
Chris Harber
Partner and Head of Immigration
+44 (0)118 952 7291
[email protected]
View Full ProfileThe sports industry presents unique legal, commercial, and regulatory challenges. Whether you are an athlete, club, governing body, or sponsor, navigating the legal landscape of sport requires specialist expertise. Sports law covers a wide range of matters, from contracts and commercial agreements to disciplinary procedures, image rights, sponsorship, and international transfers.
Boyes Turner has been representing individual athletes, teams, businesses and governing bodies across the sports industry for several years.
Our specialist sports lawyers advise on a broad range of legal services from sports business transactions from employment, immigration services and the private wealth management of players, their families and key supporters.
Our legal services within the sports sector have seen us working on behalf of Premier League, football league and German BuLi football clubs and their players including world cup winners. We’ve previously advised on club takeovers, growth funding to athlete investments, sponsorship structures and international joint ventures.
Boyes Turner have worked with sports teams or clubs’ players including:
Boyes Turner act for a wide range of clients including:
Our experience across multiple sports enables us to provide practical and industry-relevant advice tailored to each client’s needs.
At Boyes Turner, our involvement in sport goes beyond the legal work we do. We are proud supporters and sponsors of local teams, including Reading Hockey Club, Rams Rugby, and Kidmore End Cricket Club, as well as other community sports initiatives. This active engagement with sport at a local level underlines our genuine commitment to the sector and provides us with valuable insight into the realities, challenges, and opportunities faced by sports organisations and individuals alike.
Private wealth & family
Boyes Turner is recognised as one of the UK's leading Private Wealth Law Firms. We support a range of individuals and families with a variety of different circumstances, some more complex than others, our high-net-worth individuals often require specialist advice on more complex legal and financial issues, from:
Immigration sponsorship, visas and family support
Our immigration lawyers assist with a full range of services in the UK, as well as coordinating services in other countries around the world. If you have a loved one that you would like to be in the UK with you, our team will be able to devise a strategy based on the visa options available.
Brand protection - image rights, sponsorship & IP
Our brand guardianship team understands how important your brand is and its potential as an asset for you. We will work closely with you to identify, register, and protect your brand rights. Whether you are just starting out in your career, or you have an established following, we can ensure your rights are protected and optimised for commercial success.
Commercial sports technology
Our tech lawyers support businesses who work with or are empowered by technology and are increasingly reliant on their technology platforms to drive business success and profitability. Technology and sport have evolved massively in recent years, and the two sectors combine more than ever with the likes of VAR, semi-automated technology, statistics and data sets for scouting, sports science and much more. Our unique ability to support sport and technology laws commercially means we can help with:
Sports business in the UK
From start-up to exit, our corporate lawyers help businesses navigate the challenges of development and growth through to disposals whilst we also work with investors in managing and building their company portfolios.
Property & construction
Boyes Turner has a large reputation within the property & construction sector as go to lawyers. We work all over the UK, from commercial property to country homes in the Cotswolds and London city life. The firm now has specialists across:
Yes. Our international lawyers can help clients manage complex cross-border legal issues, ensuring their personal and business interests are protected worldwide. Our solicitors coordinate with overseas counsel to ensure transactions comply with FIFA, UEFA, or other governing body regulations, as well as UK employment and immigration law.
Yes. We advise international athletes, coaches, support staff, and their families or partners on the visa process, work permits, and right-to-work compliance, ensuring a smooth transition into the UK for both professional and personal relocation needs.
Sports law is highly specialised and fast-moving, involving specific regulations and contractual frameworks. Using a specialist ensures that your agreements, compliance, and disputes are handled by professionals who understand both the legal and commercial realities of the sports industry. This reduces risk and safeguarding your position.
Specialist expertise across UK and international sports law: Our solicitors possess detailed knowledge of UK sports law and the regulations that govern professional and amateur sport, from contractual and disciplinary issues to sponsorship and image rights. We also understand the international frameworks that impact cross-border transfers, disputes, and commercial arrangements.
Tailored, practical advice: We recognise that every client, whether an athlete, club, or sports body, faces unique pressures and priorities. Our solicitors deliver pragmatic, commercially driven advice that aligns with your professional objectives and protects your legal and reputational interests.
Collaborative, multidisciplinary approach: We draw on expertise from across Boyes Turner’s leading practice areas, including corporate, employment, immigration, intellectual property, and dispute resolution. This integrated approach ensures every aspect of your legal matter is coordinated, efficient, and strategically aligned.
Full-service, leading law firm: Boyes Turner is recognised by Chambers UK and The Legal 500 as a leading law firm. Our full-service capability means we can manage your sports law matters alongside your wider legal needs and lean on our other leading areas such as private wealth, residential property, and family law.

We have sponsored Reading Hockey Club, Kidmore End Cricket Club and RAMS Rugby, as well as having many committed marathon runners doing their bit for many a good cause, alongside charity netball event and golf day organisers across the business.
Sport and social activities play a big part at Boyes Turner, with teamwork and community as two core company values and we’ve seen that sport perfectly blends the two.

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