Sports Law Solicitors

Sports law solicitors – practical legal advice for clubs, associations, athletes and organisers

Running a sports club and need legal advice? Looking to incorporate, update your constitution or deal with governance properly? Maybe you’re a professional athlete needing help with contracts or image rights. Or perhaps you’re part of a governing body, event organiser or academy wanting clear, commercially-focused legal support from someone who understands how sport works.

I’m Steven Mather, Solicitor. I advise sports clubs, coaches, national associations, governing bodies and professionals across a wide range of sports – from grassroots football and elite rugby to motorsport, martial arts and tennis. That might mean helping a club become a charity, negotiating a sponsorship deal, advising on a disciplinary case or dealing with a serious injury claim.

Let’s be honest – you’re probably not a Premier League team or top-flight level in your sport, but you still want expertise from sports law specialists. I work with smaller clubs, organisations and players; ones who want great advice but don’t want to pay the premier league prices of most sports law solicitors firms. 

Whatever the issue, I give clear, plain-English legal advice that’s grounded in experience and tailored to the sporting world.

Experience across a wide range of sports

I’ve worked with clients from all corners of the sporting landscape. Recent work includes:

• Advising the new national league on forming a new company jointly owned by its participating clubs. This included drafting the articles, shareholder agreements and creating a long-term governance framework.
• Assisting Blisworth FC, a well-established local football club, with its successful conversion from an unincorporated association to a company and charity – improving governance and enabling access to funding.
• Acting for (while at Josiah Hincks) Leicester Tigers, one of England’s top Premiership rugby clubs, on a variety of general legal matters and commercial issues.
• Advising sports stars at national and international level with legal matters such as contracts, player rights, employment contracts and settlement agreement and private litigation matters (claims against IFAs)
• Supporting a karate club with management buy out
• Buying and selling Gyms
• Advising one of the UK’s leading motorsport organisers on its constitution.
• Providing legal advice and player representation to my 7-year old tennis-playing son Horace (dreaming 🤩… and in any case, he doesn’t pay!)

Legal services for the sports sector

The legal needs of sports organisations are broad and often overlap with company law, employment, disputes and regulation. Here’s how SM Sports Law can help.

Non-contentious sports law matters

1. Incorporation and restructuring

Many clubs start life as informal associations, but as things grow, that structure becomes risky. I advise on setting up limited companies, CICs or charities, and handle all the legal work – from drafting constitutions and governance documents to completing Companies House or Charity Commission filings.

2. Contracts and commercial arrangements

I draft and review a wide range of agreements – sponsorships, player and coaching contracts, agency terms, partnership deals and more. These contracts need to be legally sound but also practical and easy to understand. I make sure they reflect how things will actually work, day to day.

3. Image rights, licensing and media

In today’s world, image and brand rights are valuable assets. I advise on protecting logos, player images, video content and other IP. I also help negotiate sponsorship deals, social media agreements and media rights arrangements.

4. Buying and selling sports businesses or clubs

Sales and acquisitions in the sports sector often involve more than just assets – there’s membership, goodwill, reputation and regulatory compliance to consider. I act on deals involving clubs, academies and commercial ventures, providing support from heads of terms through to completion.

5. Regulatory and governance matters

National governing bodies and local clubs alike need good governance. I advise on rulebooks, constitutions, committee decision-making, safeguarding frameworks, conflict policies and compliance with rules set by the FA, LTA, RFU and others.

6. Employment and HR

Clubs, coaches and organisers all face employment law issues. I prepare staff and consultancy contracts, help manage disciplinaries and grievances, and advise on dismissals, volunteer arrangements and whistleblowing concerns.

7. Property and facilities

From leasing a ground to sharing a sports hall, my colleagues and I advise on legal arrangements for facilities and property. That includes leases, licences, event hire contracts and advice on development or planning matters where relevant.

8. Funding and sponsorship

Many clubs rely on external funding and sponsorship. I review and draft funding agreements, check grant conditions, and ensure sponsor obligations are clear and enforceable – while also protecting the club’s brand and operations.

9. Safeguarding and child protection

Safeguarding is a legal and moral priority. I help clubs put in place proper policies, respond to concerns or allegations, and deal with LADO referrals or internal investigations. This includes guidance on DBS checks, risk assessments and disciplinary action.

10. Data protection and GDPR

Sports organisations hold a lot of personal data – from membership info to health data and video footage. I advise on GDPR compliance, privacy notices, data sharing and subject access requests. If there’s been a data breach, I help manage the response.

Contentious sports law matters

I work closely with Andrew King, a sports law litigation solicitor who spearheads the more contentious side of my Sports Law practise. Andrew is a solicitor who specialises in serious personal injury claims, including head injuries and life-changing injuries. Andrew is accredited by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers as a Senior Litigator, and has vast experience of bringing claims for injured individuals.

Andrew is also appointed as a panel member for the FA’s National Serious Case Panel, where he sits on disciplinary hearings for serious grassroots football cases across the men’s, women’s and youth game. This dual insight – from both regulatory and injury perspectives – gives us an edge in handling complex or sensitive cases, whether it involves duty of care, safeguarding failings or reputational risk.

1. Club and committee disputes

Disagreements within clubs or associations can become toxic fast. I advise on internal rules, constitutions and how to resolve disputes without damaging the organisation.

2. Disciplinary and regulatory hearings

I represent individuals and clubs in serious disciplinary proceedings – including safeguarding breaches, on-field conduct, discrimination, and appeals. I also help governing bodies run fair and lawful processes.

3. Contract disputes

Commercial and sponsorship deals sometimes go wrong. We help resolve issues like non-payment, breach of contract, and disputes over termination – through negotiation, mediation or litigation if needed.

4. Employment disputes

From unfair dismissal to discrimination claims, employment disputes in sport are often sensitive and reputational. I act for clubs and individuals, handling tribunal claims and negotiated exits with discretion.

5. Negligence and personal injury claims

Where serious injury occurs – on the pitch, at training, or during an event – the legal issues can be significant. Working with Andrew King, I help assess liability, advise on insurance and represent clients in high-value claims involving duty of care breaches and unsafe conditions.

6. Defamation and reputation management

In sport, reputation matters. If there are false or damaging allegations – online or in the media – I act quickly to protect reputations, send takedown requests, and advise on legal options to manage the fallout.

Tennis law – specialist advice for tennis clubs, tennis coaches and tennis players

Tennis is a particular area of interest and expertise. I advise tennis clubs, coaches, academies and performance players on legal matters including:

• Structuring clubs and setting up CICs or charities
• Drafting coaching contracts and safeguarding policies
• Advice on sponsorship, player contracts and image rights
• Regulatory compliance and safeguarding investigations
• Facility hire and club governance
• Disciplinary issues and complaints

I understand both the legal and practical challenges that come with running a tennis business or progressing as a player, and I provide advice that reflects both.

Need a sports law solicitor?

If you’re involved in sport and need legal support – as a player, for a club, governing body, coaching business or something else – I’d be happy to help. I combine commercial legal expertise with a real understanding of how sport operates.

Get in touch for a no-obligation chat today.