Associate / Senior Associate - Sports Regulatory in London

Job role: Associate / Senior Associate

Hours: Monday to Friday, 09:00 - 17:30 (37.5 hours per week)

At Hill Dickinson, flexibility is an established part of our culture. Our commitment to supporting colleagues to balance their work and home lives has previously been awarded. We are happy to consider flexible working opportunities and welcome conversations about individual requirements throughout the recruitment process.

Team: Sports (part of the wider Commercial Dispute Resolution team)

Location: London preferred

Role overview

We are seeking an experienced, technically able, ambitious and commercially minded lawyer specialising in sports regulatory work to join our newly formed Sports practice based in London. This is an excellent opportunity to play a pivotal role in the development of this exciting new practice, which will work for a range of clients across sport, including national and international governing bodies, event organisers, clubs, other sports organisations and other participants in sport. You will work closely with the new ‘Head of Sport’, with excellent development and progression opportunities as the practice grows.

Key responsibilities:

• Drafting and advising on the application and interpretation of sporting rules and regulations, and related policies and procedures.
• Supporting clients in relation to the investigation of potential breaches of their rules and regulations.
• Presenting a variety of sports disciplinary (including anti-doping, anti-corruption, financial regulation and other matters) and safeguarding cases before domestic and international panels/tribunals (including, among others, Sport Resolutions and CAS panels), including drafting written submissions and evidence and taking responsibility for procedural matters.
• Advising clients in relation to governance matters and robust decision-making.
• Defending the lawfulness of rules and decisions made by sports organisations.
• Provide specialist regulatory input on broader commercial, sponsorship, player/participant, and dispute matters.
• Work closely with cross‑practice specialists in other teams, including litigation, employment, commercial, and corporate.
• Contribute significantly to business development initiatives, training sessions and knowledge management.
• Working with the wider office team to proactively promote and raise the profile of Hill Dickinson and its new sports practice, including attending networking events and participating in corporate social responsibility initiatives.

What are we looking for:

The ideal candidate will bring strong technical expertise in sports regulation, exceptional client management skills, and the ability to lead on major matters while contributing to the wider strategic growth of the practice.

Important criteria:

• Qualified solicitor within a reputable sports and/or contentious/regulatory practice (experience can be derived from in-house and/or private practice).
• Excellent drafting, technical analysis, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Proven ability to manage complex matters and run cases with light supervision.
• Strong communication skills with the confidence to advise senior stakeholders.
• Experience working with major sports clients.
• Knowledge of the regulation and governance of domestic and international sport.
• A team player with strong interpersonal skills.
• A track record of initiating and/or supporting business development initiatives.
• Committed to maintaining professionalism and acting with careful judgement in sensitive matters.
• An understanding of the wider commercial pressures faced by sports clients.

Desirable criteria:

• Experience of safeguarding matters in sport.
• Experience of integrity matters in sport (anti-doping; anti-corruption)
• Oral advocacy experience or ambition.
• A strong existing network within the sports law industry.
  

If you don't meet all of the criteria above but feel that you could add real value to Hill Dickinson, we encourage you to submit an application and if successful, we can help you develop along the way.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Hill Dickinson is committed to providing fairness and equal opportunity for all regardless of age, gender, gender identity, ethnic origin, disability, sexual orientation, marital or transgender status, nationality, religion or belief.

We understand that our power as a firm comes from empowering our people and that it is only by encouraging and enabling individuals to be themselves at work that we can truly benefit from their rich and varied strengths.

Hill Dickinson is an equal opportunities employer. All applications received by the firm will be considered based on their merit alone and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background and from all routes to qualification, with both the SRA and CILEx.

Disability Support

We are a Disability Confident employer, which means if there is anything that we can do to make your visit easier, so you are able to perform at your best, please let us know. You can contact the HR team at hrteam@hilldickinson.com should you require any adjustments to the application or interview process.

At Hill Dickinson, we welcome applications from individuals that are looking to return to the law as well as all routes to qualification, with both the SRA and CILEx.

All successful candidates will be subject to our standard pre-employment screening, including a basic criminal record check via Disclosure and Barring Service. Any offer of employment made is conditional upon completion of all checks.

Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible.