Matt Hanson

I work as a Senior Associate in the Sports Group, based in London and specialising in a wide range of commercial and contractual issues. While I primarily focus on the sport sector, I also have considerable experience advising clients in the media and tech sectors spanning five years at my previous firm, one of the largest international law firms in the world.

In particular, I advise on media rights tenders and agreements, media regulation, sponsorship agreements, service agreements, licensing and merchandising deals, joint venture arrangements and a wide array of contractual and commercial issues generally. My experience covers football, rugby, cricket, motor racing, athletics and esports, and I have represented clubs, governing bodies, leagues, athletes, agents, rightsholders and brands.

Over the course of my legal career, I have undertaken various client secondments. Most recently, I worked at The Football Association, firstly helping the commercial legal team with sponsorship, media rights and other work and subsequently working on the bid for UEFA Euro 2028 to be hosted in the UK and Ireland.

During my training contract, I spent six months in the distribution arm of ITV, the UK's largest commercial broadcaster, which helped to cement my understanding of the media sector. I also undertook a remote secondment with the stand-alone media platform owned and operated by a prominent global sporting body.

In addition, I worked in the Barcelona office of my previous firm for three months, developing relations with several Spanish clients and the national media regulator. I also speak French and Spanish as a result of my time living and working in France, Canada (Montreal), Spain and Nicaragua.

• Advised a prominent international sports competition on a significant investment by a private equity firm.
• Advised the British and Irish Lions in relation to certain of its media rights licensing agreements.
• Advised a global brand in relation to its multi-million pound title sponsorship of a national sporting governing body and rightsholder.
• Advised Six Nations Rugby in relation to media rights issues in respect of certain tournaments.
• Advised a world-leading brand on its production arrangements in relation to the launch of its OTT sports broadcasting service.
• Advised the International Paralympic Committee in respect of its games hosting agreement relating to the Youth Parapan American Games.
• Advised an OTT sports broadcasting platform on media regulatory issues relating to its worldwide launch.
• Advised an agency representing several prominent motor racing drivers in relation to certain contractual and commercial matters.
• Advised Arsenal Football Club on gambling regulatory issues relating to ticket allocation.
• Advised Celtic Rugby on a range of commercial and regulatory issues, including in relation to the covid-19 outbreak and the impact on its media rights and other agreements.