introduction

Our sport lawyers are recognised as being among the UK's top 5 in their field. Above all, they are also passionate about sport.

They don’t just talk a good game either. In the last 12 months the national team has advised international and national governing bodies and Championships, major sports event venues, professional football, rugby union and cricket clubs, horse and greyhound race venues and promoters, sponsors and official suppliers, national and international athlete representative bodies, motor racing manufacturers, teams, drivers and riders, sport media companies and many other sport related entities.

The range of clients we act for and the sports in which they perform is as broad as it is deep. This enables our lawyers to add value gained in specific sport areas to challenges in others. Indeed, most of our lawyers have had first-hand experience of professional sport, including acting as chairman of a Coca Cola Football League club, working in-house for a Formula One motor racing team, playing County cricket and riding in International Three Day Events.

We also have considerable experience in helping clients through the day to day issues of all sport businesses, such as advertising, human resources, immigration, disputes, insurance, IT, licensing and health and safety. However, where we really add value is in using our legal expertise, industry insight and contacts to help clients identify and optimise the value of their assets. This area of our practice commonly begins with a commercial rights audit and is followed by, for example, IP protection or enforcement, entering or improving trading relationships or taking action in relation to threats. It can also include, of course, acquiring, selling or developing property or land, collaborating with third parties, reorganising company structures, selling or acquiring assets or attracting new investment.

Our strength in urban regeneration also gives us a specialist capacity in stadia development. This service covers everything from site acquisition, planning, construction and environmental issues to the complex commercial arrangements underpinning them. We are currently advising on a number of major developments throughout the UK.

Contact: Kevin Jones or  Trevor Watkins