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.