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  • »Sectors
  • »Sport

Sport

Ashfords has a specialist team of sports lawyers. Our expertise is primarily in horse racing and other equine disciplines, motorsport, football, cycling, cricket, boxing and rugby union. We act for individuals, clubs, team sponsors and rights holders and advise on issues arising both on and off the field of play.

Our team has a wealth of experience of sports, both as participants and as legal advisers. We believe we have the right blend of technical expertise and practical understanding of the sports industry. We act for regulators, representative bodies, sponsors, teams and participants in sports at all professional levels. Our clients range from Champion Jockeys to the British Microlight Aircraft Association.

Work handled includes:
  • disciplinary hearings;
  • sponsorship, merchandising and endorsement agreements;
  • player and driver contracts;
  • image rights, personality rights and privacy;
  • merchandising and IP rights;
  • stadium and circuit development and construction;
  • property acquisition and planning in relation to stadium circuits and sports grounds;
  • project and capital finance;
  • sport related taxation issues;
  • individual wealth management;
  • health and safety;
  • brand management;
  • advising on corporate and regulatory governance;
  • commercial and regulatory issues;
  • restraint of trade;
  • event management;
  • ambush marketing;
  • strategic alliances;
  • player and driver agent arrangements;
  • Intellectual Property protection; and
  • sports injury.

Recent work undertaken includes advising and representing:
  • a first team coach of a leading County Cricket Club regarding his exit from the club;
  • Frankie Dettori in respect of a successful appeal against suspension allowing him to ride in and win the Celebration Mile at Goodwood;
  • a World Champion Clay Target Shooter on International Competition Regulations;
  • an international Slalom Canoeist on her country's selection criteria for its national team
  • champion jockeys, under both codes in successful Appeals against suspension;
  • a premiership football club in respect of its club and kit sponsorship arrangements;
  • racecourses in a multimillion pound media rights dispute involving live pictures of horseracing;
  • leading international motorsport team on the drafting and negotiation of driver contracts;
  • motorsport team on reviewing engine and chassis supply agreements;
  • drivers and teams regarding title sponsorship;
  • a player regarding termination of his contract from a leading rugby union club;
  • rugby union and football clubs and advising on player transfer disputes and sponsorship matters;
  • players and clubs before the Football League Disciplinary Commission and other football regulatory bodies;
  • a sponsor on the contractual arrangements for an equipment sponsorship with a national team;
  • both regulatory and representative bodies in relation to rule changes;
  • individuals involved in sport in relation to comment made in the written media;
  • a crew member in relation to a contract to crew one of the Americas Cup entries;
  • a club on the construction of a new stadium for a rugby union club including negotiating JV arrangements;
  • an Olympic three day event rider on the sale and purchase of event horses;
  • a world top ten snooker player regarding image rights;
  • a boxer and holder of British and Commonwealth Middleweight titles title defence obligations;
  • a boxing manager on contractual issues; and
  • a cricket league on the application of Kolpak Regulations.

We are members of the

  • Motorsport Industry Association

Motorsport Industry Association Member  

"We would like to thank Ashfords Motorsport Team for the pivotal role that it played in team's signing of Charles Pic and Javier Villa. Ashfords proactive "can do" attitude enabled matters to proceed quickly and efficiently."
Deborah Lyall, Arden Motorsport

Key Contacts

Rory Mac Neice

Rory Mac Neice
Partner


T: +44 (0)1823 232356
F: +44 (0)1823 232556
r.macneice@ashfords.co.uk
  • Jamie Horner
  • Carl Steele

Online Services

Secure Client Data Room

Additional Information

  • Sports Sponsorships

News and Publications

  • Latest news on Arden International Motorsport GP2 and GP3.
  • Briatore wins Appeal against FIA decision.
  • Ashfords Solicitors joins some of the leading companies in the Motorsport Industry
  • MOTORSPORT UPDATE Renault given suspended F1 ban. Briatore and Symonds banned.
  • Crashgate brings the downfall of Briatore and Symonds but what now for Renault, QPR and sport in general?
  • Gael Kakuta, Chelsea Football Club, The Transfer Embargo and the Implications
  • Allegations of Race Fixing Hit F1
  • Twitter: Friend or Foe?
  • “Bloodgate”- The Downfall of Dean Richards
  • FOTA breakaway from FIA
  • Ashfords off to a winning start in link up with F1 feeder series

News feeds

Related Links

  • Federation Internationale de l'Automobile
  • Court of Arbitration for Sport
  • The Football Association
  • IUSPORT
  • Arden Motorsport
  • Motor Sports Association UK
  • The British Automobile Racing Club Limited
  • British Racing and Sports Car Club
  • The Primary Club
  • Law in Sport
  • GP3 Series - Team MW Arden

Contact Ashfords

For any general enquiries click here to contact Ashfords
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Lexcel ISO 9001-2008 SGS Certification Leading Firm - Chambers UK 2010 Ashfords LLP is a limited liability partnership, registered in England and Wales with registered number OC342432. The term partner is used to refer to a member of Ashfords LLP or an employee or consultant with equivalent standing and qualification. We trade under the name of Ashfords, Ashfords Solicitors and Ashfords LLP. Web Design and Web Development by Optix Solutions