Insights & News

What's the meaning of a football transfer?

21 September 2022

Those involved with football transfers will be familiar with sell-on clauses given that they are widely used in the world of professional football. The purpose of a sell on clause is simple.

“A net from which there is no escape”: takeaways from recent cases on dishonesty and conspiracy

11 October 2021

The case of Lakatamia Shipping Co Limited v Nobu Su is one of a number of recent judgments to grapple with questions of honesty and credibility.

Sports Q&A - Winlink Marketing Limited v The Liverpool Football Club: what are the lessons for sports' right holders and commercial agents?

24 November 2020

Disputes over entitlement to commission are common. As we’ll explain below, this case was a clear win for Liverpool FC and will give rights holders encouragement where sponsorship/commercial agents argue for commission on deals that they do little to bring about. However, when you dig into the facts, the case exposes details that provide a harsh lesson for all lawyers, sponsorship experts, and agents working on deals of this nature.

What are clubs legal remedies if leagues are extended or decided against their wishes?

14 May 2020

In this article, John Mehrzad QC, Head of Littleton Chambers’ Sports Law Group, John Shea, Senior Associate in Lewis Silkin’s Sport Business Sector Team and Doug Harmer, Partner at Oakwell Sports Advisory give their expert legal and loss quantification opinions about legal remedies available to Premier League and English Football League (“EFL”) clubs adversely affected by the range of decisions that could be taken to conclude the 2019/20 season such as extending the season beyond 1st June, playing matches at neutral venues, terminating the season early and/or determining league positions based on new formulas such as a points per game basis.

Important new case on disclosure, but has anyone noticed?

28 April 2020

Given the dominance of the coronavirus over all aspects of life, including the law, it would be easy to miss the appearance of a new case about one of the basics of litigation.

Jude Bellingham transfer: The rules Manchester United and their competitors will have to negotiate to sign Birmingham's star midfielder

19 March 2020

Like everything in sport right now, Jude Bellingham’s future is on hold. But it now feels inevitable that Birmingham City’s prized asset will be flying the coop. However, if he is to get a dream move away, then his youth will play an important role. In this article for City A.M. John Shea comments on the complications of transfers for minors.

Jude Bellingham transfer: The rules Manchester United and their competitors will have to negotiate to sign Birmingham's star midfielder

19 March 2020

Like everything in sport right now, Jude Bellingham’s future is on hold. But it now feels inevitable that Birmingham City’s prized asset will be flying the coop. However, if he is to get a dream move away, then his youth will play an important role. In this article for City A.M. John Shea comments on the complications of transfers for minors.

Nottingham Forest FC loses High Court claims following club’s sale but plans appeal

06 August 2019

The High Court has dismissed claims arising out of the sale of Nottingham Forest Football Club (“the club”) for breaches of indemnities in the share purchase agreement (“the SPA”) and for the alleged misrepresentation of the club’s liabilities.

The key clauses that every representation contract should contain

03 July 2019

With the transfer window now in full swing and intermediaries busy brokering deals on behalf of both players and clubs, it is an important time for intermediaries, as well as players and clubs, to ensure that the terms of their representation contracts sufficiently protect their interests.

What are the key changes to the FA's regulations on working with intermediaries?

19 June 2019

The FA has announced some changes to the FA’s Regulations on Working with Intermediaries (“the FA Regulations”). The changes have been expected and follow a consultation process with key stakeholders such as intermediaries themselves.

Pensioner sues Wolverhampton Wanderers over design of logo

13 June 2019

Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club have succeeded in defending a copyright claim in which the claimant contended that he designed their distinctive wolf head logo over 40 years ago.

Sports Q&A - Changes to FIFA's intermediary regulations - What do I need to know?

01 May 2019

In this month’s Q&A, we take a look at the new and more stringent intermediary regulations which are being proposed by FIFA.

The use of mediation in sports disputes

25 January 2019

With sports disputes being on the increase, it is becoming more important for parties to consider using alternative means to resolve disputes instead of the more traditional route of proceeding to arbitration or court proceedings. Mediation is commonly used to resolve commercial disputes but with sports disputes, it is not used as often despite its many benefits.

Court of Appeal finds no litigation privilege in internal emails discussing commercial settlement of dispute

09 January 2019

The Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal by West Ham football club in its application to inspect certain emails sent internally amongst board members of E20 Stadium LLP (“E20”) and between E20’s board members and stakeholders, in respect of which E20 asserted litigation privilege. The emails were created with the dominant purpose of discussing the commercial settlement of E20’s dispute with West Ham over the club’s rights to use the London Olympic Stadium when litigation was in contemplation. The Court held that litigation privilege does not extend to documents concerned with the settlement or avoidance of litigation where the documents neither: (a) seek advice or information for the purpose of conducting litigation; nor (b) reveal the nature of such advice or information.