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England - London • TMT (technology, media and telecoms)
5

Sport

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Bray & Krais

More information
Bray & Krais fields a prominent sports practice led by Udo Onwere, a former professional footballer and trusted advisor to elite athletes and sports professionals. The team is particularly active in high-profile football matters, with significant experience negotiating contracts and managing commercial portfolios for Premier League players. Recent work includes advising Reece James on a six-year contract extension with Chelsea FC, and supporting Lauren James on her commercial arrangements ahead of UEFA Women’s Euro 2025. Beyond football, the firm’s expertise spans athlete brand management, media, and sponsorship arrangements, with recent matters including advising Jamie Redknapp on the creation of M&C Saatchi Football.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Accolades

Client satisfaction

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Expert knowledge of the Partners, including real past experience as a professional footballer.’

  • ‘Udo Onwere stands out, as he conveys complex information clearly and without jargon, while having experience of himself, once having been a professional footballer. He is calm and articulate, which in turn builds confidence in his clients.’

  • ‘Bray & Krais is a top-rate firm specialising in the entertainment industry, including sport. They offer a whole service from private client work to litigation. Its strength is that it is a lean and mean specialist machine. You only get experts, not a team of inexperienced individuals.’

  • ‘Udo Onwere - knows it from first-hand experience as a professional footballer and at top-ranked firms. He is a footballer's lawyer in every sense.’

Key clients

  • Rio Ferdinand
  • Reece James
  • Lauren James
  • Jamie Redknapp
  • Richard Thompson (Chair of England & Wales Cricket Board)
  • New Era Global Sports Agency
  • Ed Sheeran (Ipswich Town FC)

Work highlights

Advised Rio Ferdinand on his role as shareholder and ambassador for the social media platform WeAre8.
Advised Reece James on commercial contracts with Crocs and Under Armour.
Advised Ed Sheeran on his investment in Ipswich Town Football Club.

Practice head

Udo Onwere

Other key lawyers

Simon Goodbody