Hamlins LLP offers a multidisciplinary sports offering combining commercial, IP, corporate, regulatory, and privacy expertise. The team acts across a broad spectrum of sports, including football, cricket, and tennis, and has experience advising on the structuring and launch of new formats and events, including SailGP, The Hundred, and the Professional Triathletes Organisation. Privacy and reputation management is a key strength, with Christopher Hutchings representing sportspeople in defamation and image rights disputes. Matthew Pryke brings two decades of industry experience from roles with leading sports management companies and continues to advise high-profile figures and rights holders. Recent growth includes the addition of commercial disputes partners Giles Bright, who supports clients on contentious matters.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Matthew Pryke is extremely attentive and well-versed across all of his specialist areas.'
‘The team are the best in the business - they are consummate professionals, incredibly hard-working and extremely knowledgeable. They communicate very well, giving peace of mind in their level of professionalism in all areas.’
‘The individuals I have worked with are extremely talented and diligent, excellent communicators who go over and above to meet their client's needs. They are always contactable, they are very flexible in terms of scheduling meetings and calls, and react quickly too. Matthew Pryke and Penny Hunt who I have worked with recently both absolutely embody all of these traits.’
‘We are a newly started motor sport film and television research project and Hamlins with their wealth of experience have been absolutely vital in our development especially in the areas of copyright and ownership. I am more than happy to pick out Matthew Pryke.'
‘I am more than happy to pick out Matthew Pryke and we have been very lucky to partner with someone who has so much experience in our field of research and so many current contacts as well. He shows great patience in navigating us through the legal challenges but, at the same time, his optimism and enthusiasm for what we are trying to do has made him a fantastic ally.’
‘The team have unique insights into sports properties at our stage of our life-cycle. They have a breadth of knowledge across all the key areas that have driven the success of our business over recent times. We find that is invaluable as we face a broad set of issues over different matters. Matthew and his team are available at all times to discuss business issues and have a strong rapport across our senior leadership team.’
Key clients
- Adventure Leisure
- Austin Cycles Limited
- Burhill Golf Group
- Danny Murphy
- David Garrido
- The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)
- General Sports Europe
- General Sports Worldwide
- Harry Redknapp
- Jamie Redknapp
- Kirsty Gallacher
- Lancer Capital
Work highlights
Acted for SailGP in the acquisition by French football superstar Kylian Mbappé, with Accor, the league’s current and first Global Hotel Partner, of the Team France SailGP racing team.
Acted for the PTO on its partnership with World Triathlon to create a new short-course indoor triathlon race, which will feature in the Indoor World Cup in March 2025 and will be part of the World Triathlon Cup circuit.
Advised SailGP on its landmark title partnership with Rolex, announced in November 2024.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Matthew Pryke
Other key lawyers
Christopher Hutchings; Katie Bentley