We’re pleased to announce the formal launch of a dedicated Sports practice with the appointment of Richard Bush to our Partnership.
Richard is a leading specialist in sports law and regulation with over 15 years’ experience working exclusively in the sports law sector. He joins as Hill Dickinson’s new Head of Sport from Bird & Bird, where he spent over a decade (with five years as Partner). Prior to that, he worked at a leading sports boutique, Onside Law, having started his sports law career as in-house counsel at The Football Association. He is Chair of the British Association for Sport and Law, and is a Solicitor Advocate.
Throughout his career Richard has advised a wide range of sports organisations, including national and international governing bodies and major event organisers, on some of the most high-profile and complex cases in sport – specialising in areas including safeguarding, anti-doping, anti-corruption and financial regulation. He has represented clients before a variety of panels and tribunals, including the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the National Anti-Doping Panel, the National Safeguarding Panel and various other disciplinary panels and tribunals nationally and internationally.
His appointment comes as elite sports clubs and governing bodies look to implement stronger governance and regulatory oversight, while private capital and international investors seek to continue to invest in the sector.
Hill Dickinson already advises a broad range of governing bodies and elite-level clubs across litigation, employment and real estate work, commercial contracts and investment, as well as player contracts, commercial and family matters. Clients include Everton, several English Football League clubs, Lancashire County Cricket Club and GB Taekwondo.
The launch of Hill Dickinson’s sports practice comes on the back of another strong year of growth for the firm, which is the long-term stadium naming rights partner for Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium. Richard is one of 19 senior lateral hires added to the firm this year as we continue to invest in our future growth.
Craig Scott, CEO at Hill Dickinson, said: “As a firm, we've organically built the foundations of a fast-growing sports client base – supporting clubs and governing bodies, as well as helping a broad range of athletes and sports brands. Richard's arrival to lead our sport practice represents our continued confidence and investment in the sector, as we look to build on our existing presence in this high growth market and the much-increased brand recognition we have generated through our naming rights partnership with Hill Dickinson Stadium. Richard’s experience and expertise speaks for itself, and adds significant weight to our standing in the sector as we continue to invest in attracting ambitious senior lawyers looking to drive their practice forward.”
Richard Bush, Partner and Head of Sport at Hill Dickinson, said: “I’m hugely excited by the opportunity to lead Hill Dickinson’s sports practice and build on the substantial platform of work the firm is already delivering for its clients in the market.
“I decided to join Hill Dickinson having been particularly impressed by the firm’s expertise across practice areas complementary to a sports practice, and ultimately because Hill Dickinson is in my view uniquely placed to develop a sports practice that can cater to the realities of clients in the sports law market (both now and in the future).
“The firm’s groundbreaking sponsorship of Hill Dickinson Stadium last year was a landmark moment, and a clear marker of the ambition and commitment the firm has to increase its presence in the world of sport. The sector itself is undergoing a transformative period of investment and increased regulation, and I’m looking forward to working with the team to help our clients to both make the most of the opportunities available to them and navigate the challenges that they face.”