Lewis Silkin is a UK top-100 commercial law firm with offices in London, Oxford, Cardiff, Dublin and Hong Kong. The firm is recognised by clients and industries alike as being distinct: for its deep understanding, insight and advice to creative, innovative and brand-focused businesses; for its market-leading international practice in employment, immigration and reward; and for delivering pragmatic, commercial advice in a refreshingly human way.
With 59 partners and more than 300 staff, the firm is structured around two key divisions, Employment, Immigration & Reward (EIR) and Creators, Makers & Innovators (CMI).
The Creators, Makers and Innovators team is made up of leading advisers for creative, innovative and brand-focused businesses, offering a deep understanding of the industry sectors in which clients operate combined with real expertise across a wide range of legal services. From start-ups to multinationals, the firm’s comprehensive and commercially focused advice helps clients succeed in an increasingly complex and converged international marketplace.
The team’s lawyers have decades of experience both within the creative industries and as legal advisers with in depth knowledge and experience of the many sectors that make up the creative world, including advertising and marketing, entertainment and media, fashion, hospitality, technology, retail and sports.
The Employment team is one of the leading employment law practices both domestically and internationally. Our team is amongst the largest in the UK with 22 employment partners and around 60 other specialist lawyers. Consistently top ranked by independent legal directories, we have more recognised experts in employment than any other UK firm. The majority of our lawyers are based at our London office in Chancery Lane and we also have offices in Oxford, Cardiff, Dublin and Hong Kong.
The work of the team as a whole is a mix of contentious and non-contentious matters, for a wide range of clients. Employment, Immigration and Reward lawyers also undertake a significant amount of business development work including giving seminars and producing Lewis Silkin branded publications. There is a significant international element to the Division’s work, largely on account of its membership of the Ius Laboris international alliance of employment lawyers. |
A rare opportunity has arisen for a candidate with at least 4 years PQE to work within the Disputes team, to lead the firm’s sports-specific disputes and regulatory work.
The firm’s Sports Business Group consists of 22 members across the two divisions. We are highly ranked in the legal directories for sport and we work for an impressive list of federations, clubs, agencies, and leading sports businesses and sponsors.
Our work covers a wide array of matters including, negotiating global sponsorship deals; advising on player, manager and backroom staff employment issues; implementing complex football financing deals; advising on player transfers; sports immigration; brand protection; stadium development; and a wide range of commercial contracts and disputes. The range of sports we work across is also vast, covering football, Formula 1, rugby, cricket, cycling, horse racing, gymnastics, sailing, Formula E and more.
We are an energetic team with a genuine understanding of, and passion for, sport. Many of our team are ex-professional athletes or have worked in-house at clubs, sponsors and major events and our fresh attitude, industry insight and pragmatic problem solving sets us apart. We are ambitious and keen to continue to grow our reputation an expertise. |
We are looking for an ambitious, well connected lawyer with significant experience working in the sports sector (whether in private practice and/or in house). As well as being a technically excellent lawyer, they will have a good network of sports contacts.
Lewis Silkin’s reputation in the sports sector is accelerating and the candidate will be expected to demonstrate a drive to expand the firm's existing contentious sports work through the development of both existing and new sports clients.
The candidate's experience should ideally include advising on disciplinary matters both on and off the field; dealing with claims brought through sports-specific arbitral bodies such as CAS, under the FA’s Rule K, and in FIFA’s dispute resolution chamber; reviewing and drafting regulations; advising on investigations; and conducting governance reviews.
As disputes in sport involving athletes, managers and coaches often require an appreciation of their status as employees, contractors or, indeed, volunteers, a solid grounding in employment law would be beneficial. Our Employment, Immigration and Reward division is ranked number one in the main legal directories and already has a successful and experienced team undertaking employment work for our sports business clients. As such, the candidate will work alongside this team, supported by their expertise, and supporting them in expanding our work in the sports sector to ensure the firm is recognised as the leading firm for non-contentious and contentious sports employment work.
We are looking for someone with the right skills and experience. This may be a confident, mid-level associate who has focused on sport throughout their career, or a senior associate who has a blend of experience working with sports and non-sports clients. What is essential is that they have a strong network within the sports sector, a depth of experience and a desire to focus on, and build work in, the sports sector. |
The candidate will report to the Head of the Disputes Department but will also work closely with the Head of the Sports Business Group. We are looking for a dedicated team player, who can also work independently, and who has a sense of fun to fit in with our vibrant team culture. While the candidate will focus on work for clients in the sports business sector, they should also be ready to assist with other disputes work, particularly in related sectors such as media, entertainment and retail.
Lewis Silkin has offices in central London, Oxford, Cardiff and Dublin. We are happy to receive candidates wishing to be based in any of these locations.
IT skills required:
- Competency in MS Office suite.
Professional qualifications required:
- Qualified UK lawyer with a current UK practising certificate or overseas equivalent.
No agencies please.
Lewis Silkin is an equal opportunities employer |