Mills & Reeve LLP provides advice to high-profile clubs, individuals, and organisations throughout the sports industry. Whilst the practice is recognised for its work in arbitration and litigation, the team also handles a wide range of matters concerning commercial rights, football transfers and regulatory issues. Practice head Mark Hovell supports a prestigious line-up of clients, including the PFA, across a range of matters. Co-head Carol Couse has extensive experience in football and advises clients on disciplinary proceedings and regulatory matters. Senior associate Sarah Whyman specialises in commercial contracts and data protection laws within sport. Other key names include Phil Hutchinson , who splits his time between the Manchester and Birmingham offices.

Brandsmiths represents high-profile clients in boxing, football and athletics. The firm handles a range of commercial issues, including player transfers, sponsorship agreements and contracts. The practice also advises on defamation and libel claims against newspapers on behalf of sportspeople. Founding partner and practice head, Adam Morallee, retains particular expertise in football, boxing and motorsport. Michael Forrester is head of litigation and has considerable experience in offering regulatory, media, privacy and commercial advice to sports-based clients. Associates Tom Keane and David Seligman deal with football related legal issues.

JMW Solicitors LLP provides legal support to high-profile clients throughout the sporting sector, most notably in boxing, football and golf. The team is led by Ben Peppi and Stephen Taylor Heath, the latter noted for his expertise across boxing and football and work on multi-jurisdictional broadcast agreements for major events. Claire Brown is another key member of the team, specialising in sports-related disputes.

Farleys Solicitors LLP advises clients across a range of sports, including the Professional Footballers Association (PFA), on a wide range of matters encompassing disputes, employment matters and defamation. Daniel Draper leads the team, often representing clients before FA Arbitrations and Football Disciplinary Tribunals and advising footballers in contract negotiations. Associate Mark Skinner offers tailored debt and insolvency advice to current and former sports professionals.

Shoosmiths LLP’s sports practice group handles a range of transactional and contentious matters for clients in sports including football, rugby and cricket. Richard Millington heads the team, recognised for developing and executing litigation strategies in multiple jurisdictions and working on broadcasting rights, sponsorship, distribution and agency arrangements in the sports sector.

Excello Law acts for a variety of sport stakeholders including footballers, football clubs, and sports-based businesses. The ‘new-model’ law firm offers a line-up of partner-level lawyers operating as consultant solicitors, either individually or in small teams, supported by a full range of back-office support services. Dominic McGinn is a name to note, previously appearing before FIFA (the world’s governing football body) and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), offering advice on player contracts, regulatory matters and representation agreements.

Hill Dickinson LLP focuses on commercial sports contract work including joint venture and partnering agreements, litigation and dispute resolution for clubs, governing bodies and athletes. Paul Walsh heads the team, specialising in commercial litigation including complex breach of contract claims, privacy breaches and selection disputes between players and clubs. Associate Jon Scally is a key team member, advising across sports related litigation matters.