Sports Law Expert is On the Ball
Sport Law
12/08/2008
The business of sport can involve large sums of money in terms of salaries, sponsorship deals, image rights and so on. It is not surprising therefore that legal expertise is called upon to help ensure that the sports stars' interests are safeguarded.
Sports Law is a highly specialised area of legal practice and one that is traditionally said to fall within the mandate of Commercial Lawyers. However the concept of Sports Law is so broad that by its definition it is often more appropriate to treat matters arising from the perspective of a Private Client Lawyer.
That is the approach adopted by leading national law firm Irwin Mitchell. Kevin Harris-James is partner and Head of Private Client within Irwin Mitchell's Birmingham office and has assumed responsibility for the Sports Law department nationally within the firm.
Kevin, a divorce lawyer of some 15 years standing, has carved out a national reputation for complex financial claims arising from relationship breakdowns. Throughout his career he has represented numerous sports stars: his client base comprises predominantly professional footballers from the Premier League and The Championship, as well as players who have donned national team shirts.
Kevin says: "The nature of divorce inevitably requires solicitor and client to form a closer than usual working relationship than one would perhaps expect between client and, for example, a commercial lawyer. It is within this close working relationship that I generate a level of trust with my clients that has resulted, over time, in all manner of legal issues being referred to me.
"These typically range from protection of image rights, contractual disputes, house sale and/or purchase, Wills and Trusts, Pre-Nuptial Agreements, tax – the list goes on."
Kevin works for the fourth largest firm in the UK, so can match the appropriate lawyer to any of his clients' case requirements within minutes and retain a full working knowledge of the referral from start to finish –something a traditional Sports Law firm cannot offer.
Within the Irwin Mitchell Sports Law team all aspects of legal services are provided to deal with all the needs of sportspeople, whether professional or personal. This "one-stop" approach is well received and results in a significant number of referrals, including involvement in the Lord Stevens' Enquiry into "bungs" in football.
Kevin has forged close working relationships with the National Association of Players’ Welfare Officers (NAPWO) of numerous Premiership Clubs. Player's Personnel, Welfare and Liaison Officer and Chair of the said group, Lorna McClelland of Aston Villa FC, comments:
"Throughout the career of a footballer, many issues can arise for him and his family which require legal expertise. I am the Founder and Chair of NAPWO (National Association of Player's Welfare Officers), which provides a contact network for all Player's Welfare Officers at Premiership and Championship levels.
"In an effort to maintain the professionalism of our roles, we meet at Villa Park to share our knowledge and experience. We have enjoyed presentations from such knowledgeable speakers as Max Clifford and Peter Kay, of the Sporting Chance Clinic, both of whom spoke of the avoidance of problems that can face players and their families.
"For the same reasons, we invited Kevin to speak at our recent Annual Conference at Villa Park. His breadth of knowledge and experience has greatly complimented our roles as Player Welfare Officers for some time now.
"The system of care that we offer our players can, where necessary, be enhanced by the legal advice and support offered by Kevin and his team. He understands the world of football, and his sensitive, familial and practical approach can bring about a rapid resolution to problems, minimising any distress; a truly professional service."
Another Liaison Officer, Vic Callow of Birmingham City FC, adds: "Kevin has been very helpful to us, often at short notice, and provided an efficient and reliable service to the players concerned. It is a great help to know you can call on someone with Kevin’s expertise."
It is in these close working, private client relationships that Kevin's team continues to evolve and excel, building significant levels of trust and goodwill.
Kevin's client bank makes for impressive reading. However, many clients prefer anonymity for self-evident reasons. Quinton Fortune, the former Manchester United FC midfielder and a senior member of the South African National Team - who host the 2010 World Cup – however, is more than happy to comment upon the way in which Kevin continues to look after his legal affairs.
"I can refer any legal issue with absolute confidence to Kevin, knowing it will receive his personal attention," says Quinton. "He continues to assist me in many respects, most notably looking over the various offers and approaches I have received from clubs as I consider a move at this stage of my career. I, of course, have my agent who is tasked with the financial terms of my contracts, but in Kevin I have someone I can rely upon with attention to detail in terms of contractual issues, image rights and most importantly of all, I trust his judgement."
Kevin Harris James stands alone as a specialist in his style of handling sports law in this region. His expertise and style has also won approval among figures from the world of entertainment too, with him heading to Hollywood on more than one occasion. With the football season underway now, however, it's fair to say that his thoughts are directed more towards The Hawthorns, home of his favourite team.