Sport in Wales
Capital Law Limited
Leveraging the firm's litigation and IP credentials in particular, Capital Law Limited represents clubs and governing bodies (primarily within the rugby, football, cricket and golf spheres) across a range of disputes, commercial matters and employment issues. Commercial litigator Wayne Beynon regularly handles sports-related disputes, ranging from contractual claims, IP issues relating to team kit and/or sponsorship agreements, governance issues and player contracts.
Practice head(s):
Wayne Beynon
Other key lawyers:
Guto Llewelyn; David Lewis
Key clients
Cardiff City Football Club
Cardiff Blues
Golf Union of Wales
Glamorgan Cricket Club
Halpin Sports
Pontypridd Town Association Football Club
UK Anti-Doping
Work highlights
- Acting for Cardiff City Football Club in litigation against its former chairman, Sam Hammam.
- Acting for Enterprise Insurance Company plc (in liquidation) in a £2m claim against Leeds United Football Club concerning a shirt sponsorship agreement for the season 2014/15.
- Acting for Cardiff City Football Club in investigating the conduct of former representatives of the football club in the £9m transfer of Andreas Cornelius from FC Copenhagen in July 2013.
- Representing Pontypridd Town Football AFC in its appeal of the Football Association of Wales’ Tier 2 First Instance Body’s decision to refuse Tier 2 certification for the 2018/19 playing season due to problems with its ground.
- Acting for an award-winning golf club Cottrell Park Limited, in its defamation claim against SKY plc, Women & Golf Magazine, and Ladygolfer.co.uk, all of whom published an inaccurate story about the club preventing women from playing in some of its golfing competitions.
Geldards LLP
Tapping into the expertise of lawyers from across the firm's commercial, litigation, property, charities and employment teams, Geldards LLP has a 'great deal of experience and knowledge in the field of professional sports'. The firm also handles sports management work through Engagesport, the wholly owned subsidiary established in 2012. Himself a chairman of Engagesport, 'friendly and engaging' litigation head Paul Hopkins is well-versed in sports-related matters, particularly those involving a contentious angle.
Practice head(s):
Paul Hopkins
Other key lawyers:
Jonathan Griffiths
Testimonials
The team provides thorough and thoughtful advice
Paul Hopkins is a very safe pair of hands
Jonathan Griffiths is excellent and is everything a silk would want from a quality solicitor
Key clients
Cardiff City FC Community Foundation
Cardiff Blues
Pendulum Management Limited (t/a Elite Ice Hockey League)
Welsh Sports Association
Devils Entertainment Limited (t/a Cardiff Devils Ice Hockey)
British Boxing Board of Control
Engagesport LLP
FAW Football in the Community
Sport Wales
The Pony Club
Work highlights
- Acting for Cardiff City FC Community Foundation (the official charity for Cardiff City Football Club) on various matters including amendments to the trade mark licence with Cardiff City FC.
- The firm continues to advise British Boxing Board of Control Limited (the governing body of professional boxing in the UK) in relation to multiple trade mark infringement and passing off matters.
- The firm provides a legal telephone helpline to Welsh Sports Association members, advising them across a range of law including commercial, charity/governance and property.
- Acted for Devils Entertainment Ltd (Cardiff Devils) on the negotiation of an agreement for the operation and management of the Ice Arena Wales.
- The firm continues to provide advice and support to sports management company Engagesport in relation to a range of projects which it is involved with.
Hugh James
Hugh James 's multi-disciplinary team handles the full spectrum of sport-related legal work, from disciplinary and doping hearings to the construction of sports stadia, major contractual agreements, and the governance of sporting bodies. Team head Gerallt Jones regularly handles work for marquee client, the Welsh Rugby Union.
Practice head(s):
Gerallt Jones
Other key lawyers:
Gareth Williams; Tracey Singlehurst-Ward; Robert Morgan
Key clients
Welsh Rugby Union
British Boxing Board of Control
Welsh Gymnastics
UK Sport Framework (inc Sport Wales, UK Sport, Sport Northern Ireland and the Sport & Recreation Alliance)
Cardiff Blues
Ffos Las Racecourse
Work highlights
- Represented the Welsh Rugby Union on new multimillion-pound agreements between it and the four Welsh rugby regions dealing with the financial, commercial and rugby elements of the relationship between the five entities
- Advised the British Boxing Board of Control in several pieces of litigation and disciplinary actions
- Advised Walters Group on the sale of its racecourse to the UK’s largest racing group, Arc Racing
Loosemores Solicitors
Boutique Cardiff-based firm Loosemores Solicitors is very active in the sports field across a range of commercial contractual work, corporate governance and regulatory matters. 'Approachable and commercial' team head Mark Loosemore continues to grow the practice and has handled work for a raft of new clients (across the spectrum of amateur and professional sports), as well as for core and long-established ones such as the Football Association of Wales (FAW). Consultant Michael Culley has vast experience at handling corporate governance and regulatory matters, including on behalf of FAW, while Karl Thomas is also a key member of the team in relation to litigation and regulatory work in the sector.
