We're Changing Our Name!

Published March 22, 2011

Ottawa – March 23, 2011 – The Partners at the Centre for Sport and Law are pleased to share with friends, colleagues and clients our new name: Sport Law & Strategy Group.

The Canadian sport system has evolved over the last two decades – and so have we. We are proud of our ability to grow and adapt to today’s ever-changing environment and to the increasingly complex needs of our clients. After a year-long renewal process, we have redesigned our look to remain true to our past while positioning us for our third decade of providing strategic insights to the Canadian sport system.

The Sport Law & Strategy Group (formerly the Centre for Sport and Law) is a brand that reflects the trust and respect that we as Partners have in each other, as well as the enduring relationships that we have established over the years with our clients. Our new name and logo are at the core of our brand, and reflect our commitment to our clients and to our organizational values of justice, professional excellence, respect, wellness, and passion.

“We are a group of dedicated and passionate individuals who believe deeply in the power of sport to make a significant contribution to the vitality and well-being of Canadians and Canadian society. Our role as strategic advisors is to provide wise counsel, well-researched opinions, and practical solutions to complex problems in the areas of the law, communications, and organizational planning,” shared Hilary Findlay, co-founder of the Centre for Sport and Law.

The Centre for Sport and Law’s story is a unique one. Its origins trace back 20 years when it became the first organization in Canada to offer legal services exclusively to sport administrators. The organization’s co-founders, Rachel Corbett and Hilary Findlay, pioneered many of the policy tools and dispute resolution systems that are today embedded in the Canadian sport system. Hilary now teaches in the Department of Sport Management at Brock University and continues to be engaged with the Sport Law & Strategy Group as an advisor, academic researcher and legal expert.

Rachel is sought after for her expertise in managing disputes, leading large-scale organizational system changes, and guiding organizations through their planning initiatives. “Sport still needs to deal with fundamental legal issues and we are here to do that. But as an increasingly important element of the Canadian economy and national psyche, sport also needs to address new challenges in the areas of planning, communications, governance, research and business strategy. The Sport Law & Strategy Group reflects the broad range of services that we now offer,” indicated Rachel.

Steve Indig, Managing Partner, joined the Centre for Sport and Law nine years ago and provides traditional legal and dispute resolution services to over 100 sport organizations across the country. Steve is a former varsity and national team swimmer and when not busy helping sport leaders manage their legal affairs, he can be found pool-side coaching age group and masters’ swimmers. Steve added: “For years I have been helping organizations deal with the issues that prevent them from optimizing their organization’s performance. We now offer a range of comprehensive solutions to help sport leaders more proactively manage the fires that tend to dominate their daily work environment.”

Two years ago, long-time sport leader Dina Bell-Laroche and her company Full Circle Communications joined the Centre for Sport and Law. Dina brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the areas of communications, facilitation, and strategic management. Dina is well known in the sport community for her ability to help organizations pursue their objectives more strategically through a variety of values-based techniques and processes. In the last 20 years Dina has served in a variety of communications roles at over a dozen major Games, including being named the Canadian Press Chief for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. “The Sport Law & Strategy Group reflects our belief that sport is a positive force for good in Canadian society and that we, as management strategists, can help sport leaders make more effective and informed decisions in support of their values and vision. We are here to help our clients address their challenges in innovative ways,” shared Dina.

Our expanded team within the Sport Law & Strategy Group has the experience and skills to provide a wide range of strategic services. Researcher Kevin Lawrie joined the Centre for Sport and Law in 2009 and provides support and advice in the areas of social media, research design, data analysis and writing. Lawyer LeeAnn Cupidio recently joined the organization and supports the Sport Law & Strategy Group legal team.

We look forward to continuing our work together to assist sport leaders as they prepare to navigate the complexities that surround managing sport organizations in the 21^st century.