Sports Law

Sports Law

We have a strong reputation for providing top sportspeople with outstanding advice and legal support, recognised through our tier-one Legal 500 ranking, which names us as one of the UK’s leading sports law firms.

Our sports department advises athletes including footballers, cricketers, and boxers around the globe on a range of contractual, regulatory, sponsorship, and commercial issues.

Sport is a unique business, but one that we live and breathe, staying abreast of the latest case law, sports regulations, and practices, enabling us to protect the best interests of our clients.

Our specialised team of sports solicitors is passionate about what they do, working across disciplines on contentious and non-contentious issues with leading names, clubs, organisations, and brands at home and abroad.

Gary Mellor
Senior Partner

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The world of sport brings its own unique and often complex challenges. If you would like to find out more about how we can help you, contact us today for advice tailored to your situation.

Sponsorship rights

When it comes to sponsorship, it is vital to appoint a specialist sports solicitor to ensure your commercial objectives are met.

At Beswicks Legal, our commercial and pragmatic approach helps to ensure your sponsorship contract is negotiated and drafted to protect and promote your best interests.

Advising on a broad range of sponsorship matters, including specific regulatory issues, and the impact of the changing digital world, we ensure you are fully aware of the rights and obligations sponsorship places upon you.

Merchandising rights

Merchandising and licensing arrangements can be highly lucrative. However, without the relevant trademark rights and copyright protection, you will not be able to legally protect your interests against infringers and counterfeiters.

We make sure the proper documents are in place to protect your particular circumstances and sport. We also help with the termination of merchandising rights, as well as co-operation agreements, rights of exclusivity and options to renew.

Where an infringement of these rights has taken place, we’ll guide and support you through the dispute resolution process, with all the skills and experience necessary to secure a successful outcome.

Brand management and rights protection

In the world of sport, being able to exploit images and your brand reputation form a significant part of your potential earnings. We can advise you on how to maximise your brand, securing the intellectual property rights for names, images and logos.

We also use our in-depth knowledge of taxation law to reduce your tax liability, while making the most of your brand.

If an infringement of your brand takes place, we will guide and support you through the dispute resolution process. Likewise, should your brand face reputational damage, we’ll react swiftly to contain the situation and ensure your integrity remains intact.

Sporting contracts

At Beswicks Legal, we help a number of high profile sporting individuals, clubs and organisations with their contractual needs.

From domestic and international transfers, to the negotiation of contracts, option arrangements, rights and employment matters, we work with you to ensure your contracts are up-to-date, legally compliant, and support your best interests.

Tribunals and arbitrations

We have extensive experience in preparing and conducting cases before numerous sports specialist tribunals and arbitrations relating to regulatory, disciplinary and commercial issues having represented high profile players and top level clubs.

Regulatory and governance

With regulation and governance in sport firmly under the spotlight, it is crucial for clubs, bodies, organisations and federations to be above board and legally compliant.

We provide advice and support on a broad range of regulatory and compliance issues, from rules and regulations to structures and constitutions, financial fair play, selection, disciplinary and doping sanctions.

Disciplinary and anti-doping proceedings

We have extensive experience handling the legal aspects of anti-doping and wider disciplinary matters in the world of sport.

With an in-depth knowledge of employment and regulatory matters, we advise on a broad range of cases, including on and off-field disciplinary matters and representation before panels and hearings. We also help with issues such as doping, match-fixing, corruption and bribery.

Sports disputes

Disputes arise in any business and sport is no exception. We provide guidance throughout the process whether it is to issue, maintain or defend claims through the courts or by arbitration both in the UK and internationally.