McLaughlins Lawyers congratulate and celebrate a significant milestone for football on the Gold Coast

Recently McLaughlins Lawyers had the satisfaction of witnessing the fruits of providing      pro bono legal services to a significant community sports project.

The occasion was the Gold Coast United FC inaugural awards night at RACV Royal Pines attended by over 600 players, parents, sponsors, volunteers and politicians. The recently established Gold Coast United football club had 320 boys,  girls,  women and men from six years of age to over 20s celebrate the end of their first season in the National Premier League (NPL).

18 months ago, there was no Football club, venue or money. Respecting its values of courage and community support McLaughlins decided to throw its support behind this exciting new initiative which will change the landscape of Football in this city for the better by providing not only money but legal services on a pro bono basis.

Gold Coast United is the only football club on the Gold Coast to hold a men’s  and women’s NPL licence as well as a Skill Acquisition Program. This is the level of football below the A and W Leagues. The Club is specifically for elite young and senior players.

McLaughlin’s Lawyers has contributed over 1000 hours in legal service s at no cost to this new club. This contribution included the drafting of a unique and complex constitution which is a “game Changer” for Football. McLaughlins also drafted the sponsorship, players, and employment  and volunteer agreements and provided advice to the Gold Coast United board on corporate governance matters on all levels.

This was a massive investment in time designing a legal structure which encourages ensure participation from all sectors of the football community on the Gold Coast without any opportunity for self-interest to prevail.

The legal structure is a major factor in making the club successful and sustainable and setting it aside from the rest of the local clubs.

This is one of many community sports projects that McLaughlins Lawyers, your Gold Coast Lawyers, are assisting Sports Gold Coast on a pro bono basis. A big thank you,  to the efforts of our senior corporate counsel Fred Darby and Geoff Smith and Sports Lawyer Alexandra Hamlyn.

Author:  Geoff Smith

Director: Ian Kenendy

Date: 10 October 2018