Péter Rippel-Szabó

As a Senior Associate in our Commercial Group in Budapest, I offer in-depth experience in commercial matters and am an expert advisor in the Sports sector.

I have 14 years' experience in commercial law, advising market-leading companies from the IT, retail, media and real estate sectors on complex contractual structures and arrangements, including agreements on works and services, lease, supply, master service and ToS agreements. I offer sound and longstanding experience in relation to office and other property leases, including RfPs, HoTs, lease agreements, fit-out agreements, built-to-suit projects, internal company reports/approvals and related management or services agreements, representing both lessees and lessors. I am also experienced in complex international arbitration.

As a sports law specialist, I advise agencies, federations, governmental bodies, clubs, athletes, sports gear manufacturers and agents on commercial and player contracts, regulatory issues, transfers and day-to-day operations across various sports. I have substantial experience on all aspects of organising major international sporting events, including negotiation of event organisation agreements, bidding, broadcasting, sponsoring, rights protection programmes and Covid-19-related issues, as well as on all legal and business issues concerning esports and gaming, including building up and operating complex regulatory and tournament structures and exploitation of rights. I have experience in acting for clients before courts, arbitration tribunals and internal sporting bodies.

I am the co-author of the textbook 'Sports Law' (Budapest 2011) and my articles on sports law are regularly published in prestigious law journals and on professional industry websites. As well as speaking at various conferences on sports law and lecturing at universities, I have acted as the national expert for Hungary in the preparation of EU studies on sports organisers' rights, as well as on betting-related match fixing. I am Editorial Board Member at LawInSport Europe Division. I am the leading lawyer of Bird & Bird's team winning the Wolters Kluwer Legal Award 'Team of the year 2019 in the category of compliance' for the advice provided on setting up the regulatory framework for and the institutionalisation of esports as sport in Hungary.

I am a member of the Budapest Bar and speak English and German in addition to Hungarian.