Sports Law Careers

Welcome to our Careers Hub, your gateaway to a career in sports law.

Here, you’ll find everything you need to navigate the industry and explore the top law firms shaping the future of sports. Each firm offers its own unique expertise and approach, and we’re here to help you understand what makes them stand out.

We’ve categorised firms into specific “Bands”, providing a snapshot of how leading legal directories like Chambers rank their prominence in sports law. But we go further — breaking down each firm’s key clients, landmark deals, and core strengths so you can gain a clear understanding of their work and culture.

Whether you’re drawn to high-profile sponsorships, complex M&A, or cutting-edge work in areas like AI and technology, our insights help you find the best fit. Plus, we keep you on track with key application deadlines, ensuring you never miss an opportunity.

Explore your options, discover your perfect fit, and take the next step toward a career in sports law.

Band 1

  • Northridge Law

    Northridge Law has established itself as Europe’s largest sports law practice, advising on high-profile matters across football, rugby, motorsport, and beyond. Known for handling landmark transactions, regulatory challenges, and innovative sports tech projects, Northridge empowers aspiring lawyers to gain unique and invaluable experience in the dynamic and fast-evolving world of sports law.

  • Bird & Bird

    Bird & Bird’s leading sports law practice is trusted by top international federations, governing bodies, and sports clubs to handle their most complex regulatory and commercial matters. With expertise spanning football, rugby, motorsports, and athletics, the firm is celebrated for its work on high-profile investigations, sponsorship deals, media rights arrangements, and cutting-edge legal issues in the sports industry.

Band 2

  • Charles Russell Speechlys

    Charles Russell Speechlys is a trusted legal partner for governing bodies, athletes, and clubs, particularly in football, horse racing, and tennis. Known for its expertise in rights acquisitions, licensing, and sports marketing, the firm also excels in tackling technological advancements and betting issues while providing strategic counsel on high-profile global governance matters in sports law.

  • Lewis Silkin

    Lewis Silkin is recognised for its expertise in commercial sports law, particularly in horse racing, cycling, and cricket. The firm excels in employment and immigration work, especially in football, and advises on advertising, brand protection, and intellectual property matters. With a focus on sports technology and data management, it delivers tailored legal solutions for a diverse and high-profile client base.

  • MIlls & Reeve

    Mills & Reeve boasts a highly respected sports law practice, particularly in football, where it represents players in contract negotiations, disciplinary hearings, and high-profile employment disputes. Renowned for its expertise in image rights, doping cases, and its strong advocacy for women’s sport, the firm plays a pivotal role in shaping the legal landscape of modern football through its dedicated and influential work.

  • Level Law

    Level is a highly regarded firm with deep expertise in sports, media, entertainment, and tech law. Renowned for representing athletes in high-profile commercial matters like rights agreements and sponsorship deals, it also excels in domestic and international disciplinary proceedings. The firm’s diverse clients include federations, teams, broadcasters, and sponsors, reflecting its broad and influential industry reach.

  • Onside Law

    Onside Law is a leading sports law firm renowned for its extensive expertise and deep industry connections. The firm represents Premier League football clubs, international governing bodies, and high-profile athletes, delivering specialist advice on joint ventures, brand protection, and multi-jurisdictional M&A. Its dynamic team is trusted to handle some of the most complex and high-value matters in global sports law.

  • Centrefield

    Centrefield is a boutique sports law firm renowned for its deep expertise in player contracts, regulatory issues, and complex disputes. It has a stellar reputation for work in the Court of Arbitration for Sport, disciplinary cases, and high-profile salary disputes. Trusted by top-tier football clubs, athletes, and associations, Centrefield offers unparalleled insight into the evolving challenges of sports law.

Band 3

  • CMS

    CMS boasts a leading sports and media practice, widely recognised for its expertise in media rights negotiations, licensing, and anti-piracy measures. The firm regularly advises clients on high-stakes M&A deals, contract negotiations, and the innovative use of sports data in gaming. Its multidisciplinary approach makes CMS a trusted and reliable partner for prominent players in the sports industry.

  • DLA Piper

    DLA Piper is a global powerhouse in sports law, recognised for its market-leading expertise in sports broadcasting, event staging, and infrastructure projects. The firm works with top-tier rights holders on domestic and international media contracts, advises on commercial arrangements for global events, and handles high-stakes matters like stadium financing and competition law.

  • Harbottle & Lewis

    Harbottle & Lewis is renowned for its expertise across sponsorship, media rights, and reputation management, with a distinct focus on innovative industries like e-sports, sports technology, and digital content. The firm acts for high-profile athletes, clubs, and organisations, offering strategic counsel on major events, long-term sponsorships, and cutting-edge developments in the sports sector.

