Daniel Baker

Posted on: November 3rd, 2025 by Ella Darnell

I am a Senior Associate in the Sports & Entertainment team at Lawrence Stephens.

With over 10 years’ post qualification experience, prior to joining the firm, I established and headed up a sports law practice at a UK Top 100 law firm. I was delighted to join Lawrence Stephens in November 2025.

I am experienced in handling a wide range of matters for clients and stakeholders in the sports sector. I have represented elite-level coaches, athletes, clubs and organisations across different sports including football, gymnastics, padel (tennis), polo/equestrian sports. I have dealt with sensitive and high profile litigation and handled disciplinary proceedings involving several sporting governing bodies.

On the non-contentious side, I provide advisory and regulatory assistance in respect of dispute avoidance, support in the negotiation of commercial contracts and agreements and I advise clients in relation to ongoing compliance with rules and regulations applicable to their sport.

I really enjoy and value working closely with clients to understand their key objectives and, in doing so, I ensure that my advice is solution-orientated and tailored to their needs.

Experience highlights

  • Successfully supporting individual stakeholders in football and gymnastics in relation to disciplinary proceedings commenced by the FA and British Gymnastics, involving allegations concerning victimisation and safeguarding issues.
  • Acting for a sports betting company in commercial litigation in respect of a significant unpaid loan.
  • Representing an elite gymnastics coach in disciplinary and safeguarding proceedings (and in subsequent appeal proceedings) determined and held pursuant to the recently established Independent Complaints Process developed by British Gymnastics.
  • Providing ongoing advice to a polo player, including in the form of dispute resolution / avoidance support and in relation to regulatory matters connected to membership status with the applicable sporting governing body. Liaising extensively with the CEO and senior team of the SGB to successfully resolve the matter.
  • Representing a polo / equestrian business in court litigation involving unpaid livery fees and achieving a settlement pre-trial.
  • Representing and acting for a leading football agency client in the Court of Arbitration for Sport in relation to unpaid fees due in connection with an international transfer.
  • Advising on and drafting a complex and bespoke policy dealing with injury, rehabilitation and employment matters for a National League football club.
  • Advising a boxing promoter client in relation to successfully negotiating an agency agreement with boxing talent.
  • Assisting a high-profile footballer with the preparation of various commercial agreements.

Angélique Richardson

Posted on: December 4th, 2023 by Yvonne Uzoka

I am a Senior Associate in the Sports & Entertainment team at Lawrence Stephens.

As a former elite athlete competing in synchronised swimming and fin-swimming, I am able to bring a unique perspective to my practice and my athlete clients. I represent a number of professional athletes on a wide range of matters including high-profile boxing promotional agreements, anti-doping disputes, and multimillion-pound arbitrations. For both athletes and talent in the entertainment and media space, I provide commercial and holistic advice in relation to reputation management, strategy and career development.

As one of the UK’s leading sports lawyers, I am now a trusted advisor to a number of notable sports and entertainment clients. 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.