Sport

How we can help you

Examples of our specialist work and how we can help you include:

• Corporate law advice on sport company mergers and acquisitions, advising on club constitutional issues, shareholder and loan financing agreements
• Drafting and negotiating elite manager and club executive agreements, including leading football manager contracts, Director of Rugby, and Director of Cricket employment contracts
• Advising on settlement agreement negotiations and the terminations of professional player contracts for Premier League and Championship footballers and Premiership rugby players
• Advising on National Governing Body investigations, regarding concerns of discrimination (for example on the grounds of race or sex), match-fixing, anti-corruption, and whistleblowing
• Advising on sport sector large scale construction projects including stadium developments, training ground redevelopments, and sport venue property and infrastructure legal issues
• Commercial property including disputes, land swap for golf clubs, acquisition and disposal of stadium grounds, energy saving developments and property management
• Advising international sports agencies and player management companies on commercial, employment law, and regulatory sports law issues and disputes
• Advising on medical negligence within professional sport, sports injury compensation claims, and on incapacity terminations
• Commercial advice on sponsorship agreements, licences, sport event, data protection compliance, and legal issues arising through sport marketing and brand experience activation projects
• Helping professional rugby or football players to achieve rapid exits from their former clubs – freeing them up to arrange a transfer or retirement, or advising on contractual disputes (such as the distribution of team promotion bonuses)
• Sport regulatory issues such as Rule K arbitration, anti-doping, Olympic selection disputes, and advising on disciplinary matters both on and off the field of play, including RFU disciplinary tribunals
• Divorce and family law for sports professionals, including pre-nuptial agreements and complex financial settlements
• Private wealth advice, including wills, Lasting Power of Attorney and tax planning,
• Advising sports professionals and rights holders on intellectual property protection, image rights, and intellectual property disputes whether domestic or international
• Debt recovery for sports clubs, including debts owed by members who have defaulted on paying annual fees for seats they hold under a membership agreement and claiming unpaid charges from suppliers to sports brands.

What our clients say about us

“I have worked with the Sport team at Clarke Willmott over the last few years and have found them to be not only responsive and commercial to our needs, but the team also demonstrate a deep understanding of the business and the industry in which I operate. They are very much results orientated which I find to be extremely helpful when looking to navigate through tricky legal issues. With a strong emphasis on client care, the team are always a pleasure to deal with.” Gloucestershire County Cricket Club

“A leading firm in the South West in sport without a doubt. Very linked-in, commercial and hard-working. Produces excellent outcomes for clients. Very personable too.” Legal 500 2021

“Clarke Willmott LLP’s national sports sector team excels in representing professional athletes – particularly football and rugby players” Legal 500 2020

“Clarke Willmott LLP’s national sports sector team excels in representing professional athletes – particularly football and rugby players – in employment-related matters. It also advises coaches and professional sports organisations, among other clients. The team’s work often comprises cross-border elements, with strong links with clients in the US being particularly notable.” The Legal 500 2020

Contact a sports sector specialist

If you require specialist legal advice, call us today for a free initial consultation on 0800 652 8025 or get in touch online. We have offices in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, London, Manchester, Southampton and Taunton.