Pic: Partner and Head of Sports Law Department David McWilliam with members of the Ellis Jones team
A regional law firm which acts for top flight footballers has launched the area’s first sports law department.
Ellis Jones Solicitors aims to score with amateur, semi-professional and professional sports men and women, teams, clubs, organisations and governing bodies.
The firm, with six offices across the south coast as well as London, has advised Premier League and Championship soccer stars on a range of sporting issues including contracts and image rights.
Its new Sports Law Department covers all bases including disciplinary disputes, property purchases, wills and tax issues, image rights, criminal defence work and matrimonial matters.
Contracts, intermediary/agent regulations, brand protection, intellectual property, sponsorship, event management, discrimination, anti-doping, employment and equine law are also included.
The new department covers all sports, from football and rugby to disability sports, horse racing and cricket.
Partner David McWilliam, who is head of personal injury and the new sports law department, said: “Sports law is not a game.
“As well as contracts and disciplinary disputes, there may be a whole range of issues about which sports people, clubs, governing bodies and organisations need advice.
“We have a strong track record in legal matters associated with sport so it made complete sense to launch the area’s first bespoke service.
“We have dealt with Premiership and Championship footballers advising them on a number of issues including contracts, image rights and motoring offences.
“More widely, we have advised on trade mark advice for a professional women’s cricket team, branding for a number of sport magazines, prepared employment contracts for soccer schools and golf clubs, and assisted a number of sporting charities.
“Our aim is to provide the very best legal services in all types of sports from elite to amateur across many different areas of law.”
The sports law department at 160-strong Ellis Jones includes a number of specialist lawyers with experience in sports-related matters.
Keen sportsman David, who is chairman of Christchurch Seagulls Swimming Club, has more than 20 years’ of experience in personal and sports injury law.
He recently completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Sports Law at De Montfort University, Leicester.
David sits as an Independent Disciplinary Panel Member for the Dorset Football Association and is a Games Programme Monitor for the English Football League (EFL). He is also a member of the British Association for Sport and Law (BASL).
Ellis Jones has offices in Bournemouth, Canford Cliffs (Poole), Christchurch, Ringwood, Swanage and Wimborne as well as London.
Visit https://www.ellisjones.co.uk/services/sports-law for more information.