Sports Law

Warners has a long history of representing individuals, teams and associations within the sports industry. Our lawyers are experts in their practice areas and can offer the full range of contentious and non-contentious legal services to our clients. We can advise on a wide range of issues, including sponsorship deals, negotiating player contracts, protecting brands, employment and property matters.

Our clients come from a wide range of sports including:

• Cricket
• Golf
• Country and target sports
• Motor racing
• Football
• Competitive and recreational riding
• Dance
• Rugby
• Gymnastics

We regularly help sport sector clients with:

• Sponsorship agreements and disputes
• Trademark applications
• Advice on copyright and other intellectual property infringements
• Co-branding agreements
• Service contracts with clauses relating to potential relegation/promotion
• Training ground and clubhouse leases
• Employment disputes
• Advice on player contracts
• Retail unit leases

Our experience in the sports sector:

• Advising a premiership football club in relation to a number of matters, including leases, service contracts, shirt sponsorship agreements and copyright issues
• Advising a number of prestigious golf clubs on matters such as employee disputes and settlement agreements
• Advising The Masters of Foxhounds Association and British Hound Sports Association on various issues including internal constitutional matters, disciplinary proceedings against hunt individuals and employment matters involving hunt staff
• Advising J M Osborne Rural & Sporting and William Powell Sporting in numerous legal issues, including the employment of gamekeepers and other staff on grouse moors, and criminal and regulatory issues involving shotguns, firearms and alleged wildlife crime
• Advising a well-known local rugby club on issues including player contracts, club mergers and licencing agreements