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Ashton Welsh
LLB • Auckland
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Ashton, one of New Zealand’s leading sports lawyers, heads-up the firm's Sports, Entertainment and Venues team.
Ashton’s primary focus is on “the business of sport”. He advises a range of sports organisations, agencies, media/production companies, stadia / venue owners and event promoters in the exploitation of their commercial rights, the management of governance issues and the development of strategies to meet their commercial objectives.
Clients have said "Ashton is very responsive, highly commercially aware, well connected and an expert in the sports marketing sector. He's also great to communicate with and very supportive of our business priorities and objectives."
"He's an exceptionally qualified sports business lawyer who deals in a very personable manner on behalf of his major sporting and business clientele. His knowledge is up to the minute and he's also keenly aware of market nuances."
Ashton is a member of the Australia & NZ Sports Lawyers Association.
Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025
Sports Law
Leading Lawyer
The International Who's Who Legal
Sports & Entertainment
Global / National Leader
Work Highlights
New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC)
Supporting NZOC and the NZ Team across 4 x Winter Olympic Games, 3 x Summer Olympic Games and 4 x Commonwealth Games.
Advised NZOC in the establishment of the New Zealand Olympic Foundation (set-up to fund the NZ Team’s participation at various Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games).
Also advised NZOC re new ticketing / hospitality arrangements for Paris 2024 (following the appointment of On-Location as the IOC’s Official Olympic Hospitality Provider).
Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ)
Supporting PNZ across 4 x Winter Paralympics and 3 x Summer Paralympics. Helped PNZ develop and successfully deliver its “Spirit of Gold” campaign.
Yachting New Zealand (YNZ)
Helped YNZ successfully bid (and host) the 49er/49FX/Nacra 17 World Championships. Currently advising YNZ in respect of the development of a NZ Sailing Team High Performance Centre. Convenor of Selectors for YNZ for the New Zealand Sailing Team.
New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL)
Advised NZRL in securing a new broadcast rights and sponsorship deal with Sky Television Network. Supported and led NZRL through the governance aspects of admitting Aotearoa New Zealand Maori Rugby League as a full member of NZRL.
Rotorua City Council (RCC)
Negotiated / finalised a Strategic Investment & Host City Agreement between RCC and National Rugby League (NRL) to stage the NRL All Stars game in Rotorua in February 2023.
New Zealand Football (NZF)
Advised NZF in respect of its investment in having a New Zealand professional women's football team participate in the W-League (the Wellington Phoenix). Also advised NZF in respect of its 2022 / 2023 international home / friendly fixtures against Australia (men’s), USA (women’s) and China (men’s).
Netball New Zealand (NNZ)
Advised NNZ in its successful bid to host Word Netball’s Fast5 World Series from 2022 to 2025.
Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS)
Advising RNZYS on its role as the holder, defender and trustee of the America’s Cup (AC36 and AC 37). Member of RNZYS’s America’s Cup Committee.
ASB Classic (ATP 250 + WTA 250 tournament)
Advised Tennis Auckland and Tennis New Zealand in the successful re-launch of the ASB Classic after a 3 year hiatus due to COVID-19. This included the urgent re-negotiation / renewal of all major sponsorship / media rights / service provider / supplier agreements.
Hockey New Zealand (HNZ)
Advised HNZ in respect of its formal relationship with the Hockey Players Association (NZ) (being the representative organisation for players selected to the Black Sticks men’s and women’s teams).
