Mike Townley
Head of SportMike is one of the most experienced sport lawyers in Europe. He was a partner in the law firm that invented the sport law specialism back on the 1980s and 1990s (Townleys’ Sport Lawyers). Since then he has run his own sport agency representing professional sports men and women, he was a partner with Bates Wells & Braithwaite in the City, and for 7 years was the In-House Counsel at the International Paralympic Committee.

Mike Townley
CONSULTANT SOLICITOR
OVERVIEW
Mike has a full range of experience across all the different areas of sport law, including all regulatory aspects, commercial and broadcasting.
Mike also maintains a broader commercial practice, acting for companies and business owners in the entertainment, creative and tech sectors.
Specialisms
- Anti-doping
- Broadcasting
- Charity
- Intellectual property and licensing
- Share sales, shareholders’ agreements and partnership structures
- Sponsorship, merchandising and other sport commercial matters
- Sports regulation and governance
- UK & EU trade marks, registration and disputes
Qualifications
- BA (Hons) in Politics, York University 1984
- Law Conversion, College of Law – Guildford, 1985
- Law Society ‘Finals’, College of Law – Guildford, 1986
- Admitted as a Solicitor and Member of the Law Society in 1988.
Other
- Runner and Triathlete, currently Chair of Brighton Phoenix Athletics and Triathlon Club. Also a keen cyclist who has cycled solo 4,000 miles across Canada.
- Slowing down due to the miles-on-the-clock but still active most days. Also slowing down due to his interest in wine and traditional beers.
- Lives in Hove with his wife and three children.