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 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.

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. It 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.

Onside Law is a specialist sports law firm with outstanding links throughout international football. It is valued for its commercial nous in a host of non-contentious sports matters, along with disputes and regulatory expertise. The team offers services in licensing arrangements, media and intellectual property. It frequently represents leading clubs, individuals and governing bodies in rugby, cricket, golf and cycling, with a presence in work involving e-sports.

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.

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. It 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 celebrated 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. It also offers regulatory expertise including rule interpretations and disciplinary advice.

Latham & Watkins is highlighted for its 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.

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.

Sheridans has a respected sports practice with a dedicated offering in the digital market and extensive contacts throughout the football world, with further expertise across a diverse range of sports including basketball, tennis and e-sports. It acts for a mixture of governing bodies, clubs, and broadcast and media rights holders on regulatory and commercial matters. It also assists a number of individual players on contractual and commercial arrangements.

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.

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.

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.

Freshfields has a strong pedigree in the sports sector, having acted on a mix of contentious and non-contentious matters spanning across decades. The lawyers' expertise covers large-scale M&A transactions, governance and regulatory advice, in addition to disputes.

Penningtons Manches Cooper has a comprehensive sports offering, acting for elite athletes, teams, clubs and professional organisations. The team is particularly expert with regard to football, motorsports and sailing.

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. It 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.