BRUCE KENT
PARTNER
Tel: 03 9609 1635 Email: bkent@rk.com.au

Bruce is our Sports Law team Leader and is a Partner in our Commercial Litigation Department. He has over 30 years experience in various areas of Sports Law including the strategic development and expansion of sporting clubs, drafting constitutions for sporting clubs and leagues or associations, drafting policies and hire agreements and the licensing and leasing of sporting facilities. Bruce also specialises in Insurance Law and therefore has extensive experience in relation to the arrangement of insurance policies for sports clubs and the administration of liability claims. In addition to his professional experience, Bruce is very passionate about sport and has been President of a football, cricket and sports club for 15 years.

MICHAEL MAIN
PARTNER
Tel: 03 9609 1622 Email: mmain@rk.com.au

Michael is a Senior Partner in our Commercial Litigation Department and has extensive Sports Law experience. Michael is most notably known for successfully defending Mark French (Australian Olympic cyclist) in the Court of Arbitration for Sport over alleged drug use. He has experience in copyright litigation concerning the VFL/AFL logo as well as racing broadcasting issues as a Solicitor for a radio station. Michael is also the honorary Solicitor for Lorne Surf Lifesaving Club dealing with issues such as sports insurance, fund raising and liability issues.

PAUL RONFELDT
PARTNER
Tel: 03 9609 1686 Email: pronfeldt@rk.com.au

Paul is a Partner in our Employment and Industrial Relations Department and has specific experience in advising employers in the sports industry. He has acted for the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games “SOCOG” in relation to various employment matters, including drafting and negotiating the award which applied to all employers and employees providing services to SOCOG during the period of the 2000 Olympic Games. He has also advised an NRL Club in relation to executive employment disputes and contractual matters.

Prior to joining Russell Kennedy Ragu practiced at the Bar. He brings to the firm the experience of 14 years as a barrister engaged in a broad range of matters. Administrative Law and judicial review featured prominently in his practice at the Bar. In addition to this he has specific Sports Law experience advising athletes in anti doping cases, representing athletes and clubs in disciplinary and administrative appeal proceedings (hockey/cricket) and re writing competition and judiciary rules. He has advised associations on governance and incorporation issues and has negotiated leases for sporting ground use. Ragu is a former weightlifter and still plays competition cricket and hockey.

Nathan is a Senior Associate in our Commercial Litigation Department and has experience in Sports Law and the management and structuring of sporting organisations. Nathan has notably acted in disputes relating to the organisation and broadcasting of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. He also has experience in the management and structuring of sporting organisations, having been involved in establishing a national and international martial arts organisation, of which he is currently the Treasurer. Nathan currently holds the rank of Third Dan in Musou Jikiden Eishin-Ryu Iaido (Japanese sword-fighting) and won a gold medal in the Junior Teams Division and a silver medal in the Third Dan Individual Division at the All Japan Iaido Federation Championships held in Kyoto, Japan on 4 May 2007.

CRAIG SUBOCZ
SOLICITOR
Tel: 03 9609 1646 Email: csubocz@rk.com.au

Craig is a Solicitor in our Commercial General Department and has expertise in all Technology and Intellectual Property matters. He advises clients in relation to the protection and exploitation of intellectual property and confidential information and handles trade mark applications on behalf of clients in Australia and overseas. Craig represented an investor in a joint venture to operate a team in a high-profile Australian sport. He also advised a suburban football league in relation to its corporate governance, playing and administrative rules, trade practices compliance, rights and obligations of volunteers, and intellectual property protection. Craig is a member of Engineers Australia, the Licensing Executives Society and the Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand, and is a committee member of the Victorian Society for Computers and the Law.