Will Hill

Will is an Associate at Level Law and acts for clients in the sports and media sectors on a wide range of issues, from player transfers and commercial opportunities to disputes, regulatory and disciplinary matters.

Will joined Level in 2018 from the International Arbitration team at Clyde & Co, having previously  obtained a master’s degree in International Sports Law from ISDE and worked for a prominent CAS/FIFA arbitrator in Tel Aviv.
 
1. When did your interest in sports law first develop? 

I have long held an ambition to work in sport in some capacity, from sports journalism in my late teens via sports agency and finally ending up at sports law, following some sage advice from those already working in the sphere. Having not studied law at university, I embarked on the law conversion course and was fortunate enough to gain experience working at a couple of the leading sports practices in London. The projects, clients and type of work were everything that I had envisaged and ending up at such a firm duly shaped the choices I made thereafter, including the modules I studied on the LPC, the choice to enrol for a master’s in Madrid and the team I qualified into at the conclusion of my training contract.

2. What is the best piece of career advice that you have been given? 

With junior roles in sports-focussed firms at a premium, especially at the training contract stage, I was considering a number of different paths into sports law, from moving abroad to training in very small firms that had limited involvement in sports matters. However, after reaching out to one of the leading sports lawyers in the Middle East, I received the following advice:
 
“For what it is worth, I would suggest securing a training contract with the very best law firm you can in your home jurisdiction, then looking abroad. The anchoring in fundamentals provided by such firms (particularly those with established internal training programs) is irreplaceable and will stand you in good stead wherever you choose to go after the first couple of years of full-time private practice.”
 
While there are certainly increasing opportunities in sports law and everyone’s journey into the industry is different, this roadmap served me extremely well in choosing to train at a large City firm and then switching across to a smaller boutique firm once qualified, a seemingly well-trodden path for many of the junior and mid-level lawyers working in sports law at the moment.

3. Are there any particular areas of sports law that interest you? 

There are plenty but a particularly interesting area at the moment is the challenge faced by football clubs, leagues and federations in addressing (i) widespread financial mismanagement that has led to clubs entering administration and/or facing disciplinary proceedings for breaching rules designed to combat such maladministration; and (ii) the serious and far-reaching ramifications of COVID-19 which, as it stands, has no end in sight.
 
The decision of EFL clubs in Leagues One and Two to introduce squad salary caps is a controversial step for many in the industry but is seen as a necessary approach to combat the challenges that such clubs will face in the coming months and years. Such a system is clearly well-established in a number of US sports and it will be fascinating to see how the lower echelons of the football pyramid in England are affected by the change (and how quickly it will accelerate the growth of the chasm between the clubs at the top and everyone else, the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United having their own ‘Big Picture’ plans).

4. What are the rewards and challenges of being a sports lawyer? 

There is no doubt that having an interest in sport and being involved in matters that end up on the back pages, from broadcasting deals to major player transfers, is extremely rewarding. I work a lot on the ‘talent’ side and it’s great to help up-and-comers as they navigate their early commercial, team or management arrangements, as well as the obvious satisfaction of working with established stars.
 
I’m not sure the challenges are fundamentally too different from other areas of law but the nature of the industry and clients probably means that responsiveness and availability to answer questions at any time is particularly valued – I certainly have more calls from clients at the weekend or on holiday than I used to…

5. What advice would you give to aspiring sports lawyers?  

The reality is that sports law is highly competitive and every opportunity is likely to be fiercely contested, as anyone reading this will no doubt already be well aware. However, the number of roles in the industry seems to grow every year (maybe this one excepted…) and there are many helpful resources available for those looking to break in.
 
In addition to the staples of being a good lawyer and understanding the sphere that you’re seeking to work in (which are in themselves crucial, as other contributors have noted), my experience and conversations with those in the industry suggests that many employers are looking for proof of a commitment to the sector i.e. something more tangible than just being a lawyer who also likes sport. Whether that’s writing blogs, work experience or having taken a course in sports law/marketing/management etc., anything an aspiring sports lawyer can point to which sets them apart from the crowd should stand them in good stead when it comes to interviewing for roles.