Sport

We use our expertise to help athletes implement structures which allow them to exploit their image rights in the most tax efficient way and make the most out of their personal brand, securing intellectual property rights for names, images and logos as well as arranging endorsements and sponsorships.

We also advise brands and companies in relation to the arrangements under which individual sportspersons and athletes are appointed brand ambassadors, make appearances on the brand’s behalf, advertise and endorse their products and services.

Should a corporate or individual’s reputation come under threat from the media or the public, we act quickly to contain the situation and mitigate reputational damage.

Our clients include athlete management and representation agencies, sponsorship activation, marketing and PR companies and sports rightsholders.

We offer specialist legal and commercial advice in relation to:

• Athlete representation and management contracts
• Selection, participation, disciplinary and regulatory issues affecting athletes
• Sponsorship, endorsement and merchandising agreements
• Image rights structures
• Media issues, from issuing press releases and public statements to prosecuting defamation and libel actions
• Rights sales agency contracts
• Sports marketing and consultancy agreements
• The acquisition and exploitation of commercial rights to sports tournaments and events

We provide a comprehensive service at a time when the industry is changing rapidly. Our lawyers have extensive expertise advising on the exploitation of digital media sports content across all platforms. We are also experienced in negotiating agreements with broadcasters, distributors, mobile operators, online businesses and social media sites.

We offer specialist legal and commercial advice in relation to:

• Broadcasting agreements
• Event broadcasting agreements
• TV production/distribution agreements
• DVD production/distribution agreements
• Programme sponsorship agreements
• Player/club image rights exploitation online
• Website compliance

We have advised and worked on live events such as the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Invictus Games and the PGA European Tour. We have a passion for live sporting events and an in-depth understanding of the industry and the pressures our clients are facing when delivering an event, including the management of multiple stakeholders.

Our clients include sports rights owners, sports governing bodies, promoters and managers, sponsors and participants. Drawing on our extensive experience of supporting clients to stage sporting events both in the UK and abroad, we guide clients on both the legal and commercial aspects of arrangements.

We advise on:

• Venue agreements
• Hosting agreements
• Promoter agreements
• Event management agreements
• Sponsorship agreements
• Broadcasting and media agreements
• Competitor terms of participation
• Ticketing arrangements (including ticket terms and conditions)
• Hospitality arrangements
• Supplier agreements
• Merchandising agreements
• Music licensing

We advise clients on all sports regulatory matters including issues such as selection, eligibility, disciplinary, doping and corruption sanctions, commercial disputes and employment matters. We advise on high-profile disciplinary hearings and appeals to sports specialist arbitration panels such as Sport Resolutions and the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.

We also advise corporate and brand sponsors, official broadcast partners and sports equipment and technical suppliers on the activation of sponsorship, supply and broadcasting rights within the sports regulatory framework.

We advise on:

• Drafting regulations regarding membership, play, conduct and discipline
• Reviewing and revising existing regulations including anti-doping and disciplinary regulations
• Advising governing bodies on proposed sanctions to be brought against individuals
• Advising sportspersons on non-selection and qualification issues
• Defending individual sportspersons against disciplinary, doping and anti-corruption charges
• Advising brands in relation to the limitations on the activation of sponsorship rights imposed by local and national advertising laws and regulations

Our knowledge of the sports sponsorship industry, and experience working with major global brands and rights holders, enables us to offer practical advice to sponsors on the additional rights and benefits that they should be looking for and the key provisions that should be included in the contract to protect their position.

We can also advise on issues arising from the activation of sponsorships including sales promotions, advertising regulation, protecting intellectual property rights and industry specific regulatory and commercial issues which may affect the scope, value and delivery of the rights being granted.

We advise on:

• Sponsorship agreements
• Brand ambassador, endorsement and influencer agreements
• Image rights exploitation
• Merchandising
• Licensing arrangements
• Sales promotions and marketing issues
• Brand protection issues
• Compliance matters

We help clients to prevent and resolve sports team issues whether they arise at a club management or dressing room level. Our sports lawyers also work with specialists from across the firm to advise on any employment, disciplinary, reputation management, tax or commercial issues which underpin the relationship. We also advise player associations and agencies representing players’ and coaching staff’s collective interests.

We advise on:

• Player contracts
• Transfer and loan arrangements
• Team endorsement deals
• How teams can exploit commercial opportunities collectively, as distinct from their individual sponsorship opportunities
• Establishing “player partnerships” to represent and exploit the collective needs of the team
• Bringing or defending legal challenges on behalf of the players, the team, the club or the governing body
• Advising the team on media issues including PR, privacy, communications and defamation/libel
• Tournament participation terms
• Interpreting and advising on team codes of conduct, including anti-doping, anti-corruption, disciplinary provisions
• Safety, welfare, insurance and retirement issues