Two birds, one Copenhagen Flames. The Danish esports organisation has announced a partnership with law firm Bird & Bird which will see the establishment of a legal hotline, and a free audit service for player and sponsorship contracts. 
The firm has represented clients including Arsenal FC and the English F.A. which is evidence of its substantial calibre. The statement from the Flames read: “We are pleased to announce our brand-new partnership with the international law firm, Bird & Bird. With more than 1.200 legal advisers around the world we’ve partnered with one of the top law firms in the world.
“As always, our aim is to better and help build the Danish esports scene, and as such this partnership, has a very distinct way of helping us achieve this goal.”
Whilst undoubtedly there is more legal expertise needed in esports as whole, the decision for a team and a firm to ‘partner up’ is slightly off the wall. On what the firm expects of the arrangement Lars Karnoe, Senior Counsel of Bird & Bird, said: “The cooperation gives us the opportunity to call attention to our Danish and international knowledge of the legal aspects of esports and related activities.
“At the same time it gives us the opportunity to continue to work with a hugely interesting industry that we, based on our very deep Tech & Comms sector knowledge, have an especially good base to service. Bird & Bird has for many years been top-ranked in Europe for legal advice in the IT sector by the widely recognized guide Chambers and we wish to work with companies that like us are ambitious and well reputed.”
The fact that Bird & Bird will be offering some services gratis as a part of this arrangement will be a welcome boost to the Danish esports scene. Auditing player and sponsor contracts free of charge should prove an invaluable service especially for those teams just getting started.
Copenhagen Flames Owner and CEO Steffen Thomsen commented: “This is obviously huge for us, as we’ve managed to attract a company as large and respected as Bird & Bird. With this coopereation we’ve again looked to create a way to benefit the growing and highly enthusiastic esports community in Denmark. Creating a hotline for legal counsel regarding esport contracts, has been very important to us, as I know firsthand how big of a challenge this can be, when new to the business.
Likewise, for players or esport athletes being introduced to the business side of things, for the first time. This creates both more knowledge as well as security for these players, not to mention their parents and the organisations. I couldn’t be happier and look forward to working with our new partners, Bird & Bird.“
On what further services Bird & Bird are able to offer teams and players, Karnoe stated: “Among others we offer advice on media and new media (including streaming) rights strategies and agreements, sponsorship agreements, player contracts, brand management, event organisation, fundraising and corporate restructuring. Additionally we offer advice on Sports governance, drafting and enforcing rules and regulations, drafting and implementing anti-corruption and anti-doping policies, gambling regulatory advice and dispute resolution.”
Esports Insider says: An ever increasing number of law firms are opening up esports arms and seriously looking to the industry as it further professionalises and official contracts become part and parcel across the sphere. There is an endless list of facets in which proper legal counsel can provide a benefit to not only players but teams too, and this partnership between the Flames and Bird & Bird should give it some clout in Denmark.
