Sports Law

Sport accounts for around 3% of the world’s total economic activity, and is an industry that continues to grow.

Athletes around the world are becoming increasingly aware of the need to obtain professional legal advice in relation to their commercial interests. Whether it is advice on the negotiation of an athletes contract, employment advice, intellectual property advice on the terms of a sponsorship deal, media law, dispute resolution or regulatory and governance advice, athletes today need ensure that their interests are being protected at all times.

The Sports Law team at Tughans is made up of three lawyers, who have all been heavily involved in sporting life themselves. Patrick Brown is a partner in the firm’s commercial litigation department and was the captain of the Irish Senior Hockey team, amassing 151 international caps along the way. Gareth McCay (employment law) and John Turley (corporate) were both promising footballers representing Northern Ireland at youth international level and John also winning an All-Ireland Minor Medal with Down. 

Through their registration with the English Football Association, as Football Association lawyers, Gareth and John are able to advise professional players in relation to any commercial dealings they encounter during their career including contract negotiations or commercial and sponsorship opportunities.  

The multi-disciplinary approach of the Sports Law team allows Tughans to provide the bespoke services necessary for individual athletes, sports clubs, sporting bodies and other major brands. Tughans has a strong sporting ethos, with British & Irish Lion, Michael Gibson as the firm’s past Senior Partner and David Humphries (captain of the European Cup winning Ulster Rugby team in 1999 and an Irish international) having completed his training to become a solicitor with the firm. 

Whatever the sporting discipline, as a full service, commercial law firm Tughans has the necessary expertise to provide the best advice to suit the specific needs of our clients, whilst at all times protecting both their professional and commercial interests. Tughans is perfectly equipped and positioned to provide a dedicated sports service to clients both domestically and internationally.

To find out more about Tughan’s Sports Law service, please contact one of the team members mentioned above.