Sports

At Quastels, we offer a unique understanding of the regulatory framework of sport. Our legal expertise supports a wide array of stakeholders navigating the dynamic landscape of the sports industry. Our clients trust us to steer them expertly through a diverse array of matters, including disputes, contracts, and sponsorships. We also provide strategic advice on compliance with regulations that apply to their diverse activities.

Our Sports Group delivers comprehensive advice across the spectrum of sports industry matters. Our team has a strong track record working with professional clubs, teams, organisations, players, agents, celebrities, and leading global brands, providing a wide-reaching service.

Our full-service approach encompasses both contentious and non-contentious sports matters, including regulatory advice, dispute resolution (both in the High Court and in sports related arbitrations), defamation and privacy issues, reputation management, investigations, employment and immigration matters, data protection, commercial real estate, intellectual property, commercial contracts and private client and tax.

Knowledge and expertise sit at the heart of our practice, but we’re also acutely aware that sport is a global endeavour. As such, our team maintains an extensive network of connections with sports lawyers and other industry stakeholders across multiple jurisdictions. In addition, our lawyers have cultivated relationships with various organisations and individuals, including those in brand management and public relations, equipping us to effectively manage crises and evolving situations.

At Quastels, we’re more than just a law firm – we’re your strategic partner in the world of sport.

Examples of our team’s experience include: 

Regulatory & Commercial Advice

• Regularly advising football intermediaries, clubs and players on regulatory matters concerning the FA Regulations, the FA Intermediaries Regulations, the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, the Premier League Rules and Regulations, the EFL Rules and Regulations.
• Advising foreign football clubs on provisions in employment contracts and complying with internal disciplinary procedures.
• Advising Premier League and Gulf region football clubs on incoming and outgoing transfer structures. 

Dispute Resolution

• Acting in more than 40 FIFA, CAS and other domestic sports arbitrations for a range of stakeholders including numerous Article 17 FIFA RSTP and solidarity contribution disputes.
• Acting for an intermediary in a significant dispute with a Premier League football club and a Premier League football player.
• Successfully bringing a FIFA claim against a football player on behalf of leading football club in the Gulf region for breach of Article 17 RSTP, securing a large award for the club.
• Acting on an Asian Football Confederation internal appeal brought by an AFC affiliated club.
• Acting on two Professional Football Compensation Committee claims for a Premier League club.
• Obtaining summary judgment against an intermediary in a dispute for a sponsor of a leading sportsman and celebrity. 
• Successfully acting for a Gulf sports federation in a CAS dispute involving the Asian Football Confederation and another national sports federation.

Investigations

• Acting for an EFL Championship football club in relation to a regulatory investigation. by the EFL and the subsequent EFL Disciplinary Commission and EFL League Arbitration.
• Acting for an intermediary of a Premier League player in relation to an FA investigation arising out of alleged breaches of the FA’s Intermediary Regulations.

 Property

• Acting for numerous Premier League footballers and other athletes in connection with the purchase of property in the UK.
• Advising sports clubs (including golf clubs, a local football club and a fishing club) on property related matters.

 Immigration

• Advising sports persons on their immigration status in the UK.
• Advising FA registered intermediaries on football players’ GBE exemption status.