Meet William
As one of the founding members of Lawrence Stephens’ Sports, Media and Entertainment team, I am an experienced solicitor specialising in a mixture of non-contentious and contentious matters in sport. I deliver commercial and pragmatic advice for my clients and pay significant attention to the wider sporting context in which my clients sit.
I represent elite footballers, talent management and commercial agencies, drivers, golfers, sports brands, tech brands and various other stakeholders in sport and entertainment. I pride myself on truly understanding my clients and their brand (personal or commercial) in order to give accurate and pragmatic advice. I work hard to deliver positive outcomes for my clients on complex and unique legal matters and relish working with the best athletes, entertainers and brands.
I have an extensive network of professional and ancillary contacts in sport and ensure that all my clients benefit from those within my network as part of their wider advisory team.
I have also been appointed to the Sport Resolutions Pro Bono service. A legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the service provides pro bono legal advice and assistance to athletes and individuals of limited financial means.
I am from the North West of England and now live in West London. A passionate football player, tennis player and golfer, I love playing and watching sport.
Experience highlights
- Advising on various Premier League and EFL transfers and contract negotiations
- Acting for a leading Premier League player on a high-profile new boot deal and dispute with former brand
- Advising a leading commercial agency on its representation agreement with one of the world’s most expensive football players
- Advising on numerous global trademark portfolios and registering UK trademarks for brands and rightsholders
- Successfully defending a former premier league defender at The FA Contractual Dispute Tribunal against his club
- Advising on various boot deals and high value sponsorship deals across football, golf, boxing and motorsport
- Advising a golfer management agency on their player’s agreement with LIV Golf
- Advising various academy players on new representation agreements, scholarship deals and first pro contracts
- Preparing sponsorship, contractor, venue and other ancillary agreement for a PGAET Challenge Tour Tournament
- Successfully bringing Rule K Arbitration action on behalf of a leading football agency against a former client for non-payment of agency fees
- Advising various high-profile comedians and influencers on their brand deals, endorsements and representation agreements