Band 4

  • Clifford Chance

    Clifford Chance is a magic circle firm with a distinguished sports law practice known for handling high-profile contentious mandates. The team excels in regulatory and commercial disputes, including business interruption claims, sponsorship disagreements, and anti-doping cases. Renowned for its expertise in football and athletics, the firm represents top clubs and governing bodies.

  • Latham & Watkins

    Latham excels in managing high-profile, complex matters for major players in the sports industry. The firm has extensive experience representing governing bodies, club owners, and prominent teams across the UK and internationally. Renowned for its innovative approach and cross-border capabilities, the team delivers tailored solutions for challenging commercial, regulatory, and transactional issues in sport.

  • Mishcon De Reya

    Mishcon has a highly regarded sports team skilled in handling a wide range of commercial, disciplinary, and regulatory matters across sports. The firm advises football clubs on contentious and transactional issues, including high-profile player transfers. Its expertise extends to representing sports organisations, charities, and emerging sectors like e-sports and gaming, establishing it as a trusted name in sports law.

  • Pinsent Masons

    Pinsent Masons is a trusted advisor to governing bodies, associations, and sports clubs, offering deep expertise across both transactional and contentious matters. The firm is noted for its strength in sports finance and investment, with standout work in football and horse racing. Its team has significant experience in infrastructure projects, and regularly advises on key mandates for major sporting events.

  • Squire Patton Boggs

    Squire Patton Boggs has a prominent sports law practice supported by the firm’s global network. The team advises clients across various sports, including football, cricket, and tennis, on corporate transactions, regulatory compliance, and employment matters. It is particularly recognised for its expertise in negotiating sports media rights agreements and handling high-profile disputes for leading organisations and athletes.

Band 5

  • Farrer & Co

    Farrer & Co is a prestigious law firm specialising in sports law, working with major governing bodies like the FA and Olympic organisations, and representing elite athletes and sports clubs. The firm advises on various matters, including commercial and property issues, governance, reputation management, and safeguarding, with particular strengths in employment and tax planning for high-profile individuals.

  • Linklaters

    Linklaters has a comprehensive sports practice , specialising in corporate transactions, media rights, and sponsorship deals. The firm also excels in high-profile disputes, such as regulatory and reputation cases. Its expertise extends to employment, real estate, and other areas, making it a go-to firm for clients seeking strategic, multidisciplinary legal advice in the sports industry.

  • Wiggin

    Wiggin is a prominent firm at the crossroads of sports, media, and technology. Sports organisations turn to it for strategic guidance on launching new products and navigating complex commercial, media, and digital rights challenges. With a strong emphasis on innovation, Wiggin attracts clients looking to enhance brand engagement and seize emerging opportunities in the digital landscape.

Band 6

  • Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner

    Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) has a strong track record advising lenders, sports governing bodies, and clubs on complex finance transactions, focusing on reputation management and contentious football matters. The firm is highly regarded for its expertise in player acquisitions, transfer agreements, and cross-border sports law. BCLP also has extensive experience in stadium construction and development, making it a well-rounded player in the sports law sector.

  • Penningtons Manches Cooper

    Penningtons boasts a comprehensive sports law practice, representing elite athletes, clubs, and organisations. The team excels in football and motorsports, offering expert services across diverse legal disciplines, including intellectual property, brand management, and governance issues. The firm is renowned for its in-depth knowledge and tailored advice, helping clients navigate the complexities of the sports industry.

  • The Sports Consultancy Legal

    The Sports Consultancy Legal offers specialised legal counsel across various facets of sports law, including corporate transactions, event bidding and hosting, governance, regulatory matters, sponsorship, and sports marketing. This seamless integration enables TSC Legal to provide clients with comprehensive, strategic, and commercially astute legal services tailored to the unique demands and complexities of the sports sector.

  • RPC

    RPC is a leading law firm providing a comprehensive range of legal services to clients in men’s and women’s sports. The firm advises world-renowned clubs, associations, sports governing bodies, and corporate sponsors on regulatory, governance, commercial, and intellectual property matters. RPC excels in high-profile sponsorship agreements, talent management, broadcasting rights, and commercial disputes.

  • Walker Morris

    Walker Morris is a highly regarded law firm with a strong sports practice focused on football. The team possesses deep expertise in the sports sector, providing legal counsel on both contentious and non-contentious matters. The firm excels in sponsorship arrangements, commercial disputes, and regulatory issues, often engaging in high-profile football club transactions while delivering key insights to clients.

  • Fieldfisher

    Fieldfisher is renowned for providing comprehensive legal services to major brands in the sports industry. The firm offers expert counsel in areas such as intellectual property rights, brand management, employment issues, and corporate governance. With a strong reputation in sports law, Fieldfisher delivers strategic, tailored advice on commercial agreements, privacy matters, and sponsorship deals.