Harbottle & Lewis LLP

Harbottle & Lewis LLP maintains a strong presence across the sports sector, with expertise spanning sponsorship and commercial agreements, regulatory and governance advice, and reputation management. The firm is regularly instructed by both rights holders and global brands on sports marketing matters, including major sponsorships, licensing and merchandising deals, and commercial programme structuring. Recent mandates include assisting Diageo on its inaugural sponsorship agreement with the Premier League. Player-side work continues to be a strong aspect of the offering, with the firm advising on player and driver contracts, alongside endorsement deals for high-profile names including Kai Havertz and Tyrone Mings. Bob Mitchell has deep sector knowledge, which allows him to counsel clients on both commercial and regulatory issues. Michael Lister leads the practice alongside Mitchell, whilst associate Sam Purkiss is an important part of the team.