Local law firm Rajah and Tann Singapore LLP has come on board as the fifth sponsor of next year's SEA Games from June 5-16. The firm was announced on Thursday as the official legal partner of the 28th biennial regional meet at a press conference at the Straits Trading Building.

The firm will assist the Singapore South-east Asian Games Organising Committee (Singsoc) by advising, preparing and negotiating the various legal documentation for the hosting and staging of the Games. The documentation include agreements on sponsorships, media rights, marketing, merchandising, licensing, venue, logistics, ticketing, and participation by athletes and torch relay runners.

They will also provide legal support on matters relating to the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights with regard to the Games. While the firm declined to reveal the value of their sponsorship, a Tier Three sponsorship deal is valued at $250,000 and above.

Outside the Games, the firm will also conduct educational clinics for National Sports Associations (NSA) to equip them with the knowledge to handle legal complexities that may arise when they are organising events.

"Rajah & Tann has specialised expertise in sports law, and believes in the value of sport and in supporting community events (which) makes them both an ideal partner and ambassador of the spirit of the 28th SEA Games, which we look for when co-creating this sporting extravaganza," said Toh Boon Yi, Singsoc's chief of community and corporate outreach.

Added Senior Counsel Lee Eng Beng, managing partner of Rajah & Tann: "We are extremely proud to be an official partner of the SEA Games. It is an ideal platform for us to show our support for sports and the community in the region, especially so since we have offices in almost all of the countries that are participating in the SEA Games."