News archive 2015

Andreas Zagklis appointed as Judge at the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal

The International Cycling Federation (UCI – Union Cycliste Internationale) appointed Andreas Zagklis as one of the four members of the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal. Mr Zagklis can be appointed as Single Judge for proceedings in Anti-Doping rule violations by the secretariat of the tribunal.
For further information, please click here.

Andreas Zagklis gives Presentations at Seminar of the Josoor Institute

On 18/19 November 2014, the Josoor Institute in Doha, Qatar held a two-day course entitled "Law and its Implications on Sports and Event Practitioners" which aimed at discussing contemporary legal issues in sport as well as raising awareness among local sports and events practitioners for the legal implications of hosting, sponsoring and working in global sports events.
Andreas Zagklis delivered presentations on Governance of Sporting Organisations and contributed in the discussion regarding corruption, doping and future challenges for event organisers. He participated in a panel interview with Ben Bye, Senior Commercial Lawyer, International Cricket Council (ICC), Prof. Richard McLaren from McLaren Global Sport Solution and Ahmad Anani from Latham Watkins. Further information on the seminar and the Josoor Institute can be found under the following links: Josoor Institute to Host Networking Event on Contemporary Legal Practice and Issues in Sport (menafn.com) Understanding Legal Landscape that Surrounds Sporting Event is Essential (Gulf Times)

Christian Keidel Interview with Sport1

Christian Keidel gave an interview for the Sport 1 TV programme "Ukrainische Klubs entwurzelt" regarding the participation of football clubs from Crimea in the third Russian division. For the (German) video of the the Sport1 broadcast, click here.

Martens Rechtsanwälte advise Xabi Alonso

In cooperation with the Spanish law firm Zaldua Garcia & Asociados, Andreas Zagklis and Heiner Kahlert of Martens Rechtsanwälte advised Spain's World Cup Winner and European Champion Xabi Alonso in connection with his transfer from Real Madrid to Bayern Munich. Xabi Alonso played his first match in the German Bundesliga only a few days after the transfer, which was celebrated by German media as one of the most spectacular transfers in the history of the Bundesliga.

Christian Keidel Interview with Sport1

Christian Keidel comments on the draft anti-doping law presented by the German government in an interview with Sport1. For the complete German article, click here.

Dirk-Reiner Martens selected by “Best Lawyers”

Dr. Dirk-Reiner Martens has been selected by the US-Publisher "Best Lawyers" on the basis of recommendations by his peers to be included in the Sixth Edition of "Best Lawyers in Germany" in the practice area of Arbitration and Mediation. The survey was conducted under exclusive partnership with the Handelsblatt. For the respective (German) article, please click here.

Andreas Zagklis contributes to EU study on sports organizers’ rights

On Friday 25 April 2014 the European Commission published its report of the Study on Sports Organisers’ Rights in the EU. The study was launched in January 2013 and was carried out by a consortium composed of TMC ASSER Instituut and IVIR (University of Amsterdam).
The specific objectives of the study were:
  • To map the legal framework applicable to the origin and ownership of sports organisers' rights in the 28 Member States;
  • To analyse the nature and scope of sports organisers' rights with regard to licensing practices in the field of the media, taking into account relevant EU law provisions;
  • To examine the possibility of establishing licensing practices beyond the media field, notably in the area of gambling and betting;
  • To provide recommendations on the opportunity of EU action to address any problem that may be identified in the above mentioned areas of analysis.
For an executive summary and the complete text of the study please accesshttp://ec.europa.eu/sport/news/2014/study-on-sport-organisers-rights_en.htm

Martens Rechtsanwälte advises FIBA in connection with changes in their Governance Structure

The Extraordinary Congress of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), convened in Istanbul on Sunday 16 March, unanimously adopted new General Statutes that will bring changes to the governance structure of FIBA. Dr. Dirk-Reiner Martens and Andreas Zagklis advised in the development of the new structure and the drafting of the respective modifications, which include the creation of an Executive Committee and the appointment of an NBA representative on the FIBA Central Board. The new governance structure will strengthen the organisation in view of future challenges and strategic growth opportunities and is believed to be unique in the world of international sports federations.
For the full text of FIBA's press release, please click here.

