Sport
UK Guide 2025 : UK-wide
Band 2
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
(020) 7074 8000About
Provided by Lewis Silkin
Sports Business
Billions of pounds are spent and made globally each year as the business of sport grows ever-more sophisticated. The interaction between athletes, agents, fans, clubs, venues and governing bodies – as well as the brands that engage with them – is intricate and ever-changing.
These relationships and the complex framework of rights and regulations which surround them are what the business of sport is built upon, requiring specialist knowledge, a strategic approach and real commercial nous on the part of legal advisers.
As one of the UK’s leading sports practices, we are not just seasoned legal experts, we have a deep and rich knowledge of the sector. Many of our team are ex-professional athletes or have worked in-house at clubs, sponsors and major events. From negotiating global sponsorship deals and a wide range of commercial contracts, advising on player, manager and backroom staff employment issues, and implementing complex football financing deals, to advising on player transfers, sports immigration, brand protection, regulatory compliance and disputes at sport specific arbitration tribunals such as CAS, we bring to bear the added dimension of practical experience and in-depth insight.
Chambers Review
Lewis Silkin has a multi-skilled sports team with core expertise in commercial matters across horse racing, cycling and cricket, as well as general disciplinary issues. It has notable experience in employment and immigration work, particularly in football, and also advises on advertising and brand protection. Offers a contingent of specialist intellectual property lawyers to advise on matters surrounding trade marks and content licensing. Also well versed in sports technology and data management matters.
Work Highlights
- Lewis Silkin represented Ange Postecoglou in relation to his appointment as head coach of Tottenham Hotspur FC in June 2023.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The approachability and responsiveness is excellent. We want to nurture relationships with other parties. They understand this and they handle things really well for us."
"I'm always impressed by anyone at Lewis Silkin I deal with and with the quality of their services and promptness in dealing with matters."
"Working in and being across the sports, media and advertising sectors gives the Lewis Silkin team a very strong commercial appreciation of our market landscape."
"They seem to handle all situations with ease, which makes us feel at ease also. They are really experienced, and it shows when they tackle any case we throw at them."
"I feel confident that Lewis Silkin can navigate any complex and unpredictable issue that we may encounter, owing to their wealth of expertise and the contacts they have."
"The approachability and responsiveness is excellent. We want to nurture relationships with other parties. They understand this and they handle things really well for us."
"I'm always impressed by anyone at Lewis Silkin I deal with and with the quality of their services and promptness in dealing with matters."
"Working in and being across the sports, media and advertising sectors gives the Lewis Silkin team a very strong commercial appreciation of our market landscape."
"They seem to handle all situations with ease, which makes us feel at ease also. They are really experienced, and it shows when they tackle any case we throw at them."
"I feel confident that Lewis Silkin can navigate any complex and unpredictable issue that we may encounter, owing to their wealth of expertise and the contacts they have."
Notable Practitioners
Alex Kelham co-heads the sports business group at Lewis Silkin and advises across the gamut of commercial and regulatory matters in the sector. She has significant experience assisting clients with media rights deals and sponsorship arrangements.
"With Alex weknow she would not just be looking from our perspective but from her experience with other clients. She is on top of all the issues within sport when doing the work."
"I'm always impressed with the work that Alex does and it is a joy to work with her."
"Alex is very commercial and responsive. I like working with her because she gives good advice as an external lawyer and she can look at matters through an in-house lens."
"Alex and her team have always provided, and continue to provide, excellent legal insights, support and counsel for all things commercial contracting, regulation and compliance."
Stephen O'Flaherty advises football clubs on talent and international transfer issues. He acts for clubs, sporting organisations, corporates and individuals.
"Stephen is excellent. He has a knack of opening doors that other people can't get open; he has excellent access. We wouldn't go to anyone but Stephen for immigration."
"Stephen is an expert in his field and is very reliable and well respected within the football industry."
"Stephen is the in-house lawyer’s dream in terms of external counsel. He is responsive, user-friendly and acutely understands the needs of the business."