Sectors

Sports Lawyers

Sports law solicitors

We offer legal advice and representation to national governing bodies, international federations, sports clubs, and athletes in any sport, whether amateur or professional.

If you need expert legal advice on a new contract, agent agreement, legal dispute, IP rights, merchandising, sponsorship, broadcasting, or player immigration matters, we can assist you.

We understand the importance of protecting the reputation and interests of those we represent. Everything we do and recommend will be done so with confidentiality and your reputation in mind.

Our sports solicitors can offer a range of strategies to resolve your matter. When it comes to sports law disputes, we are strong advocates for alternative dispute resolution methods in the first instance, as these can lead to amicable resolutions which are realised faster, with less cost, and without long term damage to relationships; a key reason why many clients seek our services.

Our offices are in Sheffield, Birmingham, Cambridge, Manchester and London if you require a face-to-face meeting, but we typically work remotely to keep our overheads low which enables us to offer our innovative pricing packages.

Get in touch


What our sports lawyers do

Our sports law solicitors not only possess expertise in the latest sports law, but also understand the industry; including its structures, regulations, challenges, pressures, trends, and developments. With this knowledge, we provide smart, pragmatic, insightful and tailored law services for any sports industry stakeholder.

Our team is here to help you achieve your ambitions and realise your vision of success. Because we are a full-service law firm, sports teams, clubs, organisations, and individuals who seek our services automatically benefit from our holistic legal expertise in the areas of immigration, commercial and contract law, intellectual property, litigation and contentious disputes, corporate governance and transactions, and employment law.

As a sports law firm, our solicitors can advise and represent you in a wide range of sporting legal matters including:

  • sports contracts
  • sports agents agreements
  • sports contracts disputes and litigations
  • sports merchandising/sponsorship, and broadcasting
  • sports IP rights
  • sports immigration (Tier 2 Sportsperson visas and Tier 5 Temporary Worker – Creative and Sporting visas)

Sports governance matters

Sports governance is particularly robust within the UK and is strictly upheld. We can advise and represent you in relation to any matters involving a sports governing organisation, whether for a specific sport, such as the Football Association, Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), or an overarching body such as the International Olympic Committee (IoC), or the Commonwealth Games Federation. We specialise in resolving complex sports disputes such as complaints, disciplinaries, investigations, and suspensions.

Legal advice for sports clients

Expert drafting of sports agreements

Expert contract/agreement drafting is essential in the sports industry, to ensure the proper protection of individuals, clubs, teams, sponsors and other organisations. By taking the time to draft an agreement which meets both your immediate and longer-term needs, you can be assured that regardless of what then eventuates, all scenarios have been taken into account. We will consider possibilities such as injury, early termination, bonuses, performance, and legal obligations. We can assist with drafting:

  • agreements for appearances by players
  • agent contracts
  • agreements with broadcasters, event managers and promoters
  • brand rights
  • club and employment contracts
  • club constitutions
  • columnist’s agreements
  • commercial agreements
  • endorsement and merchandising agreements
  • image rights agreements
  • player transfer agreements
  • presenter’s agreements
  • sponsorship agreements

Testimonials

What our clients say

As soon as I contacted them, and explained the support I required, they were responsive, on the case and quickly got a grasp of what I required.
John Heard Founder, Wild Cycles
We’d like to thank Harper James for all of their support throughout the investment deal process. As well as providing vital legal advice, Adam and the team at Harper James gave us guidance on the next steps of our growth, and we look forward to working with the team on a variety of projects in the future.
Scott Clifford Founder, Oneskee
My developer was surprised by the speed and ease at which our app was accepted to the App store. This is credit to the watertight privacy policy and terms and conditions David created.
Abby Edwards Founder, RugbySpy
Always a very efficient service, communication is also excellent. Feel in safe hands.
Kate Fraser Compliance Manager, Premier Education Group
As soon as I contacted them, and explained the support I required, they were responsive, on the case and quickly got a grasp of what I required.
John Heard Founder, Wild Cycles
We’d like to thank Harper James for all of their support throughout the investment deal process. As well as providing vital legal advice, Adam and the team at Harper James gave us guidance on the next steps of our growth, and we look forward to working with the team on a variety of projects in the future.
Scott Clifford Founder, Oneskee
My developer was surprised by the speed and ease at which our app was accepted to the App store. This is credit to the watertight privacy policy and terms and conditions David created.
Abby Edwards Founder, RugbySpy
Always a very efficient service, communication is also excellent. Feel in safe hands.
Kate Fraser Compliance Manager, Premier Education Group

Sports solicitors with sector expertise

Our senior solicitors have been recruited from top 100 UK law firms or international businesses, and many are passionate sportspeople themselves. Our team comprises multiple practice areas, so whatever legal advice you need, we have a solicitor with the relevant sector experience, able to deal with your needs quickly and cost-effectively.

Our lawyers come with a rich and varied history in sports sector legal advice. Some of their previous work within the sector includes:

  • Hiring sports players, particularly football players and motor racing drivers, from overseas
  • Resolving director and shareholder disputes for major sports clubs, especially football clubs
  • Acting for a global sports equipment company on its commercial partner agreements
  • Acting for sports personalities working as ambassadors for large brands

Pricing and service plans

Legal support designed
to fit your business needs

Our three transparent service plans are designed to give you the widest possible access to high-quality legal advice, whatever the size and nature of your business:

Engage

Flexible access to senior solicitors at highly competitive rates

An alternative to our subscription plans, offering access to full service legal expertise on a project-by-project basis.

Extend

Comprehensive legal partnership for established businesses

Fully account managed and scalable annual subscription plan with support from a curated team of partners and senior solicitors, with up to 34% discount on our Standard Rates.




What next?

Please leave us your details and we’ll contact you to discuss your situation and legal requirements. There’s no charge for your initial consultation, and no-obligation to instruct us. We aim to respond to all messages received within 24 hours.

Your data will only be used by Harper James Solicitors. We will never sell your data and promise to keep it secure. You can find further information in our Privacy Policy.

Our offices

A national law firm

A national law firm

Our commercial lawyers are based in or close to major cities across the UK, providing expert legal advice to clients both locally and nationally.

We mainly work remotely, so we can work with you wherever you are. But we can arrange face-to-face meeting at our offices or a location of your choosing.

Head Office

Floor 5, Cavendish House, 39-41 Waterloo Street, Birmingham, B2 5PP
Regional Spaces

Capital Tower Business Centre, 3rd Floor, Capital Tower, Greyfriars Road, Cardiff, CF10 3AG
Stirling House, Cambridge Innovation Park, Denny End Road, Waterbeach, Cambridge, CB25 9QE
13th Floor, Piccadilly Plaza, Manchester, M1 4BT
10 Fitzroy Square, London, W1T 5HP
Harwell Innovation Centre, 173 Curie Avenue, Harwell, Oxfordshire, OX11 0QG
1st Floor, Dearing House, 1 Young St, Sheffield, S1 4UP
White Building Studios, 1-4 Cumberland Place, Southampton, SO15 2NP
A national law firm

To access legal support from just £145 per hour arrange your no-obligation initial consultation to discuss your business requirements.

Make an enquiry