Tom Lambert

I am a Senior Associate based in our London office, advising clients within the sports and media sectors on a wide range of commercial/contractual and corporate matters.

I advise a variety of sports industry rights holders and stakeholders (including governing bodies, event organisers, teams/clubs, sponsors and investment funds) on their key commercial and corporate arrangements relating to media rights, sponsorship, licensing, merchandising and retail, ticketing, acquisitions and investments (including joint venture arrangements) and agency related agreements. I have advised clients across a range of major sports, including football, rugby, motor sports, cricket, sailing and horse racing.

Prior to joining Bird & Bird, I was in-house counsel at a leading sports marketing agency and prior to that a Managing Associate and Co-Head of the Sports Sector practice at a magic circle law firm. I am also a member of England Boxing's National Disciplinary Panel.

• Act for the United Rugby Championship on numerous commercial and regulatory matters, including on its latest domestic and international media rights cycle and establishment of global OTT platform
• Acted for Getir on its appointment as training kit sponsor of Tottenham Hotspur FC
• Act for the Six Nations on various media and sponsorship rights agreements
• Act for international sports competition on numerous matters concerning their retail and product/merchandise licensing programme, including in relation to their e-commerce platform
• Advised the British & Irish Lions on various commercial arrangements in relation to the 2021 tour to South Africa, including sponsorship and media arrangements and the 2021 tour agreement
• Advised national governing body on a number of matters relating to the staging of a new competition
• Advised Sir Ben Ainslie and Athena Racing on the formation of INEOS Team UK, including advising on numerous sponsorship related matters as well as America's Cup entry requirements and yacht club agreements*
• Acted for financial sponsor clients on the acquisition of a majority stake in a global sports data and content business, including joint venture arrangements*
• Acted on the sale of a majority stake in Everton FC*
• *whilst at previous firm