Sports

 

We firmly believe that this passion and hands-on experience enables us to give our sporting clients balanced and commercially focused advice and demonstrate a thorough understanding of the sporting world.

 

Our team are widely recognised as the leading sports lawyers in Wales, having advised the nation's sporting bodies, venues and athletes on a vast range of legal issues.

Hugh James sports services

 

1. Services to sports individuals

 

Our sports practice offers a comprehensive service to athletes, helping you to manage life on and off the field. We can advise you about issues that directly affect your sporting career and contractual obligations as well as your day-to-day legal requirements.

 

Services include:

  • contracts
  • disciplinary hearings
  • sports injury
  • image rights
  • asset management
  • property
  • financial services

 

See our full range of services to individuals

 

2. Services to sports organisations

 

Sports organisations need lawyers who understand their game. Over the last 20 years our specialist sports team has dealt with high profile, controversial and sensitive matters on behalf of sports organisations. Our vast expertise in this area allows us to give informed, commercially focused guidance to our sporting clients on a broad range of legal issues.

 

Services include:

  • governance issues for sporting bodies
  • sponsorship agreements
  • disciplinary hearings
  • stadium construction
  • merchandising and licensing
  • ambush marketing
  • funding

 

See our full range of services to businesses

 

3. Full time

 

When you call time on your sporting career it is essential that you work with advisors who can help to continue to be successful in the next phase of your life. Our sports team have a broad range of experience advising former professional athletes in their transition to business.

 

We can help you to:

  • start a business
  • invest in property
  • manage your image

 

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Hugh James sports sector experience

 

  • Services to sports individuals
  • Services to sports organisations

 

1. Services to sports individuals

 

  • Scott Quinnell on the formation of investment vehicle ‘Dynevor Ltd’ and its subsequent acquisition of Dore
  • International rugby player Ricky Evans in the first successful personal injury claim arising out of an international rugby match (France v Wales) when he sued Olivier Merle and the French RFU for damages.
  • Numerous former international rugby players on their personal injury insurance claims following forced early retirement
  • Numerous sports personalities on their matrimonial affairs
  • An Olympic medallist on a contractual dispute with his promotional company
  • A professional golfer in relation to contractual agreements with a global sports agency
  • An Olympic medallist on a personal injury matters
  • A professional golfer on a number of financial investments
  • Numerous former and current international rugby players at disciplinary hearings

 

2. Services to sports organisations

 

Welsh Rugby Union Ltd (WRU) on a range of legal issues including:

 

  • its groundbreaking £30 million agreement relating to the funding and operation of its four rugby regions: the Cardiff Blues, the Llanelli Scarlets, the Newport-Gwent Dragons and the Ospreys
  • Their incorporation as a limited company and transfer of assets to the WRU from the former unincorporated association
  • governance issues
  • commercial agreements including sponsorship and broadcasting agreements
  • disciplinary cases involving high profile international players
  • the two million pound Centre of Excellence at the Vale Hotel, Golf and Spa Resort in Hensol

 

Millennium Stadium on a broad range of legal issues including: 

 

  • a £50 million facility with Barclays Bank
  • the construction of the stadium
  • a successful case against an organiser of a boxing event at the stadium involving Joe Calzaghe

 

Numerous commercial, employment and events contracts including:

 

  • Ffos Las Limited (part of the Walters Group) in connection with the new racecourse development in Carmarthenshire
  • Yeovil Town Football Club on their proposed new stadium
  • Llanelli RFC in an injunctive threat to block Celtic League- c 1999/2000
  • Numerous sports clubs on their Club Premises Certificates
  • The Welsh Hockey Union on employment matters
  • Cardiff Bay Authority/Cardiff Council on their successful action to protect the sailing club at Llanishen Reservoir
  • Bay Leisure Ltd on its agreement to run Swansea Leisure Centre and various commercial contracts
  • Golf Union of Wales on commercial and corporate matters
  • Select Sport Matters on sports agency agreements

 

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Contact

 

Gareth Williams

Senior Partner

Commercial Litigation

 

E gareth.williams@hughjames.com

T 029 2039 1022

 

Contact

Gareth Williams

Senior Partner

Commercial Litigation

 

E gareth.williams@hughjames.com

T 029 2039 1022

 

Read Gareth Williams' profile

Meet the rest of the Sports team.

 Summary of related services

 

 

 

 

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Testimonials

 

"I’ve really got to go on record to thank...the WRU’s solicitors Hugh James for all they did for me. They left no stone unturned and have really looked after me. I found myself in a difficult position, but I’m just glad it’s all over now and it was just great to be part of the winning team."

 

Source: Lee Byrne, quoted in Daily Post North Wales 05 I 02 I 10

 

 

“I am extremely grateful for the professionalism, expertise and dedication Hugh James demonstrated throughout the negotiation of this historic agreement. Their contribution was instrumental in helping us get the deal over the line. Their guidance throughout the protracted and sometimes difficult negotiations was invaluable and is greatly appreciated by me and the whole of the WRU team."

Roger Lewis, CEO, Welsh Rugby Union

 

 

“Senior Partner Gareth Williams is the group’s most prominent lawyer, and his litigation-focused practice has strong sport’s law flavour”

Chambers, 2009.

 

 

”We are extremely grateful to Hugh James for the high standard of professional advice we receive from them as it allows us to make robust and measured  strategic decisions which benefit the Group and protect the interests of the Millennium Stadium and our national sport.”

The Group Chief Executive of the Welsh Rugby Union, Roger Lewis

 

 

“Hugh James were an invaluable part of the team and managed the acquisition superbly.  This was a complicated deal involving various countries across the globe and tight timescales, but they made it all seem very easy.  The service they provided was first class.”

Scott Quinnell, Development Director, Dore

 

Hugh James have been ranked in the top tier of the Legal 500 report.

 

 

 

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