The sports and entertainment industry in Nepal has grown significantly, buoyed by increased global connectivity and the passion of a young population. This broad sector includes professional sports (cricket, football, etc., with growing leagues and tournaments), event management companies organizing concerts, festivals, and cultural shows, movie and music production houses, talent agencies, and the emerging fields of e-sports and digital content creation (such as YouTube channels and streaming services). Sports and entertainment projects often have high public visibility and can yield substantial returns on investment, but they also carry high risks and regulatory hurdles. Organizing a major event, for example, requires permits from multiple local authorities (often the Chief District Officer for security and public order, and various municipal permissions), as well as adherence to safety standards and sometimes censorship or content guidelines. Sports bodies and clubs need to function within the legal framework set by national sports councils and international sports regulations (for instance, FIFA rules for football or ICC guidelines for cricket). Entertainment companies and artists have to manage intellectual property rights, royalty arrangements, and contracts across a range of stakeholders – from performers and athletes to sponsors, broadcasters, and venue owners. Moreover, given the cross-border nature of modern entertainment (foreign artists performing in Nepal or Nepali content distributed abroad), immigration and international IP issues can come into play.

Gandhi & Associates offers legal expertise across the spectrum of sports and entertainment activities. We assist event organizers with pre-event clearances: obtaining the necessary approvals from district administration and local bodies, advising on contracts with artists, venues, and vendors, and preparing risk mitigation strategies (including insurance for events, waivers for participants, and contingency plans for unforeseen cancellations or delays). Our lawyers have facilitated high-profile music festivals and sports events, ensuring that organizers comply with all legal obligations while delivering a successful experience. In sports, we advise sports associations and clubs on their governance documents, player contracts, sponsorship and merchandising deals, and dispute resolution mechanisms (for example, disciplinary actions or match-related disputes that might need arbitration). We also have experience in setting up sports franchises and leagues, including structuring team ownership, drafting league bylaws, and negotiating media rights agreements. For our entertainment clients – which include filmmakers, production houses, and talent management agencies – we provide services such as drafting performance contracts, managing intellectual property (like registering copyrights for films or music, and licensing content to distributors or streaming platforms), and resolving any disputes arising from contracts or defamation issues. As new forms of entertainment such as e-sports and digital streaming gain traction, we counsel clients on regulatory considerations unique to those domains, staying ahead of the curve as Nepal updates its laws in these areas. Overall, our aim is to handle the legal complexities behind the scenes so that our clients in sports and entertainment can focus on creativity, performance, and engaging their audience.

Representative Experience:

• Advising the organizer of Nepal’s premier domestic T20 cricket competition, the Nepal Premier League (the first and largest of its kind), on a range of legal issues including media and advertising rights licensed from the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), franchise agreements, sponsorship arrangements, and compliance with sports governance norms;
• Advised a prominent Nepali event management company on the legal aspects of organizing large-scale concerts and entertainment events, including drafting artist engagement contracts, securing public performance licenses for music, and advising on crowd management and liability waivers;
• Assisted the promoters of a major international music festival franchise in securing all local approvals for hosting the event in Nepal, including permissions from the District Administration Office for security planning, customs clearances for imported sound and staging equipment, and compliance with local content and curfew regulations;
• Advised the organizer of a popular pop culture and anime convention on obtaining event permits from the District Administration Office and relevant local authorities. Our role also included drafting agreements with international artists and sponsors, tailored to Nepali regulatory and commercial requirements.