National Governing Bodies

The introduction of the Code for Sport Governance means that NGBs and sport organisations must deliver against specific objectives to access public funding. 

We advise NGBs on revising their constitutional and governance documents and support board members with ongoing compliance. We also help to create structures that are commercially sound, facilitate good governance and satisfy funding and regulatory requirements, as well as review and redraft constitutional documents. We’ve supported clients to create strong, diverse board and committee structures and advised on complex board member exits. 

We further provide ad-hoc company secretarial support and advice including on annual general meetings, member requisitions, rotation and reappointment of directors and filing requirements.

We support with structuring funding agreements, marketing strategies and stakeholder engagements to enhance organisational performance and sustainability. 

We advised a major NGB on funding agreements with Sport England and UK Sport, including drafting guidance notes on changes to funding agreements applicable to all summer Olympic and Paralympic NGBs. 

We understand that athlete welfare and integrity require more than just a knowledge of the law and associated regulatory frameworks. 

We have significant experience in advising NGBs and IFs on all aspects of this constantly evolving area, including around safeguarding (including the roles and responsibilities of volunteers), athlete eligibility and participation, anti-doping, equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), athlete agreements (including selection agreements and codes of conduct), disciplinary procedures and proceedings (including case management and representation) and membership terms and conditions (including athletes’ right and obligations). 

We support a diverse range of sports organisations with various specific issues including implementation of best practice through bespoke policies and procedures, audits, risk assessments, case management (live and historic cases) and advocacy support in safeguarding, integrity, disciplinary and appeal hearings and crisis management in response to matters of alleged non-compliance.

We support NGBs and IFs with their DEI organisational frameworks including athlete eligibility, participation and selection — assisting with athlete selection disputes (Olympic and Paralympic classification and selection) and developing bespoke, sport-specific eligibility criteria and ancillary guidance (such as in relation to transgender, DSD and non-binary athletes).

We’re specialists in advising National Governing Bodies on transgender eligibility panels and have acted as Chair and Independent Legal Representative on a number of such cases.

We’re experts when it comes to representing athletes (including able-bodied, para and minor athletes) in UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) investigations into potential rule violations (ADRV) under the anti-doping rules of several national governing bodies including The FA.

Our team includes Catherine Forshaw— a qualified UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) Accredited Advisor.

Prevention is always better than cure — and our suite of proactive health and safety solutions is designed to help you manage risk and avoid incidents. 

By combining legal expertise with leading health and safety consultancy services, Brabners Protect provides your organisation with knowledge, insight and action you can trust to ensure regulatory compliance with your legal obligations and avoid costly incidents.

Our immigration law specialists assist NGBs and their associated clubs and leagues to navigate the immigration regulations that allow athletes and coaches to perform around the world. 

Our expertise includes Governing Body Endorsement applications and criteria, sponsor licences, Skilled Work and Global Mobility visas and the visitor rules for business travellers to the UK.

We advise several National Governing Bodies, high-profile sports clubs and participants in respect of sensitive safeguarding issues. We’re frequently instructed to prepare bespoke policy, regulation and guidance documents such as safeguarding children, safeguarding vulnerable adults and domestic abuse and coercive control policies, as well as codes of conduct (for staff and volunteers), risk assessment and consent forms and photography and videography policies (including specific provisions relating to images captured as part of performance monitoring, physiotherapy and medical treatment. 

We also help to conduct bespoke safeguarding audits of all stakeholders including home country associations, professional leagues and their respective clubs.

Our commercial team advises on, reviews, drafts and negotiates commercial contracts.

We ensure that clients are fully advised on all relevant industry regulations and standards including those relating to advertising, sponsorship and consumer protection, such as the review and drafting of memberships and other subscription terms and conditions.

We can assist with: 

• Terms and conditions.
• Product and service supply agreements.
• Collaborations and joint ventures (such as R&D).
• IT agreements (software development and licensing, maintenance and support, hosting and ERP agreements).
• Licensing agreements. 
• Website terms and privacy policies.
• Consumer protection and e-commerce.
• R&D agreements.

We recognise that data has shifted from being a mere collection of numbers and details to a strategic asset that impacts governance and management as well as the member and fan experience. 

The effective use of data enables better decision-making, operational efficiency and inclusivity. We support clients on through their use, collection and processing of data. 

In the event of a breach, our data protection experts are by your side to respond and minimise its impact.

NGBs can find themselves facing wide-ranging and often unique challenges. Whether it’s managing sponsor relations, ensuring that events are delivered on time or averting reputational damage, our award-winning dispute resolution team — recognised in The Times Best Law Firms 2025 and as leaders in The Legal 500 2025 — has a longstanding history of successfully supporting NGBs.

Our services include:

• Stakeholder disputes.
• On- and off-field disciplinaries, including representation at disciplinary hearings. 
• Safeguarding.
• Integrity.
• Judicial reviews.
• Breach of contract claims, including host contracts, sponsorship agreements, IP infringement and joint venture agreements.