Sports Law Careers

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 experience in the dynamic world of sports law.

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, and media rights arrangements.

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 advising on high-profile global governance matters in sports law.

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. With a strong focus on sports technology and data management, it delivers tailored solutions for a diverse client base.

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 advocacy for women’s sport, the firm plays a pivotal role in shaping the legal landscape of football.

Level is a highly regarded firm with deep expertise across sports, media, entertainment, and tech law. Renowned for representing individual athletes in high-profile commercial matters such as rights agreements and sponsorship deals, it also excels in domestic and international disciplinary proceedings. The firm’s client base includes federations, teams, broadcasters, and sponsors, reflecting its comprehensive industry reach.

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 LLP is a boutique sports law firm recognised for its extensive expertise in player contracts, regulatory issues, and complex disputes. The firm boasts a stellar reputation for its 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 legal challenges facing the sports world.

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

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 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 organizations, offering strategic counsel on major events, long-term sponsorships, and cutting-edge developments in the sports sector.

Clifford Chance is a highly respected 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 regularly represents leading sports clubs, event organisers, and international governing bodies on critical industry matters.

Latham & Watkins stands out for its ability to manage high-profile, complex matters for major players in the global sports industry. The firm boasts extensive experience representing governing bodies, club owners, and high-profile teams across the UK and internationally. Known for its innovative approach and cross-border capabilities, the team excels in delivering tailored solutions for the most challenging commercial, regulatory, and transactional issues in sport.

Mishcon de Reya boasts a highly regarded sports team adept at handling a diverse array of commercial, disciplinary, and regulatory matters across multiple sports. The firm is recognised for advising 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, making it a trusted name in the sports law industry.

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 both domestically and internationally.

Squire Patton Boggs boasts a prominent sports law practice backed by the firm’s expansive global network. The team advises clients across various sports, including football, cricket, and tennis, on major 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.

Farrer & Co is a highly regarded law firm with expertise across the full spectrum of sports law. The firm is known for its work with major governing bodies, including the FA and Olympic organisations, as well as its representation of elite athletes and sports clubs. Farrer & Co advises on a broad range of matters, from commercial and property issues to governance, reputation management, and safeguarding, with a particular strength in employment and tax planning for high-profile individuals.

Linklaters boasts a comprehensive sports practice that spans a wide range of legal services, including corporate and investment transactions, media rights, licensing, and sponsorship deals. The firm is also adept at handling high-profile disputes, including regulatory, rights, and reputation cases. In addition, its expertise extends to employment, real estate, and other areas critical to the sports sector, making it a go-to firm for clients seeking strategic, multidisciplinary legal advice across the sports industry.

Wiggin LLP is a leading firm at the intersection of sports, media, and tech, renowned for its expertise in intellectual property, brand management, and talent sponsorship. The firm is particularly sought after by sports organisations for its strategic advice on launching new products and navigating complex commercial, media, and digital rights issues. With a strong focus on innovation, Wiggin is a go-to partner for clients looking to maximise their brand engagement and capitalise on emerging opportunities in the digital landscape.

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) has a strong track record advising lenders, sports governing bodies, and clubs on complex finance transactions, with a focus 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, particularly in Spain, Italy, and South America. BCLP also offers extensive experience in stadium construction and development projects, making it a well-rounded player in the sports law sector.

Penningtons offers a comprehensive sports law practice, representing elite athletes, teams, clubs, and professional organisations. The team is particularly skilled in football, motorsports, and sailing, providing expert services across a wide range of legal disciplines, including intellectual property rights, brand management, and commercial and governance issues. With a strong track record, the firm is trusted for its in-depth knowledge and tailored advice in navigating the complexities of the sports industry.

As the legal division of The Sports Consultancy, a multidisciplinary firm dedicated exclusively to the sports industry, TSC Legal offers specialised legal counsel across various facets of sports law. This ranges from corporate transactions, event bidding and hosting, to governance and regulatory matters, sponsorship, and sports marketing. This integration allows TSC Legal to provide clients with comprehensive, strategic, and commercially astute legal services tailored to the unique demands of the sports sector.

RPC is a leading law firm offering a comprehensive range of legal services to prominent clients in both men's and women's sports. The firm works with world-renowned clubs, associations, sports governing bodies, and corporate sponsors, providing expert advice on regulatory, governance, commercial, and intellectual property matters. RPC excels in advising on high-profile sponsorship agreements, talent management, broadcasting rights, and commercial disputes. Known for its practical approach, RPC is a trusted advisor to key players across the global sports industry.

Walker Morris is a highly regarded Leeds-based law firm, with a strong sports practice focused primarily on football. The team has a deep understanding of the sports sector, providing expert legal counsel on both contentious and non-contentious matters. It has a particular strength in sponsorship arrangements, commercial disputes, and regulatory matters, and is frequently involved in high-profile football club transactions. The firm is also well-versed in brand protection and exploitation, offering a comprehensive service to clients in the football industry.

Fieldfisher is renowned for providing comprehensive legal services to some of the biggest brands in the sports industry. The firm offers expert counsel across a wide range of disciplines, including intellectual property (IP) rights, brand management, employment and disciplinary issues, and corporate governance. With a strong reputation in sports law, Fieldfisher is particularly known for delivering strategic, tailored advice on commercial agreements, privacy matters, sponsorship deals, and sports-related legal challenges, both on and off the field.