Andy Danson

I'm a commercial and regulatory lawyer, acting for clients in the gambling and sports sectors. I provide practical and commercial solutions for clients, whether in the course of advising on major commercial contracts, British and international gambling regulation, or the structuring of new business models. I'm the head of Bird & Bird's international gambling group.

As the head of our international gambling group, I co-ordinate multi-jurisdictional gambling regulatory advice from across Bird & Bird's international offices, as well as advising on British gambling regulatory issues. I regularly advise on a broad range of commercial contracts in the gambling sector, including RGS, software and game supply, white label, content streaming, data supply, hedging, affiliate and payment processing deals. I advise a wide spectrum of gambling businesses, from major listed operators to new market entrants and sophisticated betting syndicates.

As a partner in our industry-leading sports group, I have extensive experience of major international sports media and data rights, sponsorship, licensing, event staging and supply agreements. I advise major national and international governing bodies and rights holders, teams, broadcasters, agencies and global brands. I was seconded to LOCOG, the organising committee for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and am a former first-class cricketer.

I'm a member of the International Masters of Gaming Law, and have been invited by the European Commission and the Asser Institute to participate in expert workshops on the advertising of gambling, and the commercial relationship between the sports and gambling industries.

• Gambling Regulatory Advice: I've advised numerous clients on British and international gambling regulation, including GVC, MyLotto24, Gaming Realms, Sporting Index, Hong Kong Jockey Club, FunFair, Smarkets, RISQ, Football Index, Paddy Power Betfair and William Hill.
• Gambling Commercial Contracts: Gambling sector clients I've advised on commercial contracts include Sky Bet, MyLotto24, Playtech, GVC, Gamesys, Nektan, Sportech, Gaming Realms, Hong Kong Jockey Club, Smartgames, RISQ, Metric, Sporting Index and IWG.
• Sponsorship Contracts: I have advised on some of the most significant sponsorship contracts in the sports sector, for clients including Formula 1, Sky Bet, PUMA, ICC, Arsenal FC, Virgin Racing, West Indies Cricket Board and LOCOG (London 2012 Olympics).
• Sports Media Rights and Data: Clients I have advised on major sports media rights and/or data licensing agreements include Perform, Dugout, ATP Media, Formula 1, The Racing Partnership/Arena Racing Corporation, West Indies Cricket Board, UFC, WWE and the Bundesliga.