Rose McDowall

Rose McDowall is an associate in the Milton Keynes Commercial/TMT team at Dentons. Her work involves advising renowned clients in sport, such as premiership sports teams and sports governing bodies. Rose has been recognised as a “key lawyer” by The Legal 500, which describes Rose as a “rising star […], particularly noteworthy for her experience with commercial contracts, especially in media distribution”.[1]

1. When did your interest in sports law begin?   

I think it’s important to consider what ‘sports law’ is first; my idea of sports law probably falls under a wider bracket of Sports, Media and Entertainment (although with the latter elements viewed through the sports lens), and there is definitely a lot of overlap between these areas. Of course, it can mean advising on more ‘pure’ sport and regulation too. I worked in Disney’s legal team in media distribution before I started my training contract (and loved it) so knew I enjoyed that side of things. Working at Dentons has then provided opportunities to work with fantastic sports clients, and I think that’s where that aspect clicked into place. Ultimately there has been a lot of luck (and serendipity) involved, but also design; I have tried to seize opportunities wherever they present themselves, and focus on the types of work I really enjoy doing. 

2. What makes working in the sports industry unique?   

I think it’s an exciting area to work; it’s topical, fast-paced and often cutting edge. To give some examples, you may need to use the latest technology to ensure you are ahead of the competition, or you may need to consider updates to rules and regulations. The legislative landscape is also constantly evolving, and there are many areas that touch on sport (without being clearly sport-focused) e.g. the Online Safety Bill and proposed reforms to the gambling industry, plus regulatory matters to consider like advertising. In short, there are many different elements to consider in sports transactions, and these often intersect with other areas of law too – I regularly work with colleagues in our corporate, employment and competition teams – and I don’t think there are many other industries with that breadth. 

3. Please can you tell us about an interesting case that you have worked on in sport?  

I have worked on quite a few things recently that are really interesting but also highly confidential, so there isn’t much I can say about those (apart from that they have been in the news recently)! That said, I advised Viaplay on their acquisition of Premier Sports last year (including drafting transition agreements) and I enjoyed the overlap of sport and media there. The year on year growth for sports broadcasting is really interesting. I have also had some ‘pinch-me’ calls in the past where I’ve been negotiating with former grand prix drivers and team principals. That is quite a surreal start to the day – particularly for someone who enjoys F1!

4. What are some key legal developments in sport at the moment? 
 
It’s not so much a legal development as a development generally, but I am really excited by the increased focus on women’s sport, and what that means for the industry in future. Seeing the success of women’s teams, and the commercialisation of those teams, is fantastic, and there are a lot of knock-on conversations legally. A colleague recently wrote about the changes to employment contracts for sportswomen (in relation to e.g. maternity leave) and there is also the question of salary for teams that are moving from semi-pro to professional. It is a really interesting time, and I’m looking forward to seeing those developments play out, but I also think there is a great deal of untapped potential too – particularly in mainstream media. 

5. What do you enjoy most about working in the sports industry?   

Definitely the breadth and variety of work on offer. It’s also great to work in a rapidly growing industry; the global opportunities are immense. I was in The Gambia during part of the World Cup last year, and the excitement around the games was palpable. Sport brings people together in a way not many things can.

6. What is your proudest professional achievement?   

That is a very tough question to answer! I think it’s important to recognise the small wins. That said, being listed as a ‘key lawyer’ for sports in the Legal 500 was exciting.

7. What advice would you give to aspiring sports lawyers?   

I don’t think there is a right or wrong way to approach sports law – everyone has a different route. I would just make the most of all the opportunities that present themselves. Personally, I’m also glad to have had quite a broad background and strong grounding in contract law (or whatever kind of law you specialise in) as that really informs the work I do. Having that grounding is really helpful, because ultimately a contract is a contract, and you will always be able to apply those skills to the sports sector. Otherwise, I would say keep learning and approach setbacks as opportunities where you can.

8. Please can you describe a typical day in your life?   

I don’t think there is a typical day - I have been asked this a few times so I should probably have a better answer up my sleeve by now! When I’m not working I try to spend as much time as I can with my dog, my partner and my family and friends. I’m lucky that Dentons has a flexible approach to remote working, and that means I can work from home most days, which definitely helps with work/life balance. When I log on I generally try to prioritise tasks for the day around any calls or meetings, and then work through those matters. I try to take a break at lunch too (ideally that means 20 minutes of gardening, or some exercise if time allows!)

[1] https://www.legal500.com/c/south-east/tmt-technology-media-and-telecoms/sport/
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