Sports Law for clients in Sussex (Brighton, Uckfield and Seaford) and throughout the UK
Rix & Kay represents several sports clubs in the UK, as well as several high profile sports personalities, and is listed in the Legal 500 for this sector. These days sport means big business. Players’ contracts alone can involve huge sums of money and can be a legal minefield, let alone issues of TV rights and sponsorship deals.
Sports Personalities
Rix & Kay provide specialist legal services to well known sports personalities and the up and coming, from complex contract drafting and negotiation to High Court litigation and dispute resolution.
We have experience in handling player transfers, from grass roots to Premiership stars. We also provide expert sports dispute resolution advice from contract disputes to obtaining urgent High Court Injunctions.
We have also provided property and matrimonial specialist legal services to a number of sports personalities.
Sports Clubs
In the first instance the club needs to define its legal status, ideally by incorporation. Issues to check before the club can claim such status include:
Constitution Of The Club
Provide a copy of the club rules/constitution to check that incorporation is permitted.
Property Aspects
Does the club have an interest in any real property? Check assignment is possible and that no restrictions exist. The deed of any property (ie, freehold title/lease) will need to be provided.
Type Of Company To Be Formed
Rix & Kay can advise on the type of company to be formed, taking into account the relevant advantages/disadvantages of each corporate vehicle. That may mean Limited by guarantee, Limited by shares or a Community Interest Company.
Status As Charity Or Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC)
Th club may already be registered as a charity or CASC, in which case the company, when formed, will need to be registered as such.
If not, the directors of the newly formed company should consider registration in order to take advantage of tax savings and other benefits.
Formation of Elected Company Structure
Factors to consider include:
- name of company
- initial directors
- company secretary
- membership
- minimum number of directors
- how will new directors be elected
Transfer Of Employees
Staff contracts of employment will have to be transferred to the newly formed company.
Transfer Of Assets/Activities To Newly Formed Company
Consider what business activities will be passed from the unincorporated association to the company. Paperwork required may include:
- Copies of any existing business agreements, eg supply of goods or services, maintenance agreements for club equipment, leasing or hire purchase agreements etc;
- Copies of any existing licences eg. liquor, dancing, music, gaming machines, public entertainment;
- Details of all insurance policies in place; • Details of any liabilities of the club.
