Sport | UK

Harper Macleod houses an exceptional group of lawyers who receive regular instructions from the biggest names in Scottish and international sport. The team is trusted to advise on regulatory, disciplinary, contentious and commercial matters, including broadcasting agreements and anti-doping. It handles work for national governing bodies in football, rugby and swimming and acts for organisers, clubs and individuals on prominent sporting events and tournaments in Scotland. It assists with matters affecting sport at all levels, from elite professional competition to grassroots youth and amateur involvement.

Addleshaw Goddard has a distinguished sports law practice with longstanding expertise in acting for football clubs and their employees. Notably skilled in handling regulatory and wider contentious matters, alongside additional strengths in contractual work, commercial issues, and IT and data protection concerns. It draws upon wider resources in its offices across the UK to offer an integrated, nationwide service on cross-border mandates.

Burness Paull maintains a prominent sports department which offers a broad range of legal services for governing bodies, clubs and individuals in Scotland and beyond. It advises on all sports, although it has particularly extensive experience in football. The department is able to provide multidisciplinary support that encompasses all kinds of legal advice, including on litigation, employment, commercial, corporate and brand protection.

CMS acted for Leicester City Football Club on a CMA Competition Act investigation relating to infringements of Chapter I of the UK Competition Act by LCFC and JD Sports in relation to the sale of Leicester City-branded products and merchandise in the UK.

Brodies is known in the Scottish market and beyond for commercial matters such as sponsorship arrangements, agency agreements and collaborations for live events. The team is also noted for disputes within the sector.

BTO has an impressive team of industry experts with particular strength in acting for sports governing bodies. It is well versed in football corporate governance issues, including disputes, with further strength in relation to golf and boxing. The team also handles matters involving an increasingly diverse range of sports such as darts and snowboarding. Additional skills in the legal aspects of organising sporting events.