Sports law solicitors

From grassroots to professional

Our legal team includes solicitors who have played sports at both professional and amateur levels and understand the industry's commercial and legal realities. 

Our client base includes English Football League (EFL) clubs, talent management agencies negotiating contracts and transfers, and international cricketers and footballers who have played at the highest level.

We understand the sports business at every level, assisting non-league clubs, amateur clubs, and grassroots organisations with specialist advice tailored to your circumstances.

Corporate law

We help sports industry clients respond to challenges large and small - from constitutional issues to mergers and acquisitions to constitutional issues, from shareholder matters to complex financing agreements.

Whether you're a sports agency, club, or governing body, we take the time to get to know you and your objectives, so we can deliver bespoke legal solutions that are right for you.

• Advice on corporate finance and banking 
• Commercial contracts and agreements
• Contract negotiations
• Corporate governance and compliance
• Employment law
• Franchise agreements
• GDPR and regulatory requirements 
• Intellectual property and brand protection
• Joint venture agreements
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Mini-bonds
• Partnership agreements
• Restructuring and insolvency
• Shareholder agreements
• Strategic partnerships 
• Terms and conditions
• Transfers

Commercial contracts

We're here for the day-to-day work too. We'll help you navigate the challenges of running a modern business and meeting your commercial objectives.

Our solicitors understand how to manage risk while maximising commercial opportunities in licensing, merchandising, naming rights, venue hire, and other commercial deals.

From headline shirt sponsors to catering contracts, well-drafted commercial agreements ensure your club or organisation works smoothly and efficiently with strong supporter and supplier relationships.

Commercial property transactions

There's much more to running a successful sports business than keeping players and supporters happy. If you require stadium development, training facilities, or leasing office space, securing the right commercial property on the best terms is essential.

Our experience includes acting on behalf of clubs selling grounds for residential property projects and securing land for developing new state-of-the-art facilities. We provide commercially-minded advice to clubs throughout the process, coordinating with multiple parties – including the FA, developers, and local authorities.

• Acquisition and disposal of land
• Commercial lease negotiation
• Commercial property sales and purchases
• Construction law
• Freehold purchase and sale
• Financing
• Licences and short-term tenancies
• Planning advice
• Redevelopment projects
• Stadium development

Personal services

If you are a professional athlete, there is almost always room to negotiate the terms and conditions of a contract. Our sports solicitors can help ensure all your interests are protected. 

We also provide specialised legal services to athletes, directors and organisations in conveyancing, wills and estate planning, estate administration, lasting powers of attorney, and tax and trust matters.

We can also work with your chosen professional advisors, including independent financial advisors (IFAs), to ensure you achieve the optimal outcome in managing and transferring your wealth.

Intellectual property and data protection

Whether it's patents to protect new inventions and innovative sports technologies or athletes developing their personal brands, sports represent an enormous market value.

Intellectual property (IP) rights underpin many commercial relationships that make sports events happen. Our sports law solicitors work with players, clubs and organisations to help protect your most valuable assets - including image rights, logos, branding, artwork, and audio-visual rights.

• Brand protection
• Copyright
• Data protection policies and compliance advice
• Licensing
• Marketing agreements
• Patents
• Social media matters
• Trademarks
• Websites

Employment in sport

Our solicitors can advise you on all employment law aspects, including contract negotiations and terms, agent commissions, transfer clauses, salary caps, equal pay issues, grievance procedures, and more.

The global nature of the sports industry also means that employment issues often necessarily require consideration of governing bodies and international rules and regulations. 

Our sports law team can also assist with all matters relating to discrimination, harassment or bullying within your club or organisation, including settlement agreements and contract termination.

• Contracts and employment terms
• Employee rights
• Equal pay issues
• Flexible working
• Handling grievances
• Maternity leave
• Redundancy 
• Settlement Agreements
• Termination of employment 
• TUPE regulations
• Workplace discrimination

Litigation and dispute resolution

Our solicitors cover all litigation and dispute resolution forms, including commercial and corporate disputes, employment and workplace matters, contractual disputes, regulatory issues, and discrimination.

Our work varies greatly - from representing a coach in settlement agreement negotiations following discrimination at a Premier League club to advising a chairperson on social media defamation. We always aim to resolve cases quickly, cost-effectively, and without the involvement of courts unless necessary. 

We have sports law solicitors in London, Bath, Brighton, Eastbourne, Hastings and Ulverston, advising clients across England and Wales.