I am a senior associate and founding member of the Sports & Entertainment team at Lawrence Stephens. I act for clients on both contentious and non-contentious matters.
I act on high-profile matters within sport and my calm, direct and focused approach coupled with my strong commercial background and experience working with key stakeholders across the global sporting industry enables me to communicate and distill complex legal matters into practical advice in an engaging, accessible and actionable way.
I specialise in advising clients on commercial, image rights, employment, complex regulatory and cross-border matters in addition to acting for clients in disputes before The FA, FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Given the international nature of my work, I frequently collaborate with colleagues from a variety of different countries, jurisdictions and backgrounds.
I am passionate about ensuring that costs are not a barrier to receiving top legal advice and access to justice and I regularly provide pro bono assistance to young athletes and entrepreneurs. Additionally, I have been a member of the American Bar Association’s Military Pro Bono Project since qualifying as a lawyer and have been appointed to the Sport Resolutions Pro Bono Service.
‘Jake Cohen is amazing and there for us 24/7. Football never rests and it is great that LS doesn't either.’
‘Jake Cohen (our main contact) is always eager to support us in everything we need. Couldn't be happier with the firm.’
“Jake and the team have been with us every step of the way. More than just lawyers, they are trusted advisors who we can always count on for lightning quick, practical and actionable insights. Their advice has been instrumental to our growth and they are always looking for ways to add value.”
“Jake’s expertise has been a huge help in my career. He has provided valuable advice in all manner of legal issues, including contract review, negotiation and conflict resolution.”
“I can’t say enough about Jake and Mo. Their expert guidance and dedication in handling my case was above and beyond. Their communication, attention to detail, ability to navigate the complex FIFA processes and regulations, and tenacity in advocating on my behalf helped me secure an extremely favourable outcome. Highly recommended!”
“I cannot thank Jake enough for the incredible work he has done for me. He is one of the nicest people in football, but I would hate to be on the opposite side of him. When I was basically left stranded by my former club, Jake immediately laid out a decisive plan of action, aggressively protected my rights by filing a successful case at FIFA and helped me get an award for more than I was owed. When the club didn’t pay me on time, Jake was absolutely relentless in making sure that the club paid me every single penny plus interest and he even made sure that FIFA imposed a transfer ban on the club until they paid me everything they owed me. He took my case on a pro bono basis, but I always felt like I was his most important client. He genuinely cares about the people he works with and is passionate about protecting athletes. I truly appreciate the confidence he showed in me to step up for me on my case. From the depth of my heart, I'm truly grateful for Jake’s support.”
“Jake has been extremely helpful in reviewing contracts as well as overviewing and explaining other necessary business matters. I highly recommend him.”