Sports Employment & Contract Negotiation

• We help our clients with complex and sensitive exits and disputes, whether that’s between clubs and their players, their managers, their playing staff or other employees. Should it come to it, we’ll also handle any subsequent proceedings using our experience in the traditional courts and employment tribunals as well as in sports arbitration.

• Another area of work we support our clients with is professionalising Esports. This usually involves drafting player contracts and providing advice on key issues such as employment status and contracting with child gamers.

• If you need help drafting and negotiating contracts – for players, managers, or coaches – we have significant experience in drafting professional contracts for both men’s and women’s football and in various other sports, making sure you are compliant with the rules of the relevant governing bodies. We’ll also advise you on key provisions such as early termination rights and payments; post-termination restrictions; bonuses; image rights; confidentiality; and protection of, and damage to, reputation.

• We act as HR and employment law advisers to a number of Premier League and Football League clubs. This often sensitive work includes drafting and negotiating settlement agreements, disciplinary and grievance investigations, defending employment tribunal claims, dealing with matters relating to players and footballing staff, and day-to-day HR advice.

• Our clients also come to us for advice on significant strategic decisions such as large redundancy exercises and restructures.

• We advise our clients in relation to TUPE transfers and have extensive experience drafting and negotiating the employment aspects of commercial contracts, including stewarding and security agreements and stadium and training ground catering agreements.

• We advise on sports immigration matters, including applications for sponsor licences and applications for Governing Body Endorsements under the points-based system from the approved governing bodies in various sports.