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Sports

A team of leading sports lawyers with a track record of delivering success.

Our multi-disciplinary Sports Group has acted on some of the highest profile sports law related matters in recent years. The team is supported by experts from across the firm with a wealth of sports experience in contentious and non-contentious legal matters, including those that specialise in drafting commercial contracts, dealing with regulatory issues, assisting with immigration requirements, advising on employment matters, brand protection, reputation management, supporting on corporate activities, dealing with real estate projects (including all aspects of stadium developments), and tax matters.

We regularly provide legal advice across a breadth of mainstream and alternative sports but have particular expertise in football, boxing, motorsport, rugby and esports, as well as experience across snooker, darts, fencing, golf and cricket.

Experts in sports technology, data and innovation

Technology is at the heart of Mishcon de Reya's culture. A significant proportion of the work that we do for our clients is in the sports technology space. We recognise how new technologies are revolutionising the way sport operates, enhancing both player and supporter experience, and driving new revenue opportunities for rightsholders. We have seen an explosion of interest in emerging technologies such as NFTs, blockchain and fan tokens, connecting fans and teams in unprecedented ways.

Our Sports lawyers are at the forefront of these technology developments, with deep expertise supporting and advising a variety of clients in this space. Our clients include a market-leading utility token provider to major sports clubs, organisations and other parties, as well as other blockchain and NFT market leaders, and new technology vendors that are working with some of the biggest names in sport.

Alongside our expertise in Sports Technology and Sports Data matters, we also have a wealth of relevant technology and cyber experience through the MDR Cyber and MDRx businesses to further provide our clients with a holistic offering.

Trusted advisors

We work closely with our clients and for many of them take on the role of a trusted advisor. We have a deep understanding of the industry and act across a wide variety of sports. Our diverse client base ranges from leading professional athletes and sports clubs to investors and broadcasters. We have a history of acting on several major investments into, and acquisitions of, various sporting assets, from football clubs and leagues to Formula 1 teams.  

Our sports lawyers regularly act for clients from around the world and several of them are fluent in multiple foreign languages. Around 70% of our work has an international element. We also have long-standing experience working across Europe and in the Middle East.

The Sports Group frequently work with international firms leveraging our industry connections and our reputation in the market. We continue to foster good relationships with a number of intermediaries and international firms.

A substantial proportion of our work focusses on the regulatory framework of professional sport. We have particular expertise in the financial regulation of football and recently co-authored a chapter on the subject in the leading textbook Football and the Law.

We are regularly asked to advise football clubs on their compliance with financial fair play and our lawyers are often featured across leading print and broadcast media, including Sky News, BBC News, The Financial Times and City AM as experts on the topic.

Positive impact 

We are immensely proud of our partnership with Women In Football and the other pro bono and ESG-related work that we do to promote sport for good – including undertaking pro bono activities for athletes and other organisations in distress. As part of this commitment, our free to access Sports Law Academy is designed to open up the world of sports law to a much more diverse audience, and we regularly act for clients through the Sports Resolutions Pro bono panel. 

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