The team’s broad experience advising on legal matters relating to a range of sports allows them to assist athletes and professional clubs / bodies across the entire sports industry.
Over the years, Dan has engaged with a broad range of sports such as cricket, rugby and women’s football, supporting them with various complex legal matters, whether they be commercial, corporate or regulatory. Dan’s multidisciplinary experience often enables him to bring the benefit of his knowledge from one sport to another, giving his clients the kind of pragmatic advice only possible as a result of the breadth of Dan’s sports law practice.
See below for some of the other sports areas that Dan has assisted with.
For many years, Dan has been an appointed lawyer for the British Horseracing Authority Limited (“BHA”) (the governing and regulatory body for the horseracing industry in Britain).
Throughout the years, Dan has assisted the BHA with a vast range of legal matters, and it’s safe to say that he knows the Authority inside out, whether it’s on or off the racecourse. Dan works alongside the senior members of staff at the BHA on a day-to-day basis, dealing with recruitment, health and safety, internal investigations and regulatory issues that impact the BHA and the sport. His work for the BHA has included:
- Drafting complex legal documents / letters;
- Representation and advocacy at Employment Tribunal hearings;
- Drafting bespoke policies / contractual documents;
- Advice on Board issues;
- Advice on health and safety matters;
- Advice on specific strategy and structure of the BHA; and
- Indepth knowledge of the Rules of Racing for jockeys.
Dan has also acted for Endurance GB, the governing body for endurance horse riding in Great Britain.
Not only has Dan advised leading cricket clubs that play within the East Anglian Premier League, and the Women’s League, but he has been assisting the England & Wales Cricket Board (“ECB”) (the govering and regulatory body for cricket) for a number of years on countless complex legal matters. Dan has acted in respect of various high profile individuals and assisting the ECB’s people team on their day to day issues.
Towards the end of 2021, Dan assisted a cricket club apply for a work permit for a professional player and he has represented numerous cricket players individually.
Other work that Dan has assisted in relation to cricket includes:
- Drafting player, coach and head coach contracts;
- Advising on player and coach exits;
- Sponsorship agreements;
- Advising on sponsorship disputes;
- Advising on player disputes;
- Immigration advice;
- Extensive advice on IR35 and status matters;
- Leading internal investigations;
- Advising on diversity and inclusion issues;
- Negotiating complex settlements; and
- Commercial litigation.
Dan has acted for rugby clubs in both the amateur and professional game and has recently advised an England international rugby player in respect of his contractual affairs. As a former vice-president of a leading amateur rugby club, Dan has strong connections in the sport and has worked closely with the RFU and rugby player agents for many years.
Dan has acted for a number of professional boxers in regard to contractual disputes with either trainers, managers or promoters.
Dan regularly commentates on sports law matters for national and specialist media (including the likes of the Telegraph, Guardian, the Times, BBC Radio 5 and the World Sports Advocate) and in the football world he has become a renowned expert in training compensation, EPPP and Youth Development disputes and issues, football agent matters, Football Intermediary Regulations given that he regularly advises clubs, players and agents on the myriad of legal issues at play.
Dan has contributed to the World Sports Advocate to cover topics such as the employment status of non-league footballers and compensation in football (full, unedited version here).
Examples of Dan appearing on a BBC Radio 5 live debate can be found here.
He also provides regular opinions to The Athletic (a sports reporting platform), and he has most recently commented on the events in relation to Mason Greenwood, and whether Manchester United can terminate his contract. You can read the opinion here.
With the latest news surrounding Endrick Felipe and his course to join Real Madrid, Dan provided his comment on why Real Madrid cannot sign Endrick now. The full article can be found here.
what our clients say
A very brief note to thank you for your advice and ECB specific guidance over the past 2 and a bit years. Your pragmatic approach and sports knowledge are invaluable.
Dan Chapman is the best solicitor I've ever worked with. We've used him for years.
I just wanted to say thank you for everything you have done for us as a Company but most importantly our family. Your advice and expertise has been unbelievable and we wouldn’t want anyone else on our side.
We honestly could not have got through the year without your help