Sport, media and entertainment

Our team is widely recognised as one of the UK's leading sport, media and entertainment law practices, acting for the biggest names in the industry - at home and overseas.

illustration for Sport, media and entertainment

The team has unrivalled depth in the sport, media and entertainment industry and operates from all of our seven UK offices. We've built a strong reputation based on providing clients with a wealth of experience and a personal and engaging approach.

We're one of the few truly international sport, media and entertainment legal teams based in the UK, with an unrivalled network of overseas firms that we collaborate with.

Being renowned for working to our clients' needs is something we're proud of. We ensure you receive the necessary legal support and advice to focus on your objectives, without the distraction of legal issues.

Our experience


Our experts have developed a deep understanding of your sector so you can feel safe in the knowledge of having specialists in your corner.

We have decades of experience advising on sport, media and entertainment matters. Uniquely, we cover all relevant industry disciplines, including:

  • Commercial agreements (including sponsorship and image rights)
  • Media rights, content licensing and distribution
  • Disciplinary
  • Employment (including discrimination claims and settlement agreements)
  • Finance, insolvency and restructuring
  • Football regulations
  • IP, brand protection and content piracy
  • Immigration for sport professionals and media talent
  • Landmark doping cases
  • Leading work in discrimination in sport
  • Players' contracts and transfers
  • Private client/tax
  • Reputation management
  • Sports arbitration (domestic and international) and litigation
  • Sports stadia construction and real estate
  • Technology and eSports


We build strong, long-term relationships with our clients by providing free education, be it online, through blogs and articles or through the regular seminars we host on sport, media and entertainment legal issues. 

Aside from offering focussed legal expertise, our lawyers have genuine in-depth knowledge of the sport, media and entertainment industry. Many of our team members have held senior roles as directors, trustees, arbitrators, in-house counsel, or are former professional athletes. The team is often invited to speak at conferences, lectures and events.

Did you know?

250

Number of Court of Arbitration for Sport cases we've been involved in.

25

Number of years we've advised the Professional Footballers' Association for.

32,500

Page views of our unique legal resources, Sports Score and Reevaldo, in 2018.

What our clients say about us?

“Mills & Reeve has assisted me in my current and previous role in sport across a wide range of issues. The advice has always been first class and the whole firm appears to place high value on customer. ”

Rod Findlay, Integrity & Compliance Director/Company Secretary

British Cycling

“Mills & Reeve has been a great support with all my personal legal needs on contractual and commercial work. Mills & Reeve has also been important to the negotiation and execution of the England Women Central Contracts. ”

Steph Houghton MBE

England and Manchester City women's footballer and captain

“Mills & Reeve is expert in football regulatory matters, understand the industry well and give practical and commercial advice. They are the club's go to advisers when dealing with international football transfers and disputes. ”

Andrew Dickson, Director of Finance and Administration

Rangers Football Club

“They have a wealth of experience across a range of commercial and regulatory media matters.”

Legal 500

Our clients

Key clients include:

  • Football clubs, including three Premier League clubs and 12+ Football League clubs
  • Publishers, including B2B, B2C, digital and social, professional and academic
  • Talent, including sports athletes (professional footballers, golfers and rugby players), musicians, writers and influencers
  • Players' unions: The PFA, Rugby Players' Association
  • International federations and national governing bodies
  • Media, sponsorship and advertising agencies
  • Arbitration bodies' panels: CAS, Sports Resolutions, SAAC, NADP, The FA
  • Broadcasters, producers and distributors of sport and media content
    Live entertainment promoters and venue owners
  • Technology companies that provide solutions and services to the sport, media and entertainment industries

Get in touch

Our team of legal experts are here to support you.
Contact one of our lawyers today.

Meet our sport team

A question of sport and insurance

Legal content focussing on topical issues for professional sports clubs, governing bodies and agents, and their insurers.

Sports blog

Our sports law blog provides legal insights and updates on the key issues affecting the sports industry.