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.
Sport in South East
Irwin Mitchell
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; Victoria Regan
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.