Personal Legal Advice for Sportspeople

Many sportspeople use companies as part of their means of receiving remuneration or compensation from brand deals, including for the management of their image rights. We assist with company management and compliance, incorporation, constitutional documents and more. We also advise on IR35 arrangements through limited companies.

Sportspeople can be subject to serious allegations, whether personally, in the media or by CPS that can have a detrimental impact on their reputations. We assist with crisis management across a range of potential arenas including defamation, invasion of privacy, criminal allegations, regulatory issues (licence suspensions) and more. 

While we can assist sportspeople with their contracts and agreements, we appreciate that for some athletes and players this can be dealt with by agents. However, we’re also well versed in assisting sportspeople and their agents  with a wide variety of employment issues including disciplinaries and grievances, complaints of workplace discrimination, reproductive health in the workplace and other employment-related issues, as well as breach of contract issues with clubs or brands.

We provide advice on surrogacy, IVF and other assisted conception methods in relation to legal parenthood as well as more general support around any legal complications that may arise.

Individuals that may be considering ending a relationship, divorce or the dissolution of a civil partnership might need support with child arrangements and finances. Our family law team can assist while prioritising confidentiality in the face of media interest.

Increased commercialisation and brand deals mean that image rights hold immense financial value. We work with players who want to prevent third parties from taking advantage of their image and brand.

We support sportspeople moving to the UK with additional support in obtaining visas. 

A serious issue that is getting more attention is CTE resulting from concussive and sub-concussive blows. With increasing legal action being brought by current and former players against clubs and national governing bodies, we’re on-hand to assist. Many players are also taking legal steps to protect themselves and their families if they’re affected by CTE and their mental capacity is limited, which we can facilitate.

We help sportspeople to manage and protect their wealth and assets, including property based overseas. We can assist with prenups (also known as pre- and post-nuptial agreements), cohabitation (or ‘living together') agreements and advise on property co-ownership.

This may be a claim or complaint regarding personal injury or clinical negligence in your personal life or linked to ‘on the field’ injuries or treatment received by club physios and doctors.

Beyond PAYE, we support sportspeople with various tax arrangements, whether in relation to companies or in a personal capacity.

Sportspeople are wise to be wary of tax implications and ensuring that their wealth is protected no matter what the future holds. We often work with individuals who have complex arrangements due to multiple marriages, blended families, financial dependents, overseas properties or significant tax liabilities to assist with lifetime and estate planning.