Sports Law

We’ll protect your performance with robust legal counsel, rooted in a passion for the game. Our experience supporting athletes, clubs, sponsors, and organisers – from grassroots to global level – will give you a formidable teammate, whoever the opponent. As experienced sports lawyers, we bring genuine passion for the industry alongside commercial and legal expertise, giving clients confidence on and off the pitch.

 

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Kate Oliver

Kate Oliver

Regulatory investigations can seriously impact a company’s future and an individual’s liberty – I appreciate the emotional journey my clients go on when facing these investigations, and take a no-nonsense, practical approach to navigating complex investigations. With over 18 years’ experience at the coalface, I make sure to stay ahead of the regulators and deliver the best results for my clients.

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Join the winning team

Our sports specialists include commercial, contract, corporate and dispute resolution experts from across our teams. Fighting your corner in disputes, covering your back in new markets, and getting you into pole position for change, growth, or sale – our multidisciplinary project teams are geared up to help you tackle all your challenges at once:

Our sports solicitors work across every level of the game, from grassroots clubs to international organisations, providing the breadth of support that modern sporting businesses need.

Providing on-demand support remotely, or fully embedding into your own teams, our specialists will develop a deep understanding of your position before they act on your behalf, and help you win the game.

Match winning experience

Our sports law solicitors work at international level for individual athletes, team players, families, clubs, sponsors, venues, organisers, governing bodies, and any individual or party connected to sport. We have particular experience dealing with:

  • Premier League football
  • Premiership rugby
  • Professional and amateur athletes
  • World mega events including the FIFA World Cup, Commonwealth Games and Expo 2020
  • Formula 1
  • Cricket.

Whatever your sport, we have the experience, connections, and expertise required to help you take home the trophy.

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Hear what our clients say about us

Thank you so much for all of your support with our transaction. Our Chair of the Building Committee and myself are so grateful for both your professionalism and for the personal commitments that you both made to support the School.

The matter required a quick resolution to ensure that the school was able to secure the facility promptly, as otherwise there was a risk they would lose their existing use of the site altogether. However thanks to the work of Morgan and James, as well as assistance from the wider team of Paul Watkins, Steve Thomas and Oliver Daniels the school was able to secure the site and the assets of the outgoing operator in a timely manner.

Bromsgrove School Sport centre acquisition

Hefin Archer-Williams has a wealth of experience on sports governing body boards and heading up teams tasked with delivering events. He is able to utilise this experience to the advantage of his clients.

Client testimonial Legal 500 2026

The team is very strong on sports disciplinary hearings and safeguarding issues. They are regularly instructed by sports governing bodies who value them for their experience and expertise.

Client testimonial Legal 500 2026

Put simply Kate and Sophie are brilliant in what they do and their and their specialist safeguarding expertise is unrivalled. Kate and Sophie’s empathetic and careful consideration of us as people, coaches, business owners was always appreciated.

Client testimonial

Kate and Sophie’s ability to represent us throughout the process without the need to instruct barristers reassured us that they are experienced and also allowed us to keep costs at down. Their knowledge in every aspect of the case gave us the confidence that we had the best team on board.

Client testimonial

As business owners as well as coaches, Kate and Sophie’s commercial approach to representing us was second to none. They understood our worries and concerns throughout and they were able to put us at ease even at very emotional times throughout the process.

Client testimonial

Kate and Sophie’s passion and commitment to our case was consistent throughout the entire process. Their ability to anticipate all of the issues that would arise and deal with them head on was very impressive.

Client testimonial

Using Kate and Sophie was the best decision that we could have made, they both helped us make an incredibly difficult time as smooth as it possibly could be. As both recreational and elite coaches, it was important for us to have specialist lawyers that understood sport and who had years of experience dealing with safeguarding investigations and Sport Resolutions contested panels.

Client testimonial

We are delighted with the support provided by Frank Brumby of HCR Law who worked around the clock and over the weekend alongside us.

Client testimonial Pre-pack administration of BBL champions London Lions

I would like to reiterate my gratitude for all your help and guidance. It’s been a real weight off having you handle the situation, and the professionalism and efficiency of service has been exceptional.

Client Dispute between equestrian practice owners

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Frequently Asked Questions

A sports lawyer advises athletes, clubs, sponsors, and organisers on the legal issues affecting the sports industry, covering contracts, sponsorship, image rights, broadcasting, and disputes. HCR Law’s sports lawyer team draws on commercial, corporate, and dispute resolution expertise, supporting clients from grassroots level through to global organisations across every stage of their sporting or commercial journey.

Sports clubs and athletes face unique legal challenges, from image rights and sponsorship deals to disputes with governing bodies, coaches, or suppliers. HCR Law’s sports solicitors combine multidisciplinary expertise across commercial, HR, property, and regulatory matters, giving clients a single team capable of handling complex, fast-moving issues across the sporting industry.

Yes, sports lawyers regularly advise on the international side of sport, including visas, overseas transfers, and support for mega-events. HCR Law’s sports lawyer team provides international support alongside commercial and regulatory advice, ensuring clubs, athletes, and organisers can navigate cross-border requirements confidently while staying compliant with relevant regulations and standards.

HCR Law’s sports solicitors cover financial, corporate, commercial, dispute resolution, HR, regulatory, property, and international matters affecting the sports industry. This multidisciplinary approach means clients, whether athletes, clubs, sponsors, or organisers, receive coordinated legal support across every challenge they face, rather than needing to instruct multiple firms for different aspects of their sporting business.