Sports, Media & Entertainment
Unrivalled legal expertise. Trusted by the world’s biggest names. This is sports, media, and entertainment in focus.
The world of sports, media, and entertainment has become a global, high-stakes business. As the complexity of these, increasingly intertwined industries, continues to grow, so too does the need for sophisticated legal partners who have significant experience with, and a deep knowledge of, the legal issues they face, the business issues that matter to them and the industries in which they operate.
Naming rights representations with an aggregate value of over $5.25 billion
Represented over 20 Premier League, La Liga, Championship and international soccer clubs
Recent developments
News
The Legal 500 UK ranks BCLP in 52 practice areas and recognizes 69 lawyers as “leading individuals”
News
BCLP Brings Unique Combination of Legal and Sports Sector Knowledge to a Major Premier League Deal
News
Steve Smith Named Co-Chair of New MLRC Sports Committee
News
BCLP Earns Top Rankings in the 2024 Legal 500 US Guide
News
Chambers UK Ranks BCLP in 41 practice areas and recognizes 74 lawyers
News
BCLP advises SoFi in landmark naming rights and presenting sponsorship deal with new TGL Golf League
Awards
The Best Lawyers in America® 2024
News
Partner named 'Law360' Rising Star in Sports & Betting
Awards
BCLP lawyers recognized in 'The Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom 2024'
Discover our latest insights
Insights
Mar 06, 2025
Mar 06, 2025
Getting the ball rolling: sports disputes resolution in Hong Kong SAR
These are exciting times for sports in Hong Kong.
With the Hong Kong team’s success at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics and Summer Paralympics, the opening of the Kai Tak Sports Park and the 15thNational Games (which Hong Kong is co-hosting together with Guangdong and Macao) in 2025, it is expected that interest in sports and the sports industry in Hong Kong will continue to grow.
From the selection of athletes by sports clubs to the determination of the outcome of a game, anti-doping tests and sports-related commercial deals, disputes can arise at many stages along the sports industry chain.
Some observers and commentators have suggested that Hong Kong would be assisted by having a comprehensive dispute resolution system to resolve the sports-related disputes which unavoidably arise from the growing sports industry.
Insights
Jan 17, 2025
Jan 17, 2025
OCR Confirms Title IX Applies to Institutions’ Direct NIL and Revenue-Sharing
Insights
Jan 09, 2025
Jan 09, 2025
Reimagining Hong Kong's tourism landscape
As we step into the new year, the Hong Kong Government unveiled its ambitious 132-page Development Blueprint for Hong Kong's Tourism Industry 2.0. This comprehensive plan aims to overcome the current challenges posed by economic slowdown, heightened competition, geopolitical tensions and recruitment difficulties. With the collaborative efforts of many stakeholders in implementing the Blueprint, the expected value added by the tourism industry is projected to rise by approximately 60% over the next 5 years, from HK$75.3 billion in 2023 to HK$120 billion. Employment in the sector is also set to rise significantly, with an estimated 44% increase over the same period, bringing the total to approximately 210,000 jobs (up from 145,600 in 2023).
The overarching strategy for Hong Kong's tourism development over the next five years is to solidify its status as a world-class premier tourist destination. The Government will be implementing the following four key strategies to achieve this goal:
promoting tourism through culture, sports, ecology, and mega events;
attracting and broadening the inbound visitor market from a more diverse range of geographies;
advancing smarter tourism; and
enhancing service quality and infrastructure.
The highlights of each strategy will be briefly summarized below.
Insights
Oct 21, 2024
Oct 21, 2024
Lassana Diarra foils FIFA’s transfer rules
It is pretty rare for judgments of the European Court of Justice (“ECJ”) regarding the freedom of movement for workers and competition rules to grab news headlines. However, the ECJ’s ruling in C-650/22 (“Diarra”) has certainly kick-started global debate on the restrictions inherent in football’s transfer system, and whether they are compliant with wider legal requirements.
The ECJ on 4 October 2024 clarified that certain of FIFA’s transfer rules which (in effect) disincentivised unilateral termination of a player’s contract (by club or player) without “just cause” are incompatible with Article 45 and 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (“TFEU”), that is, the rules on the freedom of movement for workers and the prohibition on anti-competitive no-poach agreements within the EU. Subject to the Belgian Court of Appeal ruling that these rules are capable of objective justification (which is unlikely in light of the ECJ’s judgment), these rules are void in law across the EU.
