Sports law

We advise organisations on constitutional regulatory issues including the drafting and interpretation of regulation in relation to sports and governing bodies and how they interact with clients’ commercial interests.

We provide legal advice to professionals on personal tax and cross-border estate planning liaising with individuals, professional sports agencies and individual agents.

We provide clients with advice in respect of real estate and planning law issues in both contentious and non-contentious issues.

We advise in relation to intellectual property rights including brand protection by way of both criminal and civil jurisdictions. We also provide employment law advice to organisations.

We have an intrinsic and detailed knowledge of the business of sport through decades of providing advice and assistance to clients in protecting and developing their commercial interests. 

The members of our sports law group knowledge of the sports industry, and the legal and commercial issues faced by both individuals and organisations operating within it, allow us to advise clients in navigating them though sometimes complex issues that they face when seeking to fully exploit their commercial interests. 

Sports law for businesses industry experience

Our experience includes:

• advising broadcasters including Sky as to Intellectual Property Rights issues including brand protection and exploitation, advice on the areas of design copyright, trade mark and service mark, domain names and other Intellectual Property Rights matters
• advising directors of Premier League football clubs as to the operability of the Premier League rule book “Owners and Directors’ Test” and director’s duties generally 
• advised and assisted the purchasers of an EFL professional football club from the "fit and proper person test" through to the commercial sale documentation in a "one-stop-shop" instruction
• advising a private members golf club on the club on its move from an unincorporated association to a company limited by guarantee. This has included advice on the Articles of Association of the new company and the transfer of assets and liabilities to the new company
• instructed by Chelsea Football Club in various regulatory investigations including as independent Counsel to conduct an emergency review of the Club's procedures relating to Diversity and Equality and FA rules. We interviewed all relevant Chelsea players and staff including the Chairman and Chief Executive. We have advised and represented both the Club and individual players in numerous matters over a twenty-year period
• advising and assisting numerous professional sporting individuals and organisations (form clubs to the competition organisers) as to reputational management issues
• represented Tottenham Hotspur FC to advise and assist in various matters over the past fifteen years
• represented Newcastle United Football Club on a permanent standard retainer and dealing with a range of legal issues affecting the Club including all issues of media relations, privacy and reputation management. Dealing with 'on-field' related issues with regard to players and the Club itself
• instructed by various EFL clubs in relation to media issues and defamation matters on behalf of the Club and former Directors and general player issues, media advice and reputational issues
• representing national athletics officials in relation to allegations arising from the unauthorised sale of Olympic event tickets
• advising and assisting numerous professional sporting individuals and organisations (form clubs to the competition organisers) as to reputational management issues

We offer advice to charities, sports governing bodies and to amateur sports clubs of all shapes and sizes.

We can help you with:

• setting up and running a sports-related charity
• sports-related fundraising events, including large scale international events
• sponsorship, partnerships and collaborations with commercial organisations
• advising on the appropriate legal structure and status for your amateur sports club
• incorporating or otherwise restructuring your amateur sports club
• disputes in amateur sports clubs or other sports not-for-profit organisations
• regulatory issues

Our lawyers have a wide range of specialisms, including: governance, commercial, regulatory, dispute resolution, data protection, employment and property. Through offering such breadth of expertise, we aim to be able to assist a not-for-profit organisation with any legal query they have.

Sports law for not-for-profit organisations industry experience

Our experience includes:

• advising on a major, national sports-related fundraising event for several years
• advising a premier league football club on the establishment of a related charity
• advising a sport governing body its potential to seek charitable status;
• advising a cricket club on its incorporation and registration as a charity with a trading subsidiary through which overseas players are paid
• advising a golf club on its deregistration as a community amateur sports club (“CASC”) and its incorporation into a company limited by guarantee
• advising a multi-sports club on a governance dispute, including in defending a claim brought against the club by a member
• advising a golf club on its incorporation into a company, with a related company holding the club’s land
• advising a children’s football league on the resolution of a governance dispute and the restructuring of the league
• advising a fitness and exercise club on its successful registration as a charity after three previous unsuccessful attempts by the club to register with the Charity Commission over several years
  

We can help you with:

• Disciplinary and regulatory issues: If an individual is facing disciplinary actions, such as anti-doping violations or allegations of misconduct resulting from either ‘on’ or ‘off Field’ issues, we have a great experience in representing clients in disciplinary and regulatory proceedings, striving to minimize any impact on the individual’s career and / or reputation. Matters we regularly advise on range from disciplinary tribunal advice and representation through to general Safeguarding analysis and advice.
• Employment-related legal advice: For sports professionals facing employment-related issues, such as wrongful dismissal, discrimination, or disputes with sports organisations or clubs, Russell-Cooke's employment law team can offer expert legal advice and representation. Russell-Cooke can assist athletes, coaches, and other sports professionals in negotiating and drafting contracts with clubs, sponsors, and governing bodies. They can also resolve disputes that arise from these contracts, helping to optimise the individual’s commercial position.
• Intellectual property and branding: We advise in relation to intellectual property rights including helping individuals manage and protect their intellectual property, such as their image rights, trademarks, and endorsements. We can also guide you through any potential conflicts or infringements involving an individual’s copyright / intellectual property rights or branding / reputational issues. We support individuals in negotiating sponsorship and endorsement deals, ensuring that the terms of these agreements are in their best interests.
• Dispute resolution: If disputes occur, Russell-Cooke can represent clients in court or help them resolve issues through alternative dispute resolution mechanisms like arbitration or mediation. This is particularly relevant for contractual disputes, financial disagreements, or other legal challenges.
• Immigration and visa assistance: For international athletes or coaches, Russell-Cooke can assist with navigating complex visa and immigration laws to secure the appropriate work permits for competing or working in the UK.
• Personal injury claims: For athletes who sustain injuries during training or competition, Russell-Cooke can assist with personal injury claims, helping secure compensation for medical costs and damages.

Sports law for individuals industry experience

Our experience includes:

• Advising individuals in connection to disciplinary tribunals ranging form matters relating to on-field issues through to World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) anti-doping hearings
• Advising directors of Premier League football clubs as to the operability of the Premier League rule book “Owners and Directors’ Test” and director’s duties generally 
• Advising and assisting numerous professional sporting individuals and organisations (from clubs to the competition organisers) as to reputational management issues such as being instructed by directors of English Football League (EFL) clubs in relation to media issues and defamation matters