Clarke Willmott LLP’s sports law practice stands out for its work with high-profile football and rugby players, coaches, and pundits, who instruct the team to represent them in employment tribunal disputes, advise on contract and salary matters, and handle the employment aspects of club insolvencies. The team’s strong reputation in employment disputes is cemented by the expertise of practice head Tim Copplestone, who also advises sporting companies, professional clubs, and players associations on a wide array of HR matters. Sarah MacLarty, a standout tribunal litigator, is a further key contact for employment work. Other areas of focus for the team include financing and corporate matters, with Robert Ridd standing out for his experience advising football and cricket clients on acquisitions and corporate governance issues.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The team are friendly, professional and right on the money.’

  • ‘Tim Copplestone knows sport, the business of sport and the challenges of sport, and he also knows how to find a way through the most tangled maze.’

Key clients

  • The Rugby Players’ Association
  • Wasserman
  • Decathlon
  • Somerset County Cricket Club
  • Surfing England
  • The F.A. Group
  • Wembley National Stadium

Work highlights

  • Advised Wasserman on corporate acquisitions to expand its global group of sport agencies.
  • Advised the Rugby Players Association and former Premiership player squads Wasps, Worcester, and London Irish on successful protective award claims in the Employment Tribunal following the players’ mass redundancies.
  • Advised Premier League football managers on high-value employment contract matters.

Lawyers

Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Tim Copplestone

Other key lawyers

Robert Ridd, Sarah MacLarty