TacticCounsel
Keeping You Compliant
Legal Strategy for the Business of Sport
In the high-stakes world of sport, legal clarity is non-negotiable. The Tactic Counsel desk delivers expert legal guidance tailored to the unique challenges faced by athletes, clubs, rights holders, and sports businesses. Our team of sports law specialists provides strategic, proactive support to protect your interests, ensure compliance, and empower confident decision-making.
Whether you're negotiating a sponsorship deal, protecting your brand, or navigating complex regulations, we’re here to make sure your legal game is as strong as your performance.
The desk comprises of advisors from multi-sport governance with a background in English and international law.
Specialist Areas of Knowledge Include:
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Commercial activity
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Employment
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International and national governance
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Regional, national and international sport structures
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Duty of care
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Athlete Representation
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Integrity and ethics
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Criminal activity
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Safeguarding and welfare
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Intellectual Property Protection
Contract Negotiation
& Drafting
Clear, enforceable contracts are the foundation of professional relationships in sport. We provide expert drafting and negotiation of contracts for a range of scenarios, including athlete agreements, sponsorship deals, brand partnerships, consultancy arrangements, and commercial ventures. Our focus is on clarity, fairness, and safeguarding your rights – whether you’re signing your first professional deal or managing a multi-party agreement.
Intellectual Property & Brand Protection
Your brand is valuable – and it deserves legal protection. We help individuals and organisations register, manage, and enforce intellectual property rights including trademarks, copyright, and design rights. From logos and taglines to digital content and merchandise, we ensure your brand assets are legally secure and protected from unauthorised use or infringement.
Dispute Resolution
& Mediation
Disputes can damage reputations and disrupt performance if not handled swiftly and professionally. We specialise in resolving conflicts through pragmatic legal counsel, formal mediation, or litigation when necessary. Our team deals with disputes across contracts, employment, sponsorship, governance, and more – always aiming to resolve matters with minimal disruption and maximum fairness.
Regulatory & Compliance Advisory
The sports sector is governed by complex national and international regulations. We guide clients through their legal obligations under sporting authorities, league rules, anti-doping codes, and broader compliance frameworks such as GDPR and employment law. We also support organisations working towards or maintaining alignment with standards like the Code for Sports Governance.
Employment & Representation Agreements
We ensure that both individuals and organisations enter employment and representation relationships with full clarity and legal security. From athlete contracts and coaching staff agreements to representation and agent deals, we draft and review terms to reflect fair compensation, appropriate obligations, and legal protections for all parties involved.
Image Rights
& Licensing
Your image, name, and likeness are valuable commercial assets. We help athletes and public figures protect and monetise these rights through licensing agreements, media contracts, and brand endorsements. Whether you’re negotiating usage in campaigns, video games, or broadcast content, we ensure your image rights are respected and leveraged properly.
Risk Management & Liability Support
Legal risk exists at every level – from grassroots events to elite sports. We assess potential liabilities across your operations and provide legal strategies to mitigate them. This includes risk assessments for live events, player safety policies, insurance considerations, and waiver documentation. Our goal is to reduce legal exposure while supporting performance and innovation.
Policy Drafting
Policies are more than formalities – they set expectations, demonstrate governance, and ensure compliance. We work with organisations to draft and review robust internal policies on safeguarding, equality and diversity, conduct, data protection, anti-doping, and more. Every policy we produce is tailored to the organisation’s values, objectives, and regulatory context.
Why Us
Our legal support goes beyond contracts and compliance – it’s about empowering our clients to operate with confidence, integrity, and resilience in a challenging and ever-evolving industry. Whether you’re a solo athlete or a global organisation, we provide trusted guidance grounded in deep sector experience and practical legal insight.
