Spread across Manchester and Liverpool, Brabners LLP maintains its stellar reputation for handling the full scope of sports mandates concerning sporting events, the eligibility and inclusion of transgender athletes, and claims involving racism charges and libel. Lydia Edgar leads the team, and is noted for her vast knowledge of the employment aspects of sport, assisting national governing bodies (NGB), owners, and athletes with appointments and exit agreements, while Andrew McGregor maintains a football focused practice, with his caseload primarily consisting of contractual mandates, acting for both clubs and agencies. Jason Smith acts for a varied client list of NGBs and international federations in matters involving broadcasting, image rights, and sponsorship, and Catherine Forshaw is a key name for both union and league rugby clients, and is known for her strong focus on UK FA and RFL anti-doping disciplinary proceedings, and Safeguarding Commission proceedings. Colin Bell leads the firm’s IP group, and is a key name for commercial rights agreements.

Centrefield LLP is well-known for its specialism in sports law, routinely assisting clients with issues surrounding agent regulation, and player contracts and transfers. Practice co-head Edward Canty draws on his significant experience in arbitration to handle a range of international sports disputes, while co-head Matthew Bennett is well-known for his longstanding expertise in football disputes before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), acting for a lucrative client base of both clubs and players. Co-lead David Bentham stands out due to his commercial knowledge, often advising on sponsorship arrangements, broadcasting, and venue agreements, and co-head Stuart Baird is particularly adept at handling immigration issues, football transfers, and investigations into breaches of Profit and Sustainability Rules. Oliver Saddler is a key name for commercial issues within sport, Deirdre McCarthy regularly advises on social media and IP related issues, and Philip Bonner is known for his handling of regulatory investigations.

Both working between London and Manchester, Carol Couse and Mark Hovell jointly lead the practice at Mills & Reeve LLP, which acts for a growing number of football agencies. The group handles a range of cases concerning breaches of betting regulations and match fixing, in addition to matters involving commercial restructuring and contractual issues. Couse is a football expert who is noted for her strong focus on women’s football, often advising managers, players, and clubs on contractual arrangements, and arbitration specialist Hovell acts for a lucrative client base of professional athletes Premier League clubs, and players’ associations. Sarah Attwood often advises sporting organisations on image rights contracts, while Phil Hutchinson stands out due to his strong knowledge of anti-doping, and his expertise in disputes and regulatory issues within the football industry. Joining the group from the International Paralympic Committee, Alastair Cotton contributes his broad experience in sponsorship deals and the promotion of sports events on social media.

Pinsent Masons LLP is noted for its strong corporate focus, and its broad client base spanning horseracing, football, electric scooter racing, and tennis. Practice head Julian Diaz-Rainey is well-known for his vast knowledge of disputes within football. Renowned for his deep regulatory knowledge, Andrew Mitchell handles both contentious and non-contentious regulatory matters, including challenges to doping bans. Alexander Richardson caseload consists of injunction applications and appeals against disciplinary commission decisions concerning breaches of Profit and Sustainability rules, while Gabrielle Armstrong routinely advises Premier League football clubs on regulatory investigations and compliance with financial regulations.

The team at Brandsmiths acts for a broad range of boxing and football clients in endorsement arrangements, joint practice heads Tom Keane and David Seligman were both promoted to partner in Jan 2024. Keane is noted for his exceptional expertise in football transfers, acting for a number of clubs, international agencies, and sports brands, while Seligman routinely appears before sports arbitration bodies. Nicola Wilburn-Shaw joined the group from JMW Solicitors LLP in February 2024, contributing her vast knowledge of family law. Michael Forrester leads the litigation group, representing numerous Premier League football players in reputation management cases and image rights matters.

The team at Fletcher Sports Law is known for handling the full spectrum of football related matters, including betting charges brought by the FA. Paul Fletcher leads the team, and is well-known for his expertise in the football industry, advising a range of domestic and global clubs, agents, and brands on playing contracts and transfers. Boxing expert Tom Grant represents athletes, managers, and brands on agency disputes and management agreements.

Gateley Legal houses a broad practice, handling a wide variety of work within sports, including tech and outsourcing agreements, commercial contractual issues, and brand protection. Nick Murrills utilises his broad commercial knowledge to assist Premier League football clubs and sports agents, and Leanne Grindrod acts for a broad range of sports tech clients and national governing bodies in a variety of non-contentious matters.

Stephen Taylor Heath leads the group at JMW Solicitors LLP, which is noted for its standout focus on golf and boxing. Heath handles a variety of matters, including ambassador agreements for well-known athletes, acting for a range of football clubs, professional golfers, and governing bodies. Mike Blood is well-versed in sports finance and commercial rights related issues, and is noted for his experience in advising overseas professional leagues and associations, and John Burns is a key name for commercial issues, advising on a whole host of brand licensing matters.

Leveraging its national network, DAC Beachcroft LLP handles a range of sports related issues, spanning catastrophic injury claims, and contractual matters. Commercial disputes expert Jan Levinson is known for his deep knowledge of sport injury matters, including claims involving professional sports clubs and athletes.

The team at Farleys Solicitors LLP is known for assisting boxing, rugby, and tennis clients with insolvency and employment issues, in addition to handling sports and commercial disputes. Daniel Draper maintains a broad, football focused practice, acting for a wide array of clubs, managers, and footballers.

Dominic McGinn leads the Liverpool based group at Excello Law which acts for a variety of sport adjacent and sporting management companies. McGinn is noted for his strong focus on football related sports law matters, acting for numerous clubs, agents, and players.