August 17, 2023
By Ayo Onikoyi
In the heart of the legal profession, Adedotun Olusanya, an accomplished legal practitioner, is making headlines for his remarkable contributions across various aspects of sports-related legal matters and his advocacy of adopting corporate governance standards among sport executives.
With a career spanning a decade of legal practice, law teaching and research, Olusanya has become a respected figure known for his extensive knowledge and contributions to not just the legal profession, but has become a beacon of knowledge and a go-to authority in navigating the complexities of diverse legal spheres related with sports.
In a recent interview, Olusanya emphasised the evolving nature of sports law and the importance of adapting to the changing landscape. Stating that sports law is a dynamic field that requires a nuanced understanding of both legal principles and the unique dynamics of the sports industry.
Beyond his legal practice, he actively engages in sharing knowledge and insights with young and professional athletes, sports fans on radio and the sports law community. He has participated in conferences, seminars, and educational programmes, contributing to the professional development of sports both in Nigeria and abroad. Adedotun’s participation at the Law-In-Sports and Soccerex Conferences gave him a unique opportunity of networking with leading sports executives and agents. He claims that “such professional networks are necessary if I must follow my long-term dream of providing a strong platform for representing young and professional athletes on a global scale”.
Talking about his mastery of the United Kingdom and US legal systems and ambitions to be a legal professional on a global scale, Olusanya said “I focused my postgraduate education to the Sports Industry as I strategically studied Corporate Finance; US, UK and European Union Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisition, International Commercial and Investment Arbitration, Commercialization of Intellectual Property Law and my LLM thesis in the area of Sport Governance.
“The unique blend of these courses allowed me to understand some of the most topical issues in the field of sports law, such as the rationale behind financial fair play provisions by all major soccer leagues, non-interventionist policy and independence requirements within FIFA, legal framework of bidding for sport broadcast rights, exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over legal issues in most international sport bodies and so on.
“After my initial LLM studies in the United Kingdom, I returned to Nigeria to lecture at Afe Babalola University (Ado-Ekiti) with the aim of furthering my research around the legal topics in the sport industry. My substantial lecturing experience was a very rewarding time as the passion and inquisitive nature of my students was quite inspirational. I was very active in training the Moot and Mock Teams while I delivered lectures in Criminal Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution and Conflicts of Law”
The legal practitioner stated that his additional exposure to the US legal system helped his long-term goal of becoming a legal professional focused on the sports industry, saying “the United States has the biggest sports market in the world. A US law degree was the missing jig-saw/puzzle in meeting my long-term career goal. I believed I required an in-depth understanding of the United States Legal System despite my initial common law background of the Nigerian and the United Kingdom.” His potential as a leader of thought due to his strong research and practice background gave him a rare privilege of receiving two full-tuition scholarships, a feat that is not very common with US law schools as he recently completed his studies at Boston College School of Law and Saint Louis University School of Law.
Furthermore, on the recent traction and numerous downloads his work has received, he said that that the evolution of sport as a multi-billion dollar industry requires a fit-for-purpose governance structure within global sport federations like FIFA and World Athletics considering the fact that sport itself forms 3% of world trade and is a serious source of livelihood for sportsmen, their families and support cum management teams. He reiterated that the present structure at most global sports organizations do not adequately represent the interests of several industries that are complimentary of the sport industry like sport broadcasters, hospitality as well as issues of developing sustainable sport infrastructures with its implications on sovereign states. Adedotun’s publications titled “Beyond Sport Governance: Constructing a Veritable Platform for Transparency and Accountability in FIFA” and “Reforming FIFA Inside-Out: Fit-for-Purpose Governance Structure for the Global Soccer Governing Body” give great insights on how sovereign governments and corporate world can make FIFA and international sport bodies accountable and transparent.
Adedotun Olusanya’s dedication to advancing the field of Sports Law, International Law and Sports Governance has not only established him as a reputable researcher but also as an influential figure contributing significantly to the growth and development of legal practices and academic research associated with sports globally. He stands as a leading figure in the dynamic and evolving field of sports law.
Source: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/08/adedotun-olusanya-provides-insights-into-various-aspects-of-his-expertise/