Practice head(s):
Mark Loosemore
Other key lawyers:
Michael Culley; Karl Thomas; Rebecca McCarthy
Testimonials
A leading firm in the area
Mark Loosemore is approachable and considered in his responses
Key clients
Football Association of Wales
The FAW Trust
Sport Wales
The Stars Group
Welsh Rugby Players Association
Walters Group (Ffos Las Racecourse)
Zest Sports Group
Welsh Netball
Christians In Sport
Welsh Athletics
Sports Injury Fix
Orchard Media & Events
Squash Wales
Work highlights
- Represented the Football Association of Wales (FAW) on its agreement for the Wales men’s national football team to participate in the China Cup 2018.
- Advising new client The Stars Group on a major proposed new agreement with Inspired Gaming for the provision of virtual sports games to The Stars Group.
- Advising the Football Association of Wales (FAW) on agreements to acquire and develop a new National Football Development centre in Wrexham
- Advising the Football Association of Wales (FAW) on a new agreement with the senior men’s national squad for match fees and bonuses and image rights
- Advising on the proposed agreement for Orchard Media & Events to run the UEFA Champions Festival at the UEFA Champions League finals in Madrid in June 2019
Dolmans
Led by Adrian Oliver, Dolmans is best-known for advising Welsh sporting bodies across a range of commercial, contractual and governance matters. Leveraging the firm's personal injury expertise, it also regularly represents sporting bodies and sporting individuals on litigation involving sports-related injuries.
Practice head(s):
Adrian Oliver
Other key lawyers:
Justin Harris; Clare Hoskins: Philip Bradley
Key clients
Federation of Disability Sports Wales
Commonwealth Games Council for Wales
Aled Davies
Tasha Danvers
Louise Hazel
Jordan Howe
Nathan Stephens
Work highlights
- Continues to advise the Commonwealth Games Council for Wales on an ad-hoc basis across various commercial, contractual and strategic and governance issues.
- Advises the Federation of Disability Sports Wales on issues relating to directors and employees, attendance at board meetings and constitutional changes generally.
- Handled contract and sponsorship negotiations for a significant number of athletes, including recently negotiating a new Nike deal with Aled Davies.
- The firm continues to represent a group of high-profile sports personalities from across the UK, with a core of London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic and Commonwealth athletes, including gold medallists.
- The firm provides legal services to National Governing Bodies of Sport and Recreation organisations.
Hutchinson Thomas
Neath-based firm Hutchinson Thomas is recognised as a 'very good firm for rugby discipline', and is the only firm in Wales that has Judicial Officers, who handle discipline conduct and regulatory cases for World Rugby, the Six Nations, European Professional Club Rugby and the Guinness Pro 14. Roger Morris is perhaps the standout at the firm and his preeminent reputation has seen him involved in the adjudication of a number of high-profile international and domestic cases. The firm also advises local amateur clubs, across a range of work, including on licensing and property issues, as well as governance and incorporation.
Practice head(s):
Roger Morris; Robert Williams
Testimonials
The firm has a strong reputation within the rugby discipline sector
Work highlights
- Chaired a head injury assessment investigation for 6 Nations.
Thompson Darwin Limited
At boutique Cardiff-based firm Thompson Darwin Limited, name partner David Thompson, himself formerly chief executive of a Super League rugby team, has vast sports-related experience, particularly within the rugby field. He continues to represent the Scarlets across a range of matters, including on complicated commercial agreements and sponsorship agreements.
Practice head(s):
David Thompson
Douglas-Jones Mercer
Douglas-Jones Mercer 's Christian Edwards continues to handle a significant amount of work for the company responsible for managing and operating the Liberty Stadium (Swansea City FC's home ground) - including on its ongoing dispute in relation to a claim for defects arising out of the stadium's construction.
Practice head(s):
Christian Edwards
Other key lawyers:
Paul Shuttleworth
Key clients
Swansea Stadium Management Company
Work highlights
- Continuing to represent Swansea Stadium Management Company, the company responsible for managing and operating the Liberty Stadium, in relation to a claim for defects arising out of the construction of the stadium.
- Advising the Swansea Stadium Management Company in relation to operational and governance issues concerning the proposed variation to the existing lease at the Liberty Stadium and the consequential change in share ownership.
- Advising the Swansea Stadium Management Company on contractual matters with Vodafone concerning the upgrading of infrastructure and connectivity at the stadium.
JCP Solicitors
At JCP Solicitors, Andrew Meech has a strong and longstanding relationship with Italian sportswear manufacturer Macron, and regularly acts for it on its technical kit supplier arrangements with various high-profile sporting teams.
Practice head(s):
Andrew Meech
Key clients
Macron
Work highlights
- Advised Macron on a new five-year technical kit supplier agreement with Nottingham Forest FC.
- Advised Macron on a new four-year technical kit supplier agreement with Millwall FC.
- Advised Macron on a new four-year technical match official supplier and retail agreement with Celtic Rugby DAC – Guinness Pro 14 Rugby.
- Advised Macron on its six-year technical kit supply agreement with the Canadian Premier League (CPL), the inaugural professional football competition in Canada.
Morgan LaRoche
Morgan LaRoche provides a multi-disciplinary approach to work in the sector, with lawyers from the corporate/commercial, employment, litigation and property teams having some regular involvement in sports-related matters. The firm advises professional and amateur local rugby, golf and cricket clubs across a range of commercial work, including advising on sponsorship agreements, constitutional and governance advice, and issues relating to player contracts.
Practice head(s):
William Barletta