Heiner Kahlert compares European jurisdictions on confidentiality in arbitration

In the first issue of the European International Arbitration Review's (EIAR) second volume (2013), Heiner Kahlert comparies a number of European jurisdictions as to confidentiality in arbitration. The treatise explains that there are numerous common features, including in particular the presumption of privacy, confidentiality obligations of arbitrators and a vast autonomy of the parties to agree on the level of confidentiality. The biggest discrepancy between jurisdictions relates to the question of whether parties to arbitration are bound by a broad confidentiality obligation even if there is no agreement to this effect – even on this issue, however, the differences are smaller than they may initially seem.
The exact reference to the article can be found in "publications".

Andreas Zagklis on the international Dispute Resolution process in International Sports Federations

In the Sports Law and Policy Centre's "THE EUROPEAN SPORTS LAW AND POLICY BULLETIN, ISSUE 1-2013, INTERNATIONAL AND COMPARATIVE SPORTS JUSTICE, Andreas Zagklis traces in two chapters the development and evolution of the internal dispute resolution process of the international sports federations.
Andreas Zagklis (as of page 114) analyses the Fédération Internationale de Basketball's (“FIBA”) internal and external dispute resolution mechanisms, highlighted by the innovative Basketball Arbitration Tribunal (“BAT”), that allow parties a fair, quick, and cost-efficient resolution to the various types of disputes that arise in basketball. Andreas Zagklis and Achilleas Mavromatis (as of page 130) illustrate the steps taken by Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (“FIVB”) towards the restructuring of its dispute resolution system. The starting point is FIVB’s initial resistance to embrace the jurisdiction of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (“CAS”). Following the abolition of its own judicial body called the International Volleyball Tribunal, FIVB approved CAS as the last instance appeals body for all disputes arising within the FIVB family and revised the lower-instance, internal dispute resolution procedures. In this respect, the authors present the new role of CAS as the ultimate appeals body in the FIVB’s dispute resolution system, describe the three types of disputes that are heard by the FIVB according to a new categorisation system and present the newly constituted FIVB judicial bodies. For further information and the contents page of the publication please clickhere.

Martens Rechtsanwälte represent ISU vs. C. Pechstein

Martens Rechstanwälte represent the Internationl Skating Union (ICU) in the proceedings aigainst Claudia Pechstein before the District Court of Munich. Please find the link to the TV coverage by the Bayerische Rundfunk (BR) here.

Christian Keidel and Andreas Zagklis (Martens Lawyers) represent Fenerbahçe S.K. in UEFA disciplinary proceedings and before CAS

Christian Keidel and Andreas Zagklis (Martens Lawyers) represent Fenerbahçe S.K. in UEFA disciplinary proceedings and before CAS On 25 June 2013, the UEFA Control- and Disciplinary Body decided to exclude Fenerbahçe  from the next three UEFA competitions for which it would qualify (the ban for the third season was suspended for a probationary period of five years). Following an appeal by Fenerbahçe against this decision, the UEFA Appeals Body partially lifted the ban and decided to exclude the Club from the next two UEFA competitions for which it would qualify. Fenerbahçe appealed against this decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). On 18 July 2013, CAS confirmed that UEFA had agreed with the requested stay of the challenged decision until CAS renders a final award. Therefore, Fenerbahçe is provisionally allowed to participate in the UEFA Champions League 2013/14. CAS will render its final decision on 28 August 2013.
Please find CAS' press release here: http://www.tas-cas.org/en/infogenerales.asp/4-3-6956-1092-4-1-1/5-0-1092-15

Heiner Kahlert and Andreas Zagklis discuss SFT judgment on arbitral award without reasons

In the third issue of the legal journal "Sport und Recht" (SpuRt) in 2013, Heiner Kahlert and Andreas Zagklis comment on a recent decision of the Swiss Federal Tribunal (SFT). The decision concerned a request for annulment of an arbitral award by the Basketball Arbitral Tribunal (BAT), which was rendered without reasons in accordance with the BAT Arbitration Rules due to the low value of the dispute.
Heiner Kahlert and Andreas Zagklis first provide some explanations on the structure and the special features of the BAT before they comment on the most important issues decided upon by the SFT. In particular, it is noteworthy that the SFT decided that the BAT is a true arbitral tribunal within the meaning of the Swiss Private International Law Act (PILA). Furthermore, it should be endorsed that the SFT clarified that there are no objections to be raised against arbitral proceedings being conducted by email, and that email read receipts are a proper way of proving delivery of such communication. Lastly, the authors support the SFT's view that a request for annulment can be filed also against awards without reasons, even though the scope of scrutiny is necessarily limited.