As of 15 September 2021, Christian Frodl will join Klinkert Rechtsanwälte as Counsel. Previously, Frodl worked for Sky Deutschland and Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL).
Frodl began his career as a lawyer at Baker & McKenzie and worked at DFL from 2009 to 2016, most recently in the position of Senior Legal Counsel. During this time, Frodl focused on advising the DFL Group on their commercial activities. He played a leading role in the tender of the Bundesliga media rights in 2012 and 2016 as well as in the setup and implementation of the DFL's sports data business. In 2017, the Hanau native moved to Sky Deutschland, where he was responsible for the management of national and international sports rights as Director Sports Rights & Commercialization. In this role, in addition to managing the rights acquisition, his responsibilities included the exploitation of these media rights as well as the strategic development of new business and distribution models. Frodl is regarded as one of the leading experts at the interface of sports and media in the DACH region. He has an excellent network in the industry following his tenures at DFL and Sky.
With Frodl, Klinkert continues to grow its sports media practice. Klinkert Rechtsanwälte regularly advises sports associations, soccer clubs, players and agencies on contract drafting and in legal disputes. In the person of Piet Bubenzer, the firm is known in particular for its advice to the DFL and the DFB on tenders for media rights and its copyright advice to FIFA. Another focus in the sports sector is representation before courts and in arbitration proceedings. Here, the firm is represented by partner Annett Rombach, who is also an arbitrator at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
This portfolio is significantly expanded by Frodl's legal expertise and his project and management experience. Thus, Klinkert Rechtsanwälte recommends itself in an even stronger line-up for consultancy in the sports and media industries.