News archive 2022

Martens Rechtsanwälte selected as “Top Law Firm for Sports Law” by Wirtschaftswoche

The main German business weekly Wirtschaftswoche (WiWO) has included Martens Rechtsanwälte in its newly created list of "WiWo Top Law Firms – The Most Renowned Law Firms and Lawyers for Sports Law". Moreover, Dr Heiner Kahlert is listed as a highly recommended sports lawyer. Both listings are based on a survey conducted by an independent jury of the Handelsblatt Research Institute among 460 sports lawyers from 315 law firms. For the list as published on WiWo.de in German, please click here.

Heiner Kahlert appointed as CAS arbitrator

A few days ago, Heiner Kahlert was admitted to the list of arbitrators of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne. In addition to his experience in commercial and investment arbitration, Heiner also has more than a decade of experience from numerous CAS arbitrations, first as an ad-hoc clerk to CAS tribunals and then as counsel representing parties before the CAS. In moving into the arbitrator role, Heiner follows the example set by the founder of our law firm, the late Dr Dirk-Reiner Martens, who was already on the CAS arbitrator list when the CAS was founded and who was subsequently appointed in nearly 200 CAS proceedings, including at four Olympic Games.
The CAS acts, on the one hand, as a “supreme court” for appeals against decisions of sports federations from around the globe. On the other hand, the CAS also decides as a regular court of arbitration on a wide variety of contractual disputes related to sport. Arbitrators in CAS proceedings can only be those persons who have been admitted to the list of arbitrators. Heiner Kahlert is now one of 15 CAS arbitrators with German nationality.

Article by David Menz and Dr Tinusch Jalilvand on the importance of the „legitimate interest“ in accordance with Article 6 para 1 lit. f GDPR in the context of processing sports data

David Menz and Dr Tinusch Jalilvand have published an article in the German sports law journal SpoPrax regarding the importance of the „legitimate interest“ according to Article 6 para 1 lit. f GDPR in the context of processing sports data. In their article, the authors focus in particular on the requirements for a lawful processing of so called “primary sports data” by different stakeholders in sport, considering recent developments around the “Project Red Card” in the United Kingdom. Furthermore, the authors analyse the requirements and consequences of a potential licensing of the processing of primary sports data. The article is published in edition 2/2022 of the SpoPrax at page 60 et. seq.

Dr Tinusch Jalilvand co-hosts the Seminar „Recent legal challenges in professional football” at Free University of Berlin

Dr Tinusch Jalilvand organised together with Univ Prof Dr Helmuth Grothe a seminar regarding “Recent legal challenges in professional football” at the Free University of Berlin on 20 January 2022. The students had the opportunity to draft a thesis on recent legal developments in professional football such as non-playing-clauses or freedom of expression in professional football and to discuss their research with experts, working in the field of professional football. Beside Dr Tinusch Jalilvand, in-house lawyers from Bundesliga clubs VFL Wolfsburg and Werder Bremen, the football platform OneFootball as well as the German Football Federation (DFB) and the German Football League (DFL) participated in the seminar. This way, students received the rare chance to get into a high level exchange with experienced professionals and learn about different career paths in sports law.

Support for the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation

As in the previous two years, our law firm has again supported the fabulous work of the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation by way of a donation at the end of 2021. The foundation was created by the former NBA superstar and German national basketball team player Dirk Nowitzki. For many years now, it has helped kids and adolescents to recognise and develop their potential through sport and also outside sport. This type of social commitment is particularly close to our hearts and we are pleased that we were once again able to make a financial contribution to it.

David Menz and Dr Tinusch Jalilvand achieved the termination of the criminal investigation against modern pentathlete Annika Schleu

The public prosecutor’s office of Potsdam has decided to end the criminal investigations against our client Ms Annika Schleu for alleged violations of the Animal Welfare Act during the Olympic Games in Tokyo in August 2021 pursuant to section 153a of the German Code of Criminal Procedure today. Ms Schleu will pay a small amount to a non-profit organisation, after which the criminal investigation will finally be over. After the end of the proceedings, Ms Schleu can now fully dedicate herself to her sport again, which has always included the loving care with horses.

New BAT Arbitration Rules

On 1 January 2022, the new version of the BAT Arbitration Rules came into effect. The new rules include an adjustment of the amount to be paid as handling fee for a BAT arbitration and provide an additional purpose for the use of monies from the "BAT Fund". The new version of the BAT Arbitration Rules and an explanation of the most relevant amendments are available here.
The BAT is a true arbitral tribunal for the resolution of financial disputes in the world of basketball. The BAT was established in 2007 by the founder of our law firm, Dr. Dirk-Reiner Martens, in cooperation with the international basketball federation (FIBA) and has been administered by Martens Rechtsanwälte ever since. Measured by annual case numbers, the BAT is one of the largest sports arbitration courts in the world.