The effects of the Diarra judgment could be profound, seemingly opening the door for players to unilaterally terminate their contracts and sign for competing clubs. However, the ECJ does hold open the prospect for clubs to receive protection from traditional mechanisms of contract law, for instance the right to receive compensation in the event of breach of contract by one of its players.
The case also serves as a reminder that the competition aspects of labour markets, and in particular no-poach agreements, are increasingly on the radar of courts and competition authorities around the world (particularly in the UK and the US), and may encourage those authorities yet to kick off investigations to do so. See our recent assessment of the application of competition law to no-poach agreements.
Insights
Sep 03, 2024
Sep 03, 2024
AI Surveillance and Data Privacy at the Games
As the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games (the “Games”) turn onto the final straight, the Games have yet again captured widespread global attention, on and off the track. With over 15.3 million visitors in Paris this summer for the Games, data security has emerged as a critical concern. To enhance the safety of athletes, spectators and residents, the French government implemented specific measures, including a bill relating to the Games (the “OG law”), a legislative measure passed on 19 May 2023, to bolster security during the Games[1].
The “OG law” introduces advanced security measures, notably the use of experimental algorithmic video surveillance systems. This article focuses on the deployment of these augmented surveillance systems during the Games and examines the associated GDPR compliance and privacy dilemmas that subsequently arise.
Insights
Aug 07, 2024
Aug 07, 2024
AI and the Games - embracing a new age for sports
The Games have kicked off in true Parisian style and is promising to be a groundbreaking spectacle, not just for the inspirational athletic feats we are certain to see but also for the innovative use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools that will feature more prominently than ever before. These advancements are set to play a transformative role in the Games, enhancing athletes preparation for, and experience in, the Games as well as for spectators and viewers worldwide. We have taken a closer look at some of the use cases of AI in the Games.
Insights
Jul 17, 2024
Jul 17, 2024
Corruption in Sport
Insights
Jul 17, 2024
Jul 17, 2024
Webinar on demand: Corporate Hospitality- Avoiding The Corruption Trap
Insights
Jul 12, 2024
Jul 12, 2024
When use of sports technology goes wrong - VAR and other technologies
Teams, leagues, corporations and governing bodies worldwide trust our deep industry experience and strategic approach to help them navigate their most complex legal issues.
Our clients include:
- Over 31 NHL hockey clubs, more than 20 clubs from the Premier League, La Liga, the Championship, and other international football (soccer) clubs across seven countries and teams and/or owners in Major League Baseball, the NBA, NFL, NHL, and Major League Soccer
- The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and several collegiate sports conferences and universities
- The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), Olympic Delivery Authority and more than 20 Olympic National Governing Bodies and International Federations
- British Telecom, CNN, Turner Sports, WarnerMedia, and major entertainment studios
- Corporate sponsors including like AirBnb, Dolby Laboratories, Enterprise Holdings, MetLife, STIFEL, Target and Visa
- High profile athletes such as Gareth Bale, Jimmy Connors, Melissa “Missy” Franklin, Jackie Joyner Kersee, Adam Wainwright and Kurt Warner
- Various businesses on endorsement and product support agreements with athletes and celebrities such as Brazilian soccer player Ronaldinho, Jimmy Connors, Melissa “Missy” Franklin, Jimmie Johnson, Mike Krzyzewski (“Coach K”), NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes, Nick Saban, Deion Sanders, Kurt Warner, Sandra Bullock, Lady Gaga, Selena Gomez, Bridget Moynahan, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Simpson and Mr. T.
Clients rank us among the top sports and entertainment law firms
We are committed to delivering exceptional service and results. Chambers & Partners praised our sports practice for offering the "best possible client service," and hundreds of clients from across the globe rely on us to grow their businesses, protect their interests and compete at the highest levels.
This commitment has led to industry-leading recognition, including:
- One of only three firms globally recognized by Chambers & Partners for top-tier sports practices in both the U.S. and UK
- Named "Power Players" in sports law by Sports Business Journal
- Legal 500’s top-ranked firm for sports in multiple jurisdictions
- Featured in The POWER List: Sports and Entertainment Law
- Named to the National Law Journal’s “Sports and Entertainment Law Trailblazers List”
- Featured in Chambers & Partners as “Leader in Field” for Sports Law
These rankings aren’t just titles. They reflect the trust that the industry’s most influential organizations place in us to deliver results.
