Andy Danson

I'm the head of the firm's international Media, Entertainment and Sports group, a cross-disciplinary international team focused on supporting our clients in the sports, gambling, broadcasting, social media and digital content, games, music, publishing, advertising and marketing sectors.

My own practice is focused on the gambling and sports sectors. I provide practical and commercial solutions for clients, whether in the course of advising on major commercial transactions, British and international gambling regulation, sports data and media rights exploitation, or the structuring of new business models. I'm also 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 and affiliate marketing 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 data and media 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 Allwyn, Hong Kong Jockey Club, LeoVegas, William Hill, White Hat Gaming, Sportradar, Sporting Group, DoubleDown Interactive and Smarkets.
• Gambling Commercial Contracts: Gambling sector clients I've advised on commercial contracts include Allwyn, Sky Bet, Playtech, William Hill, White Hat Gaming, Gamesys, Hong Kong Jockey Club, Metric Gaming and Sporting Group.
• Sports Media and Data Rights and Data: Clients I have advised on major sports data and/or media rights matters include Tennis Data Innovations (TDI)/ATP Media, STATS Perform, Formula 1, The Racing Partnership/Arena Racing Corporation, Kambi, William Hill, Sky Bet and Matchbook.
• Sponsorship Contracts: I have advised on some of the most significant sponsorship contracts in the sports sector, for clients including Sky Bet, Formula 1, PUMA, the ICC and Arsenal FC.