DLA Piper

Professional QualificationsSolicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales

EXPERIENCE

Advised a major sporting event on the legal issues and communications matters arising in connection with a proposed restriction on participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes.
Advise UEFA across all of its showpiece events, including UEFA Champions League Final, UEFA Europa League Final, UEFA Europa Conference League Final and the UEFA EURO. This work may include drafting, negotiating and advising on Hospitality, Catering and Production agreements, Sales Agent contracts for the sale of Official Hospitality Packages, Data processing agreements and Ticketing terms and conditions.
Advise London Marathon Events year-round, culminating in the London Marathon. This advice includes drafting and negotiating all commercial contracts required to stage the event (including supplier contracts, steward agreements, entry terms, sponsorship agreements, IT contracts), running the brand protection programme and providing the advice on the full range of commercial, data and intellectual property matters across all departments.
Advised with respect to the return of RideLondon (the world’s largest mass-participation cycling event) to the streets of London. Again, this advice includes drafting and negotiating all contracts required to stage the event, managing the brand protection programme and providing the advice on the full range of commercial, data and intellectual property matters.
Assisted in acquiring the business and certain assets of Grounded Events Limited (in administration) (the previous owner of Brighton Marathon) from the Administrators (FRP Advisory). This included, amongst others, Brighton Marathon’s brand and intellectual property. Simultaneously, Zane acted for London Marathon Events on the grant to it of a licence to hold the event from Brighton & Hove City Council.
Advised London Marathon with respect to its groundbreaking joint venture with UK Athletics and Great North Run to help it tackle the financial crisis in the sport, to transform the future and growth of the sport in the UK and to help it deliver major events.
Drafted and negotiated both the Presenting Partner Agreement and new Title Sponsorship Agreement for RideLondon with regard to Electrified Automobile Vehicles between Ford and London Marathon Events Limited.
Advised AELTC on all matters in relation to the staging of The Championships each year for approximately 15 years, including guidance on ticketing process and ticketing terms and conditions and other documentation, running AELTC’s anti-infringement policy to prevent unauthorised sales of tickets and hospitality and brand protection programme. We provide onsite assistance to AELTC during The Championships, Wimbledon each year in relation to brand protection and ticketing. In addition to such work, I advise AELTC year-round on the full range of commercial, contractual, and intellectual property matters across all departments.

Education

Keele University, LLB

AWARDS

Ranked as a Notable practitioner in the Sports sector (UK wide) in Chambers & Partners 2024
‘Best Professional Services in Sport – Legal’ at the Sports Business Awards in 2022
Recognised by The Lawyer magazine as one of the Hot 100 in 2022
Ranked in Legal 500

Publications

Having contributions from more than 50 of the leading experts in the field, Zane co-authored a chapter on ‘Ticketing Issues in Football’ in the Football and the Law book, published in 2022
He is a regular contributor to sports publications and author of many articles in the sports sector

Seminars