Cricket Lawyers

Our specialist services support the rapidly expanding and evolving legal and commercial landscape of cricket.

Legal Business Awards 2025, Regional/Offshore Firm of the Year, Winner trophy badge with black background and gold, blue and white text and accents.

Our lawyers provide cricket-specific legal expertise to help county boards, franchises, investors, players and coaches seamlessly navigate opportunities and risks.

Our clients include many elite teams and sportspeople including Michael Vaughan OBE and Ben Stokes OBE, as well as The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

Cricket in England and Wales is undergoing unprecedented change. With over two-and-a-half million fans attending The Hundred in its first five years, the ECB is seeing the results of innovation while encountering a whole host of new legal and commercial challenges.

From franchise rebranding and concerns over IP rights to growing disparities between host and non-host counties, the need for tailored legal guidance is urgent. Many counties are exploring private ownership models while others face pressure to remain competitive amid media rights uncertainties and declining central revenues.

At the same time, cricket is expanding its reach through disability inclusion, digital transformation and new forms of fan engagement — all of which require clear legal frameworks to protect stakeholders and sustain momentum.

Our cricket team stands at the heart of these developments. We bring a cross-disciplinary, cross-sport model rooted in governance, commercial law and sports technology advisory — enabling us to deliver both technical and strategic support as cricket evolves.

This forms part of our wider, multi-award-winning sports law team, which is recognised nationally and internationally as one of the largest and most experienced multidisciplinary legal teams in the industry. We're ranked in the top tier of The Legal 500 for sports law and commended in The Times Best Law Firms 2024.

Our services for cricket

Recognised as a top-tier firm in The Legal 500 2025

“Brabners maintains its stellar reputation for handling the full scope of sports mandates concerning sporting events, the eligibility and inclusion of transgender athletes and claims involving racism charges and libel.”

The Legal 500 2025

“Lydia Edgar leads the [sport] team, and is noted for her vast knowledge of the employment aspects of sport, assisting national governing bodies (NGB), owners and athletes with appointments and exit agreements.”

The Legal 500 2025

Case highlights

Michael Vaughan OBE

Representing Michael Vaughan OBE (former England cricket captain and broadcaster) in connection with allegations made against him as part of the Yorkshire Country Cricket Club (Azeem Rafiq) racism scandal. Vaughan was cleared of all charges brought against him before the Cricket Disciplinary Commission panel.

Ben Stokes OBE

Representing Ben Stokes OBE (England international cricketer and test team captain) and his mother (Deborah Stokes) in connection with their invasion of privacy claim against News Group Newspapers Limited (The Sun), securing substantial damages and an apology from the defendant.

Brabners is a purpose-led independent law firm.

Our independence allows us to be objective, principled and provide a service with heart and personality.

We’re on a mission to make the difference for our clients, people and communities. Proudly anchored in the North since 1815, we serve all of England and Wales.