Next Generation Partners

Sport in South East

Irwin Mitchell

Irwin Mitchell’s multi-disciplinary practice acts for an assortment of significant clients including Olympic federations, rights holders, sports clubs and governing bodies. The team also assists cricketers, footballers, and golfers with endorsement deals, image rights, in addition to personal injury claims. Michael Taylor in Chichester is proficient in tax planning, while Hannah Clipston in Southampton and Tom Barnard in Gatwick are seasoned in contentious commercial matters; the latter is also a non-executive director at The London Football Association.

Practice head(s):

Tom Barnard; Michael Taylor; Hannah Clipston


Other key lawyers:

Ted Powell


Key clients

The Rugby Football Union (RFU)


British Rowing Limited


UK Athletics Limited


Premiership / International rugby player


Special Olympics Great Britain


British Wheelchair Basketball


Millwall Football Club


Work highlights


  • Advised a national governing body on a large policy review focused on improving governance within the community game.
  • Advised a governing body on the termination of a contract with one of its main suppliers.
  • Advised a Championship football club on development of an academy site.

Moore Law

A firm of choice for content creators operating in the e-Sports and gaming spaces, Moore Law is well-equipped to advise sport sector clients on anti-doping, broadcasting, as well as commercial agreements. Mike Townley leads the team and is supported by Tris Moore, the pair of whom are experienced in acting for kit suppliers and equipment manufacturers, Premier League football clubs, in addition to sport federations and governing bodies.

Practice head(s):

Mike Townley


Other key lawyers:

Tris Moore


Key clients

British Triathlon Federation


British Bobsleigh & Skeleton Association


National Sporting Club


Insignia Sport International


Technogym UK


Callum Airey (Calfreezy)


Ice Hockey UK


Sidemen


The Fellas Studios


Dentons

The specialist team at Dentons is geared to handle the full spectrum of commercial, contentious, corporate in addition to employment sporting matters. Henrietta Baker and Sarah Lima lead the team from London, while in Milton Keynes, Rose McDowall assists governing bodies with club and organisation infrastructure, and caters to retail agreements for sporting brands as well as terms and conditions for sports broadcasting.

Practice head(s):

Henrietta Baker; Sarah Lima


Other key lawyers:

Rose McDowall


Key clients

Viaplay


St James Holdings Limited


Southend City Council


Esports Awards Limited


KSL Capital Partners


Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)


Work highlights


  • Advised Viaplay on its acquisition of Premier Sports from Setanta Sports.
  • Advised a world-ranked bridge player in relation to an application for permission to appeal the arbitral decision of the appeals committee of the English Bridge Union.

RWK Goodman

RWK Goodman‘s racing and bloodstock team is well-placed to advise racing professionals such as jockeys and trainers, racehorse owners, and racing organisations. Co-head of the team Andrew Chalk has ‘unrivalled experience’, and his key strengths lie in British Horseracing Authority regulatory issues. Richard Brooks also co-leads the team and splits his time between Oxford and London, and is adept in dispute resolution and personal injury. Charlotte Ebbutt is knowledgeable of commercial sport contracts, data protection and intellectual property. All of the individuals that have been mentioned are located in Oxford, unless stated otherwise.

Practice head(s):

Andrew Chalk; Richard Brooks


Other key lawyers:

Charlotte Ebbutt


Testimonials

‘They have expertise in the sports sector that few other firms possess, giving them the edge over so many of their rivals.’

‘Andrew Chalk has unrivalled experience.’

Key clients

The Professional Jockey’s Association


Qatar Racing Limited


Qatar Bloodstock Limited


Retraining of Racehorses


R M Beckett Limited


Lisa Ford


Claire Dennis


Work highlights


  • Advised the racehorse trainer Ralph Beckett in respect of his appeal against the decision of the Stewards in the 2022 St Leger.
  • Advised a racehorse trainer on the sale of a multimillion pound yard.
  • Advised a racing charity on defamatory comments made about the client on a range of platforms.

Stevens & Bolton LLP

Stevens & Bolton LLP‘s client roster features significant athletes, professional clubs, organisations, as well as industry stakeholders. The ‘outstanding’  Charles Maurice is particularly well-versed on the regulatory side of football club acquisitions and disposals, and he co-leads the department alongside Tom Collins. Tom Lingard is a seasoned litigator who has represented clients before all levels of the UK courts. All of the individuals that have been mentioned are located in Guildford.

Practice head(s):

Charles Maurice; Tom Collins


Other key lawyers:

Tom Lingard


Testimonials

‘The partners and associates are very knowledgeable, fast and efficient, as well as approachable.’

‘Tom Collins knows a huge amount about the industry, he is very commercial and is always available.’

‘Charlie Maurice is outstanding. He is a valuable asset to Stevens and Bolton.’

Key clients

Bond Group Sixways Ltd


Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club


Drivex Business Solutions SL


Euretco B.V.


Final Third Sport, LLC/Final Third Sport UK Ltd


Hankley Common Golf Club Ltd


NEP Group Inc/NEP UK Ltd


Papa John’s (GB) Ltd


The Pitch Performance LLC


Tyrrell Promotions Ltd


Work highlights


  • Advised Premier League football team Brighton & Hove Albion FC on trade mark and brand protection matters.
  • Acted for the owner of Worcester Warriors Rugby Club in connection with the high-profile administration of Worcester Warriors.
  • Advised Papa Johns in connection with its sports sector involvement including high-profile football sponsorship e.g. EFL, and its arrangements with various large stadiums.

Rix & Kay Solicitors LLP

Recently engaged in stadium development projects, the ‘excellent’  team Rix & Kay Solicitors LLP acts for a spectrum of professional and grassroot clients. Richard Cripps leads the department from Sevenoaks and is often handling strategic development matters, while Alan Zeal in Uckfield is adept in constitutions and governance.

Practice head(s):

Richard Cripps


Other key lawyers:

Alan Zeal


Testimonials

‘Rix & Kay have been an excellent company to work with.’

 

Key clients

Conservation Without Borders


Canterbury Rugby Football Club


The Russell Martin Foundation


Ansty Village Centre Steering Committee Trust


St Peters Cricket Club (Brighton)


Tom Hicks (Polar Explorer)


Seaford Rugby Football Club


Active Sussex


Crawley Town Community Foundation


Balls for Brains


Numerous Rugby Football Clubs


Work highlights


  • Acted for Conservation Without Borders in connection with its Flight of The Ospreys expedition.
  • Provided strategic advice as well as general employment law advice to Canterbury Rugby Football Club.
  • Advised the Russell Martin Foundation on a new flagship acquisition and development of Southwick Football Club ground.