Football Lawyers

Our specialists perform high-end legal work across the world of football.

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

We're one of the largest, most experienced multidisciplinary legal teams in the sports industry. Our expert football lawyers are proud to provide bespoke legal advice to Premier League and English Football League clubs, managers, coaches and players, as well as international sports agencies.

Everyone involved in modern football needs specialised legal advisers who truly understand this unique environment. The industry has highly demanding commercial, operational and reputational needs and getting things like transfers, partnerships and compliance wrong comes with immense risk.

Renowned for a variety of high-end work across the men’s and women’s games — ranging from advising on the acquisition of football clubs in administration to acting for prominent public figures in crisis management matters and advising on transfers, player contracts and football regulations — our football law experts add value, speak your language and dare to address the new legal challenges you face.

Commended in The Times Best Law Firms, our nationally-recognised football lawyers are proud to have helped shape the current sports law landscape through their work with an exceptional client base. We also won the award for Best Business or Professional Services Organisation Serving Football at the Northwest Football Awards 2025.

Deeply experienced football legal specialists on your team

Many members of our football and sports legal team are continuously ranked in professional guides as leading individuals in their fields (including in The Legal 500) and recognised by awards bodies like the Northern Powerhouse Awards.

The team is headed up by Legal Director Andrew McGregor, acknowledged as a ‘Next-Generation Partner’ by The Legal 500.

Andrew boasts many years’ experience advising high-profile clients across the football industry, including the English Football League (EFL), Leicester City FC, Birmingham City FC, Preston North End FC, Plymouth Argyle FC, Blackpool FC and several prominent football agencies, agents, players, managers and coaches.

As a firm, we're ranked in the top-tier of The Legal 500 for sports law. We're also regular commentators on legal issues in football, featuring in national and regional press as well as on radio and television.

Meet the team

Specialist football lawyers

Andrew McGregor

Legal Director

Matthew Lavelle

Senior Associate

Catherine Forshaw

Senior Associate

View all

Our legal services for the football industry

We boast a multidisciplinary sports law offering, giving our clients access to an extensive range of specialist solicitors.

We're regularly instructed by leagues, clubs, players, managers, coaches and governing bodies on a wide variety of specialist work across the world of football.

Anti-doping
Arbitrations and committees
Banking and finance
Betting and integrity
Charity
Commercial & contract law
Corporate law (mergers and acquisitions)
Crime
Crisis and reputation management
Data
Defamation, privacy and harassment
Disciplinary
Eligibility, selection and participation
Employment law
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Funding
Governance and constitution
Health and safety
Immigration
Intellectual property and brand protection
Litigation
Media management
Professional negligence
Property and construction
Real estate
Regulatory and professional conduct
Reputation and crisis management
Safeguarding
Sponsorship agreements and contracts
Sports rules and regulations
Sports technology
Sustainability
Tax

Trusted independent external advisors to:

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

“Andrew McGregor’s knowledge of football’s regulatory framework is exceptional. He really is at the forefront of this area.”
Client feedback

“Acting on some of the UK’s most high-profile casework propelled Brabners to post its sixth consecutive year of growth... its sports law team has acted for Coleen Rooney in the now infamous 'Wagatha Christie' libel case and England cricket captain Ben Stokes and supported several infrastructure projects in keeping with the national focus on levelling up, including Everton Football Club’s new 53,000-seater stadium.”
The Times Best Law Firms 2024

“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

“Catherine Forshaw is a key name for both union and league rugby clients, and is known for her strong focus on UK FA and RFL anti-doping disciplinary proceedings and Safeguarding Commission proceedings.”
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

Brabners is a purpose-led independent law firm.

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

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.

Northern Ambition

The collaborative network for purpose-led businesses. We’re building a more sustainable and innovative tomorrow.

Sustainable Business

In 2022, we proudly became the UK’s largest law firm (and the first outside London) to become B Corp certified.

Community Impact

We channel the energy of our public-spirited people and clients towards improving our local communities.

Football law insights from our team

18 November 2025

AI in football — innovation, risks & the role of human judgement

Players in soccer jerseys compete for the ball on a green field during a match, with some players in light blue and one in maroon, wearing pink boots.

We explore how AI is influencing football on and off the pitch, highlighting the real-world examples of its impact and the risks that come with it.

13 November 2025

Women’s football demergers — key legal considerations when splitting from existing corporate structures

A girl with a ponytail, wearing a pink and maroon sports jersey, prepares to throw a soccer ball during a game on a grassy field.

We explore some of the legal considerations for clubs in ‘hiving out’ their women’s team from existing corporate structures.

26 June 2025

State of Play Conference 2025 — how to leverage sports technology

At the State of Play Conference 2025, leading voices from across the sport sector shared their insights on the topic of sports technology.

10 June 2025

How breakaway & challenger leagues are redefining the sports landscape

Sport and entertainment are becoming increasingly intertwined, with sports and leagues forced to innovate to keep pace with trends.

5 June 2025

Artificial Football Pitch Construction — 5 Key Legal Considerations

The key legal considerations for clubs looking to install artificial pitches — from complying with pitch standards to construction contracts and more.

15 May 2025

AI in elite sport — key legal considerations around ‘performance enhancing technology’

Close up of an athletes trainers while using performance enhancing sport technology

AI is enhancing performance and even scouting future talent in elite sport. Sports technology and data are key to success, but come with legal risks.

8 May 2025

Martyn’s Law — legal & regulatory implications for sports venues

Here's what sports clubs and event organisers need to know about Martyn’s Law.

6 May 2025

What’s causing the ACL injury epidemic in women’s football?

Our sports law team explores why ACL injuries are more common in female football players and what can be done.

17 April 2025

Supreme Court’s landmark gender ruling — a defining moment for sports governance

Find out what the Supreme Court’s ruling means for policymakers, sportspeople and grassroots sport.

16 April 2025

Verbal abuse in women’s football on the rise — what legal protections are available for players?

We outline the issues being faced by players, the actions clubs are taking and what legal protections are available to help prevent and prosecute abuse.

23 January 2025

Transgender athlete participation — navigating data protection laws when collecting sensitive personal data

Athletes might be asked to provide highly sensitive forms of personal data when competing. Here's eight steps to comply with data protection legislation.

15 November 2024

FIFA feels the heat from women’s football stars in open letter on Saudi oil giant sponsorship

130 football stars have signed an open letter urging football’s governing body FIFA to reconsider its lucrative sponsorship deal with Aramco for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.

18 October 2024

Football referee tax dispute showcases complexities of employment status in warning to organisations who engage self-employed individuals

Football referee raises a yellow card to a player

In HMRC v PGMOL, the Supreme Court's judgment has undermined the significance of mutuality of obligation as a legal and practical factor when assessing employment status.

7 October 2024

Talk to us

Loading form...