Sports Law

Professional sportspeople face a wide range of legal issues away from competition – from contracts and sponsorship deals to image rights, visas and family matters. Reeds advises athletes, coaches and managers across all of them.

Because our contract, immigration, family and criminal defence lawyers all work in-house, we can handle every part of the legal side of your career – and if something goes wrong, the right specialist is already on hand.

Contracts

Before you sign, you need to know exactly what you’re committing to, including the clauses that only matter when things go wrong. We advise on:

• Playing and coaching contracts
• Transfer agreements
• Management and agency agreements
• Contract renewals and terminations
• Employment disputes with clubs or representatives

Image rights and sponsorship

UK law doesn’t recognise a single “image right”. Protecting your name and likeness depends on a combination of contracts, trade marks and the law of passing off, and on getting the structure right from the start.

We advise on protecting and commercialising your image, and on negotiating sponsorship and endorsement deals that reflect your value without conflicting with obligations to your club or governing body.

Immigration

Overseas sportspeople and coaches need the right visa, and usually a governing body endorsement, before they can play or work in the UK. Our immigration team advises on:

• Sportsperson visa applications
• Governing body endorsements
• Visas for family members
• Extensions and settlement

Family matters

High earnings over a short career raise particular issues if a relationship ends. Income can rise and fall sharply, and image rights and commercial income have to be valued and dealt with.

Our family lawyers advise on prenuptial agreements, which carry significant weight with the courts when properly prepared, as well as divorce, financial settlements and arrangements for children – with the discretion a public profile requires.

Facing an investigation or disciplinary charge?

A police investigation, anti-doping charge or safeguarding allegation can put a career on hold overnight. Our sports regulatory defence solicitors represent athletes and coaches in criminal, disciplinary and governing body proceedings, and our motoring team defends driving offences that put your licence at risk.

Speak to our sports law team

Call 0333 240 7373 or email [email protected]. Everything you tell us is confidential.