DLA Phillips Fox gets behind Australian mountain biking

Leading law firm DLA Phillips Fox is helping to boost Australia's reputation as a serious player on the international mountain biking circuit, sponsoring round six of the Nissan UCI MTB World Cup being held in Stromlo Forest Park, Canberra on 30-31 August, as well as the 2009 Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships that will take place in Canberra in September 2009.

The firm is acting as legal adviser to Canberra Off Road Cyclists Inc, the largest mountain biking club in Australia, which is hosting both events in addition to two 24 hour mountain bike races known as the Scott Australia 24 hour MTB Championships taking place in October 2008 and October 2009 which typically attract several thousand participants.  

The firm advised the Canberra Off Road Cyclists in setting up a company known as CORC World Events Ltd which is responsible for running the four high profile mountain biking events.

CORC anticipates there will be over 10,000 people at the Nissan MTB World Cup and over 20,000 spectators at the 2009 Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships that will see more than 750 of the world's top riders compete in the four mountain bike disciplines of Cross Country, Downhill, Four Cross and Observed Trials for the honour of being crowned World Champion.

In addition to providing assistance in establishing CORC World Events Ltd, DLA Phillips Fox has been advising on various contracts relating to sponsorship, merchandising, venue hire, equipment hire, catering, employment, as well as liability and insurance issues. 

The advice to date has been principally provided by partners Anthony Willis, George Marques and Michael Will, special counsel Bill Blake, and lawyer Sean King. 

Partner Anthony Willis said:

"We have been thrilled to be able to get behind this local initiative which sees international level mountain biking events coming to Australia for the first time. 

"Many of our staff and clients are involved in the very fast growing sport of mountain biking and so it is an opportunity for our staff to get involved in the legal activities required to put on the events and for us to invite clients along to enjoy the weekend festival of racing."

DLA Phillips Fox also has two teams entered in this year's Scott Australia 24 hour MTB Championship in which riders take turns riding a lap of the course (which takes approximately 1 hour) from midday on Saturday 11 October to midday on Sunday 12 October. 

Partner Anthony Willis said:

"This is really exciting for the members of our teams, some of whom have not participated in mountain bike races before.  They are really looking forward to participating in the event although I am not sure if they know what riding single track in the dark with 500 other riders at any one time is going to be like … Let's just hope it doesn't rain!"

For further information please contact:

Clare Buttner
Media Relations Consultant
Direct Tel: +61 2 9286 8400
Mobile: 0415 932 936
Email: clare.buttner@dlaphillipsfox.com

Or, for more information on the 2008 Nissan UCI MTB World Cup visit the website or view race footage.