Our top sports, media and entertainment lawyers have the depth of experience needed to successfully represent clients across all aspects of the sports and entertainment industry. For decades, we’ve been at the forefront of the industry’s most high-profile legal matters, including:
- Negotiated naming rights deals with aggregate values over $5.25 billion
- Acted as the principal draftsman of the World Anti-Doping Code and its amendments and continue to shape anti-doping policies worldwide
- Represented the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency in landmark cases against Lance Armstrong and Floyd Landis
- Served as National Coordinating Counsel and trial counsel for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for their nationwide portfolio of sports-related claims
- Advised on over U.S. $1 billion of financing deals in international football (soccer) in each of the past two years
- Advised on over 130 projects for the Olympic Delivery Authority, engaging 400+ BCLP lawyers
- Handled some of the largest sponsorship and naming rights transactions in the industry
- Negotiated major broadcast and digital media rights deals, including with global networks like FOX, NBC, CBS, ESPN, and major streaming platforms
- Represented major global brands in high-profile endorsement deals with top athletes and celebrities, including Patrick Mahomes, Lady Gaga and Serena Williams
Our impact on the industry is undeniable. When results matter, we deliver.
Teams, leagues, corporations and governing bodies worldwide trust our deep industry experience and strategic approach to help them navigate their most complex legal issues.
Our clients include:
- Over 31 NHL hockey clubs, more than 20 clubs from the Premier League, La Liga, the Championship, and other international football (soccer) clubs across seven countries and teams and/or owners in Major League Baseball, the NBA, NFL, NHL, and Major League Soccer
- The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and several collegiate sports conferences and universities
- The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), Olympic Delivery Authority and more than 20 Olympic National Governing Bodies and International Federations
- British Telecom, CNN, Turner Sports, WarnerMedia, and major entertainment studios
- Corporate sponsors including like AirBnb, Dolby Laboratories, Enterprise Holdings, MetLife, STIFEL, Target and Visa
- High profile athletes such as Gareth Bale, Jimmy Connors, Melissa “Missy” Franklin, Jackie Joyner Kersee, Adam Wainwright and Kurt Warner
- Various businesses on endorsement and product support agreements with athletes and celebrities such as Brazilian soccer player Ronaldinho, Jimmy Connors, Melissa “Missy” Franklin, Jimmie Johnson, Mike Krzyzewski (“Coach K”), NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes, Nick Saban, Deion Sanders, Kurt Warner, Sandra Bullock, Lady Gaga, Selena Gomez, Bridget Moynahan, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Simpson and Mr. T.
Clients rank us among the top sports and entertainment law firms
We are committed to delivering exceptional service and results. Chambers & Partners praised our sports practice for offering the "best possible client service," and hundreds of clients from across the globe rely on us to grow their businesses, protect their interests and compete at the highest levels.
This commitment has led to industry-leading recognition, including:
- One of only three firms globally recognized by Chambers & Partners for top-tier sports practices in both the U.S. and UK
- Named "Power Players" in sports law by Sports Business Journal
- Legal 500’s top-ranked firm for sports in multiple jurisdictions
- Featured in The POWER List: Sports and Entertainment Law
- Named to the National Law Journal’s “Sports and Entertainment Law Trailblazers List”
- Featured in Chambers & Partners as “Leader in Field” for Sports Law
These rankings aren’t just titles. They reflect the trust that the industry’s most influential organizations place in us to deliver results.
Our top sports, media and entertainment lawyers have the depth of experience needed to successfully represent clients across all aspects of the sports and entertainment industry. For decades, we’ve been at the forefront of the industry’s most high-profile legal matters, including:
- Negotiated naming rights deals with aggregate values over $5.25 billion
- Acted as the principal draftsman of the World Anti-Doping Code and its amendments and continue to shape anti-doping policies worldwide
- Represented the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency in landmark cases against Lance Armstrong and Floyd Landis
- Served as National Coordinating Counsel and trial counsel for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for their nationwide portfolio of sports-related claims
- Advised on over U.S. $1 billion of financing deals in international football (soccer) in each of the past two years
- Advised on over 130 projects for the Olympic Delivery Authority, engaging 400+ BCLP lawyers
- Handled some of the largest sponsorship and naming rights transactions in the industry
- Negotiated major broadcast and digital media rights deals, including with global networks like FOX, NBC, CBS, ESPN, and major streaming platforms
- Represented major global brands in high-profile endorsement deals with top athletes and celebrities, including Patrick Mahomes, Lady Gaga and Serena Williams
Our impact on the industry is undeniable. When results matter, we deliver.
The team “provides practical advice and solutions for complex matters."
Chambers USA, 2025
“Their capabilities are extraordinary across all disciplines, specifically on those matters that have a complexity and include international matters.”
Chambers UK, 2025
