Athlete Management International and Ralph Doubell, Director of the NSW Institute of Sport and an Olympic Gold Medallist, WHAT: Is Law Killing Sport?

WHEN: 6.00pm, Monday 29 October

WHERE: The Scientia, Kensington Campus, UNSW (enter via Gate 11, Botany Street)

MEDIA CONTACT: Sarah Martin, Public Affairs and Development, tel. 9385 3192 or Deborah Healey, Blake Dawson Waldron, tel. 9258 5917.