Women's sport

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The Equaliser - specialist legal offering to the women’s sports sector

The popularity of women's sports has been increasing rapidly over recent years. Delivered by one of the country’s leading women’s sports law practices, The Equaliser will support this continued growth. Whether you are an elite athlete or play at grassroots level; including professional and amateur athletes, sports teams and governing bodies, and brands investing in women’s sport. It combines specialist sports law advice and deep know-how across all disciplines, but with a creative approach recognising the commercial challenges faced by sportswomen and organisations.

Our experience

We work with some of the most important and valuable cases in women's sport including:

  • Eni Aluko in her action for bullying and racism against the FA and the former England women’s head coach
  • On and off field support for the likes of Steph Houghton, Lucy Bronze, Leah Williamson, Lauren Hemp and Ellen White
  • The England Lionesses in the negotiation of their central contracts with The FA
  • Advising on the negotiation of the standard terms of the Women’s Super League playing contract
  • Establishing an independent tribunal to hear the final stage appeals of female athletes regarding an Olympic selection dispute

We have niche expertise in reputational management and have advised household named national and international female players on a range of reputational issues. Matters include defamation, privacy and press disputes involving the top media organisations. We have also implemented protective strategies because of iCloud hacking and personal sensitive data breaches. 

We are founding members of Women in Sports Law, a not-for-profit organisation which provides opportunities for female sports lawyers. The national sports team is led Carol Couse who is widely recognised (including in the legal directories and Who's Who Legal). Her and the team regularly speak on issues affecting women in sport.

Our clients

  • The England Women’s Football team, including individuals such as Steph Houghton, Eni Aluko, Lucy Bronze, Kim Little, Leah Williamson, Ellen White, Lauren Hemp and Rachel Yankey
  • The FA Women’s Super League players
  • The England netball team
  • The Ladies European Tour in golf

and other household names such as:

  • Table tennis international, Karina Le Fevre 
  • GB athlete, Rachel Wallader 
  • GB weightlifter, Michaela Breeze

Your main contacts

  • Carol Couse

    Partner

    Carol Couse

    Partner

    • +(44)(0)16234 8806
    • Contact Carol

      Contact Carol Couse

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      Mills & Reeve will use the information you provide in this form in accordance with our privacy policy. We may from time to time send you general updates by email or post that we think you will find of interest. This includes notification of upcoming event and updates or alerts containing relevant legal news. You can update your preferences at any time and will be able to easily unsubscribe from anything that you do not wish to receive.

      Thank you

      Thank you for your enquiry. We will be in touch shortly.

    • Manchester
  • Sarah Attwood

    Principal Associate

    Sarah Attwood

    Principal Associate

    • +(44)(0)16234 8717
    • Contact Sarah

      Contact Sarah Attwood

      * = required

      Mills & Reeve will use the information you provide in this form in accordance with our privacy policy. We may from time to time send you general updates by email or post that we think you will find of interest. This includes notification of upcoming event and updates or alerts containing relevant legal news. You can update your preferences at any time and will be able to easily unsubscribe from anything that you do not wish to receive.

      Thank you

      Thank you for your enquiry. We will be in touch shortly.

    • Manchester
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