Boasting a broad commercial offering across the sports sector, ranging from employment to IP and data protection, the Harper Macleod LLP team is praised as ‘approachable’ and ‘responsive’ by the national governing bodies and sports clubs it represents. The practice’s expertise covers the contentious arena, frequently advising on unlawful discrimination, defamation, and financial breach claims. The ‘hugely impressive’ Glasgow-based head Bruce Caldow has considerable experience of handling matters in the football, rugby, and golf spaces; Lorne Crerar stands out for his work in sporting discipline issues; and Tom Thomas specialises in broadcasting and IP rights affairs. Carolyn Morgan primarily focuses on property-related disputes in a sports context, while both David Kerr and Edinburgh-based Jamie Watt concentrate on complex sponsorship agreement topics.

Based in Edinburgh, Addleshaw Goddard routinely advises a range of sporting clubs, governing bodies, and individual athletes on complex regulatory requirements and data protection insurance. The practice is especially experienced in the football sector, frequently handling contractual disputes and unpaid sponsorship issues. Simon Catto and Helena Brown co-head the team; Catto primarily focuses on contentious matters within the athletics, rugby, and rowing arenas, while Brown stands out for supporting football clubs and sporting bodies on commercial and regulatory affairs. Erin Grieve is noted for her experience in arbitrations.

Fielding a multi-disciplinary team of experts in sports disputes, finance, and immigration matters, the Burness Paull LLP practice showcases ‘highly developed experience’ when being instructed by football clubs and national sporting authorities. Edinburgh-based head Stephen Farrell - ‘well established’ in the footballing disputes sphere - brings extensive arbitration capabilities to the outfit. In Glasgow, Fraser MacKinven specialises in the media and entertainment aspects of the sports sector. Jamie Kerr is a specialist in immigration law matters, while Megan Briggs primarily focuses on IP issues.

Described as being ‘immersed in sports law’, Neeraj Thomas leads the CMS practice, regularly leveraging its specialist lawyers from across the tech, commercial, and litigation spaces when advising major governing bodies and football clubs. From Glasgow, Thomas brings vast knowledge of contentious IP issues within a sporting context to the team, alongside being experienced in handling IP disputes within the Court of Session. Also in Glasgow, Chris Bowie is well versed in assisting with complex sponsorship agreements, and Edinburgh-based Duncan Turner primarily focuses on commercial contract affairs.

Counting professional football clubs, sporting agents, and golf organisations among its key clients, the Aberdein Considine practice has extensive expertise in contractual negotiations and IP matters. Headed by the Edinburgh-based trio of Robert Holland, Euan McSherry, and Ross Webb, alongside Perth’s Charlie Fraser, the group specialises in handling complex employment and commercial property issues arising in the sports sector. From Aberdeen, Nicola Gray is knowledgeable on immigration and HR proceedings.

Regularly advising on image right agreements, complex sponsorship strategies, and wrongful termination claims, the Brodies LLP team is hailed for its ‘professionalism and attention’. Edinburgh-based practice head Andy Nolan specialises in sports law, commercial contract, and IP matters. Craig Watt routinely assists with litigious proceedings in the worlds of football and golf, and Glasgow-based Ross Campbell chiefly focuses on defamation and asset recovery cases. Since joining from Dentons in June 2023, Ally Burr has also been highlighted for his data protection work from Inverness.

Acting for clients across a variety of sports – namely football, golf, boxing, and darts – the ‘amazing’ practice at BTO Solicitors LLP specialises in advising on complex commercial disputes and production agreements. Operating out of Edinburgh, practice head Will Cole is noted for his expertise in real estate and commercial contract work. Dawn Robertson focuses on constructive dismissal and discrimination claims, while Lynn Richmond is knowledgeable on IP issues. Other key figures include Michael Cox, who concentrates on sponsorship agreements. Former partner Andrew Sleigh retired in September 2023.

Providing bespoke advice on commercial contract, data protection, and regulatory issues, Morton Fraser MacRoberts’ practice regularly represents professional football clubs and Scottish governing bodies. Headed up by both Valerie Armstrong-Surgenor and Paul Geoghegan from Glasgow, the pair offer vast expertise on complex brand management matters, tech-related contracts, and corporate governance affairs. In Edinburgh, Iain Young is knowledgeable on disciplinary proceedings, and Glasgow-based Euan Duncan is a media law expert.