Sport | UK

Bird & Bird has a market-leading group of specialist lawyers instructed on the most complex and high-profile regulatory matters in world sport, including disputes and compliance. The team acts for an enviable client base of leading international federations, governing bodies, sports clubs and corporate entities. Its stellar commercial team advises on media rights acquisitions, tenders and sponsorship deals, as well as sport-related acquisitions and divestments. It has experience throughout a wide range of sports including athletics, rugby union, football, motorsports and cricket, and is internationally revered for its performance on large-scale investigations and external reviews.

Northridge Law has an outstanding team with a wide range of experience advising on high-profile contentious and non-contentious matters in football, rugby union and motorsport, among others. It has a respected track record of acting for governing bodies, sports clubs and athletes on a range of mandates including regulatory enforcement, appeals processes and independent reviews. It is also active on commercial contracts, sponsorship and marketing instructions, with an increasingly established presence in the sports technology sphere.

Charles Russell Speechlys acts for a broad spectrum of governing bodies, clubs and sportspeople on major commercial and regulatory mandates, particularly in horse racing, tennis and football. The team demonstrates significant expertise in rights acquisitions and licensing arrangements, as well as activity in brand protection and sports marketing. It possesses considerable knowledge of technological advances and betting issues in the sports sector. Trusted by its clients to advise on the most high-profile global governance matters, often involving ground-breaking issues in sports law.

Level demonstrates impressive experience across sports, media, entertainment and technology law. It earns plaudits for its representation of individual athletes in commercial mandates including rights arrangements and sponsorship deals, as well as domestic and international disciplinary proceedings. The team also represents federations, teams, broadcasters and sponsors in a range of matters.

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.

Mills & Reeve has a notable sports practice with an outstanding offering in football. It frequently represents individual players in contract negotiations, disciplinary hearings and high-profile employment disputes, including discrimination claims. Well known for representing professional footballers in the set-up of image rights agreements, and regularly represents players from overseas playing for English clubs. Noted for the strength of its presence in women's sport. Strong focus on significant doping cases arising in football.

CMS has a noteworthy commercial team with significant experience advising on matters at the intersection of the sports and media sectors. It frequently acts for clients in relation to the negotiation and drafting of media rights agreements, as well as licensing and anti-piracy issues. Also assists with contract negotiations and M&A transactions, as well as issues arising out of the use of sports data in the gaming industry.

DLA Piper has a market-leading sports broadcasting offering that advises illustrious rights holders on domestic and international auctions and distribution contracts, particularly in football. It also has a considerable practice in event staging, advising on commercial arrangements for international events. Additionally, the team regularly assists with sports infrastructure arrangements, such as stadium financing, as well as sponsorship, competition law and related litigation. It also demonstrates expertise in sophisticated anti-piracy issues.

Harbottle & Lewis continues to handle a variety of matters across sports law, with expertise in sponsorship, media rights and reputation management work. It has particular strength in providing specialist advice on sports technology, e-sports, ticketing platforms and digital content. The team acts for high-profile individuals and clubs in a variety of sports and is valued for its advice on major sports events and long-term sponsorship contracts. Also offers regulatory expertise including rule interpretations and disciplinary advice.

Morgan Sports Law is noted for its expertise in sporting litigation and investigations, particularly those relating to doping and corruption. It often acts for athletes, teams and governing bodies across all sports. The team frequently appears in CAS and High Court proceedings on behalf of both domestic and international clients. It acts for high-profile clients across football, boxing, rugby and athletics, among other sports.

Clifford Chance is a respected firm with an accomplished sports law practice that focuses on handling significant contentious mandates. The team is particularly adept at assisting clients with regulatory and commercial claims, including business interruption and sponsorship disputes, as well as anti-doping and abuse cases in the industry. It has noteworthy strengths in football and athletics, and regularly acts for sports clubs and sporting event organisers.

Latham & Watkins is highlighted for the team's ability to handle high-profile matters for leading players in sports in the UK and overseas. The team has experience acting on behalf of the likes of governing bodies, owners and clubs.

Mishcon de Reya houses a specialist sports team that handles an impressive portfolio of work that includes commercial, disciplinary and regulatory matters across a wide range of sports. The team advises football clubs on contentious matters as well as transactional work, including major player transfers. Also known for its involvement with sports organisations and charities, as well as its expertise in e-sports and gaming.

Pinsent Masons advises governing bodies, associations and clubs, domestically and internationally, on both contentious and non-contentious mandates. The team demonstrates expertise in sport finance and investment, and stands out for its work in football and horse racing. Active on matters involving infrastructure for major sporting events and sports clubs including stadium development.

Squire Patton Boggs has a noteworthy sports practice that is supported by the firm's extensive global network. The team is regularly instructed by organisations across various sports, including leading football clubs, to handle corporate transactions, regulatory advice and employment matters. It possesses significant experience advising on sports media rights deals.

Farrer & Co is instructed on matters across the whole sporting sphere, with acknowledged expertise in advising major governing bodies including Olympic organisations and The FA. It assists sports clubs with a wide range of commercial, property and governance matters. Also represents a number of elite athletes in commercial and private matters, including image rights, tax planning and reputation management. Offers a full-service approach with strength in safeguarding and employment matters.

Linklaters' dedicated sports practice spans the full ambit of legal work in the sector. The team covers corporate and investment transactions, as well as sponsorship, media rights and licensing deals of all kinds. The lawyers also litigate disputes, be they regulatory or rights and reputation cases. Employment and real estate expertise is also on hand.

Wiggin is above all celebrated for its work at the intersection of sports and the media, with particular regard to IP and data rights, brands and engagement, and talent and sponsorship. The team is highly sought after by sports-side clients for advice on new product launches.

BCLP is experienced in acting on behalf of lenders as well as sport governing bodies and clubs on finance transactions. Strong commercial offering complemented by expertise in contentious matters, particularly reputation management issues in the football industry. Also advises on contract structures for high-profile player acquisitions and transfer agreements. Noted for its capacity to advise on matters involving foreign sports leagues, particularly in Spain, Italy and South America. Additional strength advising on stadium construction and development work.

Fieldfisher advises some of the biggest brands in the business across the full suite of legal disciplines as they apply to sport. Typical instructions include IP rights and brand management, employment and disciplinary, and commercial and governance matters.

Penningtons Manches Cooper advised the British Athlete Commission on merit reviews of decisions involving elite international athletes, considering athletes’ grounds of claim or appeal in relation to selection decisions and eligibility for the Olympics, Paralympic games or sponsorship programmes.

RPC offers its sporting clientele, composed of world-famous clubs in men's and women's games, associations and corporate sponsors, a one-stop-shop service. The team is just as adept advising on regulatory, governance and commercial issues as it is on IP rights and talent matters.

The Sports Consultancy Legal, true to its name, is the legal arm of a highly respected multidisciplinary professional services boutique dedicated exclusively to the world of sport. As well as corporate work, The Sports Consultancy is recommended in particular for events bidding and hosting issues; governance and regulatory advice, including the creation of new leagues and associations; and sponsorship and sports marketing.

Walker Morris is a well-regarded Leeds outfit with a sports group that specialises in football-related matters. It acts for an array of football clubs on both contentious and non-contentious matters, with noted capacity in sponsorship arrangements and commercial disputes. Possesses considerable experience in football club sales and purchases, and brand protection and exploitation. The team is frequently active on sports regulatory matters including disciplinary hearings.