We can advise parties at all levels of the industry, from sports governing bodies down to individuals, on their contractual needs. This includes producing contracts for sports clubs or bodies, negotiating terms, or reviewing and advising on contractual obligations.

Our expert sports lawyers specialise in all of the key types of contract, including:

• Sponsorship agreements and endorsement deals: we make sure that sponsorship deals protect image rights, define obligations, and clearly outline payment structures and exclusivity clauses.
• Club or team contracts: we offer advice on negotiation, contract duration, performance clauses, early termination, and buy-out provisions.
• Media rights and broadcasting agreements: these are vital for athletes branching into punditry, documentaries or media appearances, and should be designed to protect your rights.
• Personal brand management: we negotiate contracts related to use of name, image and likeness for merchandise, gaming or branded products.

Commercial advice before signing such an agreement can help you to avoid exploitative terms, mitigate risk, and secure long-term financial benefits from your commercial relationships, whether as a sportsperson or organisation.

Because professional athletes typically retire much earlier than professionals in other fields, they can face a range of issues unless they are suitably prepared. Switalskis can advise you on adaptable exit planning that accounts for the risk of your career ending prematurely due to an injury, and work with financial experts to manage your wealth in a tax-efficient way.

It's important to protect your business interests, and Switalskis can provide legal advice on contract negotiations for coaching, media or entrepreneurial ventures, or on setting up companies, protecting intellectual property, and succession planning. Retirement planning requires foresight to protect your financial security and open future career pathways, and our experienced sports law solicitors can help.

Another aspect of protecting current wealth and future earnings is estate planning. The services offered by our sports law solicitors include:

• Will drafting: we take a thorough approach to make sure assets pass in line with the client’s wishes, including across multiple jurisdictions where necessary. We can also advise on the tax efficiency of any decisions you make when writing a will.
• Trusts: for asset protection, especially where young children or dependants are involved, trusts can be a vital part of estate planning. Switalskis can help you to set up and manage the trusts you need, or explain the legal obligations of trustees.
• Tax mitigation: we support you to manage Inheritance Tax, Capital Gains Tax, and other liabilities through careful planning and foresight.
• Guardianship provisions: these are especially relevant if the individual has young children, and we can help you to determine what you need to include to make your will and other estate planning provisions as comprehensive and secure as possible.

Early estate planning enables wealth preservation and continuity for family members, so it's important to think about it even if you're early in your career.

Sports professionals are at risk of injury if health and safety protocols aren't followed correctly. In many cases, it’s possible to claim compensation for a sports injury if someone else’s negligence is responsible. 

Compensation for an injury can cover any costs and make your recovery more comfortable. Switalskis can discuss your injury and help you to determine whether or not you're eligible to claim. If so, we'll get the process started on your behalf and advise you on ways to maximise your recovery.

A sports professional’s public profile and wealth may lead to complex family matters, so it's vital to have a sports law team on your side. Switalskis can support you through any and all major life events. Our experience extends to safeguarding clients' pre-existing wealth or anticipated earnings through a prenuptial agreement before they get married, representing clients through divorces and separations, and making child arrangements in cases where travel or international residency may be a factor. We can even clarify property and financial arrangements for unmarried partners.

Switalskis offers discreet and pragmatic legal advice that can minimise reputational risk and stress for sports sector professionals during personal transitions at all stages of life.

For sports professionals investing in high-value residential or commercial property , our solicitors can guide you through:

• Purchasing and selling, including off-market or international transactions that require speed and discretion
• Portfolio management and structuring property ownership through companies or trusts to support tax efficiency
• Due diligence on developments, planning permission, and property condition
• Relocation support for sportspeople transferring clubs or moving internationally
• Stadium development for sports agencies or organisations

The Switalskis sports law team has a thorough knowledge and experience across a range of property requirements. Get in touch to learn more about how we can help in this area.

Employment law can be complicated as it relates to the sports sector, but it's important for both athletes and sports organisations to have access to legal expertise to protect all parties' commercial interests, including self-employed athletes or those with agents. We can represent sportspeople, clubs and other employers during disputes over disciplinary matters, performance clauses, or breach of contract. Similarly, we can support with dispute resolution between agents, representatives and athletes, or manage commissions, representation terms, and conflicts of interest to avoid disputes before they arise.

If you need legal support when navigating cross-border employment challenges, our team can help. We regularly advise UK sports organisations and athletes when making international moves. Finally, we'll help all parties to uphold their contractual rights and reputations, even if discrimination or harassment claims arise.

The travel demands and schedules of professional sportspeople can sometimes lead to motoring issues , and you may need legal advice to successfully defend yourself. Areas with which Switalskis can help include:

• Speeding offences
• Drink or drug-related motoring offences
• Car accident claims
• License retention
• Other motoring offences

Quick, discreet legal advice can help you to maintain your public image and your driving licence, especially in cases where you have accumulated points on your driving licence. It is often possible to present mitigating circumstances to reduce penalties even if you are convicted.