Australian law firm MinterEllison have been named as the official lawyers of the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast ©MinterEllison

Australian law firm MinterEllison have been named as the official lawyers of the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.

A three-year partnership was announced today by Nigel Chamier, chairman of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC), and the legal company's chief executive Tony Harrington.

MinterEllison will provide a fully outsourced legal and brand protection service to Gold Coast 2018, in what is described as a "world first" for a major sporting event.

They will embed a team of lawyers within GOLDOC and draw in specialist advisers when required.

“This is a very important partnership for GOLDOC and it gives us great confidence as we move towards 2018 to know that we have a leading global legal firm providing the organisation with advice right up until the Games and then through to dissolution," said Chamier.

"We are also very proud that the MinterEllison team will get to experience the diversity of working with an international multi-sport event that has multiple and complex operational and business deliverables."

MinterEllison is the only top Australian law firm to have an office in Gold Coast, where it has had a presence for 30 years.

Gold Coast 2018 has signed up a major Australian law firm ©Gold Coast 2018
Gold Coast 2018 has signed up a major Australian law firm ©Gold Coast 2018

"This unique partnership truly embodies what drives us at MinterEllison," said Harrington.

"It's about deep collaboration and innovation - putting ourselves in GOLDOC’s shoes and providing a service that adds value and reduces complexity for GOLDOC.

"Everyone at the firm is proud and tremendously excited to be involved in delivering the largest sporting event in Australia this decade.

"When the curtain falls on the closing ceremony in April 2018, MinterEllison will be the only law firm in Australia, and quite possibly the world, with complete end-to-end major event project experience."

The move was also welcomed by Gold Coast's Mayor Tom Tate.

"I applaud MinterEllison for their association with GOLDOC and commitment to delivering a great event," he said.

"This will create jobs and deliver a lasting legacy for our city.’’

The law firm will work in areas including sponsorship, broadcasting, ticketing, licensing, ceremony production, venue use and construction.

MinterEllison also worked in an advisory capacity at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney and the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, as well as at the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia.