Hill Dickinson appoints Richard Bush to lead dedicated sports practice

Leading commercial law firm Hill Dickinson has announced the formal launch of a dedicated sports practice with the appointment of Richard Bush to its partnership.

Richard is a 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.