NJW Report on the Development of Sports Law

Dr Heiner Kahlert and David Menz published a report on the development of sports law in 2021 in the Neue Juristische Wochenschrift (NJW), the legal journal with the highest circulation in Germany.
The report is published on pp. 3700-3706 of the 51/2021 edition of the NJW and provides an overview of relevant decisions from various legal fields affected by sports law. From now on, such a report will be published in the NJW every year. This also reflects the steadily increasing importance of sports law in practice and academics.

Dr Heiner Kahlert once again listed by Who’s Who Legal as „Future Leader Arbitration“

For 2022 and, thus, the fourth time in a row, the renowned international legal directory Who’s Who Legal has listed Dr Heiner Kahlert as a “Future Leader” in arbitration. The listing is based on independent research, in particular surveys amongst clients and peers. The repeat listing highlights the special expertise of Heiner Kahlert in national and international arbitration proceedings, in which he acts both as counsel and as arbitrator.
In addition, Heiner Kahlert is currently listed by Who’s Who legal as  "Global Leader Sports 2021" and "National Leader Germany – Sports & Entertainment 2021" (both listings have not yet been published for 2022).

Dr Heiner Kahlert elected into DIS Advisory Council

At the General Assembly of the German Institute for Arbitration (DIS) held last Friday, Dr Heiner Kahlert was elected into the DIS Advisory Council, which provides advice to the DIS Board of Directors. The Advisory Council comprises 21 members from different organisations and professions having a special interest in arbitration.
For more than 10 years, Heiner Kahlert has been an active member of DIS and DIS40 – German Initiative of Young Arbitration Practitioners. He served for three years as a DIS40 Regional Coordinator and is currently a member of the Working Group that is drafting the new DIS Sports Arbitration Rules.

Dr Tinusch Jalilvand received certificate as “Data Protection Officer (TÜV) according to the GDPR and the new German Federal Data Protection Act”

For years, Tinusch Jalilvand has been dealing intensely with diverse questions of data privacy laws, with a particular focus being data protection in sports. Earlier this week, he received a certificate as "Data Protection Officer (TÜV) according to the GDPR and the new German Federal Data Protection Act”.
Many companies, but even more sport clubs and associations, do not currently meet the applicable requirements under data privacy laws – neither in relation to their privacy policies nor regarding other required documentation nor with respect to the practical implementation of data protection issues. Following the recent practice of data protection authorities and looming claims against different stakeholders in sports, it is to be expected that European data protection authorities will from now on assess more closely whether specifically clubs and associations comply with data privacy laws, failing which they may be sanctioned. Tinusch helps our clients to implement the complex requirements of data privacy laws in practice, with a view to avoid any fines, claims for damages and reputational harm.

Dr Heiner Kahlert elected to IIHF Ethics Board

At the IIHF’s Congress held last weekend, Dr Heiner Kahlert was elected to the newly created Ethics Board of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) The Ethics Board is an independent body consisting of five equal members. In particular, it is responsible for investigating into alleged violations of the IIHF’s Code of Conduct. If the Ethics Board considers that a violation has occurred, it refers the matter to the Directorium or Disciplinary Board of the IIHF for a decision on displinary sanctions.

Article by Dr. Heiner Kahlert on athletes’ freedom of speech

Together with our former trainee lawyer Dr. Marie-Christin Bareuther, Dr. Heiner Kahlert has published an article in Germany’s most-read legal journal (NJW) on athletes’ freedom of speech during sports event. The article reports in particular on the IOC’s new guidelines that were adopted shortly before the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Compared to previous practice, the guidelines widen the scope of admissible political statements during the Olympic Games and increase to some extent legal security in respect of sanctions for any violations. In addition, the authors argue for a harmonized approach across different sports. The article was published on page 5 of NJW edition 23/2021.

Dr Heiner Kahlert appointed as member of AIBA’s Governance Reform Group

The International Boxing Association AIBA has appointed Dr Heiner Kahlert of Martens Lawyers as one of five international legal experts to sit on the newly created Governance Reform Group. The task of this independent body, which will be chaired by Professor Dr Ulrich Haas, will be to issue recommendations based on internationally accepted best practices in order to assist AIBA in meeting the highest standards of good governance. For AIBA’s corresponding press release, please click here.