The sporting world is complex and incredibly global, evolving at an accelerated rate each passing year thanks in large part to the digital age. For sports professionals – be they professional players, managers, or other members of the industry – having access to the right legal expertise is crucial. From agents and athletes negotiating contracts to the governing bodies in sports navigating disciplinary and regulatory challenges, and beyond to the competitive world of business competition on the international market, everyone in the sporting community needs a great sports lawyer to call upon when needed.
Yet it’s important to find a lawyer with genuine specialisation in sports law, and that can be hard to achieve with so many legal teams tacking it on to a long list of areas they can potentially manage.
You need an expert who knows as much about sports law as Jeff Stelling knows about football. Here’s what you should be looking for in your sports lawyer…
A Dynamic Sporting Legal Team Offering Integrated Services…
Look for a sports lawyer offering an integrated service that covers a wide range of potential issues, from commercial advice to intellectual property rights and sponsorships. You should also look for a team who comprehends the bigger picture and are capable of looking into immigration issues, managing dispute resolution, litigation, and reputation management.
You may only need help with one of these areas now, but further down the line if you find you also need help with tax and private wealth management you don’t want to have to switch to a new lawyer because your first choice is a one-trick pony.
While the Beeston Shenton team has a full department dedicated to sports law, headed up by our very own Russell Dutton, we also have a highly dynamic team of specialists in other areas at our disposal. This means that, should you need help with a legal problem that straddles more than one area – for example, contract negotiation can often have crossovers with employment law – you can get all the advice you need from a single, unified team.
A High Level Of Current Insights Into The Sports Market…
With sports lawyers required to provide legal services covering clubs and teams, governing bodies, as well as players, agents, and other commercial ventures in the sports world, current knowledge is vital. The world moves at an increasingly fast pace, with instant news, the ever-increasing power of social media, and technological advancements that are changing how we view, discuss, and play sports every year.
Keeping abreast of all the latest goings-on in the sporting world is vital. You can follow all the latest news in sports law over on Beeston Shenton’s Twitter for sports law.
An Understanding Of The Broader Field Of Play…
Players and managers aren’t the only ones in the sporting field who need legal advice. There is a much broader picture including the entertainment industry where sponsors, venue owners, broadcasters, and retailers engaging in both private and commercial matters relating to sports require advice. A lawyer who understands the full field – even if you only need their help with one corner of it – is going to have a far more balanced view, and the capacity to foresee and avoid problems you haven’t considered.
An International Outlook…
With so many international athletes wanting to relocate to the UK with their families in order to take on new sporting roles, it is very common for players, agents, and clubs to have questions and concerns relating to employment law, immigration issues, and other areas that require high-level investigations and connections beyond the borders of the UK. Even if you’re happily ensconced in a role in your home country currently, it’s worth having someone with a solid grounding in international matters in case you want to take a role elsewhere or hire someone from another country at a later stage.
Looking For A Sports Lawyer?
If you’re looking for sporting legal advice you’re in the right place. Get in touch today and ask for a call with Russell Dutton, head of our Sports Law division…
