Conflict of Interest Clause

A conflict-of-interest clause requires the athlete to avoid relationships, commitments, or activities that would compromise the brand partnership. It is broader than an exclusivity clause: where exclusivity blocks direct competitors, a conflict-of-interest clause can reach indirect relationships (advisory roles, equity stakes, family relationships) and unpaid associations (volunteering for a competing collective). The clause typically requires the athlete to disclose any potential conflict before entering into it, and gives the brand veto rights. Athletes should narrow the definition of "conflict" to something operational and time-bounded, push for written notice and a cure period, and exclude pre-existing relationships that were disclosed at signing. Open-ended conflict clauses become a chokehold over an athlete's other business decisions.