Divorce and Family Law for Professional Sportspeople

Specialist, discreet family law advice built around the realities of a sporting career.

A career in professional sport is unlike any other. It can bring exceptional rewards in a short space of time, alongside intense public attention, a demanding schedule, and a life often lived across more than one country. When a relationship breaks down, all of that shapes what you need from your legal advice.

We advise professional sportspeople, and footballers in particular, on divorce and family matters, with discretion and with a genuine understanding of the pressures and demands of a career in sport. Our sports family law offering is led by Jack McBride.

We understand your world

Sportspeople face pressures most clients never encounter. Careers are short and earnings are concentrated into a few years. Schedules are relentless, with training, travel and fixtures leaving little spare time. And a private matter can quickly become a public one if it is not handled carefully.

Legal matters are too often wrapped in jargon and needless complexity. We do the opposite, explaining everything clearly and in plain language, so you always understand your position and your choices, and stay in control of the decisions that affect you.

Discretion above all

Reputation and privacy are often a client’s first concern, and rightly so. We treat every matter with complete discretion, and we advise from the outset on how to keep your affairs private, including resolving matters away from the public courtroom wherever possible.

You can read more about protecting your reputation and privacy on the linked page.

Joined-up advice, with your trusted team

You already rely on people you trust, your agent, your business manager, your accountant and your financial advisers. We are used to working as part of that team, coordinating with your existing advisers so your legal advice fits with the wider management of your career and your wealth.

Where specialist input is needed, on tax, image rights or investments, we bring it together, so nothing is dealt with in isolation and nothing is missed.

One firm across property, family and legacy

A sporting career touches far more than family law. There is the home you buy and the property you invest in, and there is the wealth you will want to protect and one day pass on. Having these handled by one firm, rather than scattered across several, means your advice is coordinated and nothing falls between the gaps.

Alongside our family team, our Property and Legacy teams advise sportspeople on buying, selling and protecting property, and on wills, trusts and estate planning. We bring them together so your property, your family and your future are dealt with as one picture, and you can read more on our joined-up advice page.

Advice that fits your life

We know your time is scarce, and often not your own. We make it easy to instruct us and to stay informed, working around your commitments, meeting you where and when suits you, and keeping demands on your time to a minimum.

Whether your career keeps you in this country or takes you abroad, we can advise you wherever you are, and coordinate with lawyers in other countries where your life crosses borders.

How we help

We advise professional sportspeople on the full range of family matters, including:

• Divorce and separation, handled with discretion.
• Protecting your reputation and keeping your affairs private.
• Financial settlements involving complex income, image rights and international assets.
• Pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements to protect your wealth.
• Arrangements for children around a demanding and international career.
• Coordinating with your agent, manager and financial advisers.
• Joined-up advice across property, family and legacy through our specialist teams.

Whatever you are facing, we are here to protect your interests, your family and your name.

Frequently asked questions

Will my divorce become public?

Not necessarily, and protecting your privacy is one of the first things we address. Family proceedings are held in private, though the rules on reporting have been changing. The surest way to keep matters confidential is often to resolve them away from the public court, through routes such as mediation, arbitration and private hearings, which we can advise on.

I have very little spare time. How does that work?

We build our advice around your schedule. We keep things clear and efficient, handle as much as possible for you, meet you when and where suits, and make sure you are never left without the information you need to make a decision. Your time is respected throughout.

Can you work with my agent and financial advisers?

Yes, and we prefer to. We are experienced at working alongside agents, business managers, accountants and financial advisers, coordinating with the people you already trust so your legal advice fits with the wider management of your career and finances.