Law firm expands sports offering with key appointment

Law firm JMW Solicitors has expanded its sports team with the appointment of a new partner and multiple fee earners.

Stephen Heath has joined JMW as a partner having worked across a range of sports industries including Leeds United.

Stephen clients include Leeds United, boxing promoter Frank Warren and Queensberry Promotions, Swansea City Football Club, BT Sport and Black Castle Motorsport Management.

Stephen has acted for BT Sport in obtaining a blocking order against pirate streams of Pay-per-View events and also acted for Tyson Fury and Queensbury Promotions in the commercial deal for Tyson Fury’s World Title fight against Deontay Wilder in December 2018.

Stephen advises clients in a variety of matters including media rights agreements, image rights, sporting tribunal and disciplinary proceedings, sponsorship agreements and agent and player disputes to name a few.

Most recently Stephen has been instructed by Oscar Rivas and his promoter Yvon Michel to look after their interests and seek redress following the revelation Dillian Whyte failed a doping test for a performance enhancing drug prior to their World Title Bout but was allowed to box.

Frank Warren said: “Stephen has been my personal and company lawyer for almost 25 years both in-house and privately.

“I value his integrity and robust advice on a range of matters as well as his thorough “Can do” approach on a wide range of commercial matters in a fast moving competitive industry”

Michael Embra, has also very recently joined JMW as solicitor and FA Registered Intermediary in the sports team.

He has worked on various high-profile commercial deals and transfers within professional football and routinely advises both clubs and players upon a variety of matters across all levels.

JMW’s Sports Law team is led by head of commercial litigation Marc Yaffe and has grown substantially over the last twelve months.

The team has advised more than 100 high profile sports stars and clubs across a variety of legal matters including corporate, commercial, regulatory, litigation, conveyancing, wills, matrimonial and media and reputation management.

In football alone, the team works with the player care teams at six Premier League Clubs and multiple Championship clubs.

Stephen Heath said: “I am delighted to have joined JMW. As a full service law firm with national coverage, they can offer my clients in the sports sector full legal support across all areas, from commercial agreements and reputation management through to all the personal services like family law as well which is very important.

“There is a wealth of experience across all disciplines at JMW to offer our sports stars and clubs a full-service offering”

Marc Yaffe said: “We are excited to welcome Stephen and Michael to JMW as they both strengthen our offering to our expanding sporting client base with a wealth of experience both working in-house for sporting organisations and in private practise.

“The sports team has grown significantly over the past year and we now boast specialist experience across all legal disciplines so we can cater for both sporting organisations and the personal needs of all professional athletes.”