Tim Copplestone

Tim is an employment lawyer and head of the firm’s sport sector. Tim has a sporting background himself and has represented Great Britain in kayaking. He is identified as a Leading Individual in the Legal 500, 2024 and Clarke Willmott’s top tier Sport team is identified as Tier 1.

Tim advises commercial employers, professional players, clubs, and senior employees on contractual matters (including football manager contracts, bonus structures, and tailoring restrictive covenants), Tribunal litigation, and employment issues arising in corporate transactions. Tim advises leading global sports agencies on the employment law elements of acquisitions of other sport and media talent agencies.

Tim frequently acts for high-profile professional sports stars including players, managers, coaches, athletes, and media pundits. Tim has represented Premier League football managers, Premier League players and international sport stars (such as England footballers and New Zealand All Blacks).

Tim has acted for professional sports players and managers in regulatory employment disputes including in the Premier League Tribunal, Premier League Managers Arbitration Tribunal, and in RFU disciplinary hearings. Tim joined Clarke Willmott in 2007.

Experience

• Representing a Premier League Manager in the Premier League Managers Arbitration Tribunal in a multi-million breach of contract dispute.
• Advising the Rugby Players Association and the Premiership rugby playing squads for Worcester, Wasps, and London Irish following the insolvency of the clubs, successfully securing the maximum protective award compensation in the Employment Tribunal for the players: RPA Help Members of Stricken Clubs Claim Compensation from Employment Tribunal | The RPA
• Advising Premier League football, Premiership rugby players, and elite athletes on contractual matters, bonus disputes, settlement agreement terms, injury and incapacity terminations, and disciplinary and grievance matters. Tim provides player protection legal support to the Rugby Players Association.
• Drafting senior executive employment contracts, senior agent agreements, football manager contracts, Director of Rugby contracts, Director of Cricket contracts, and bespoke bonus structures.
• Advising on employment issues arising in corporate acquisitions, business reorganisations, harmonisation projects, collective redundancy consultation, and TUPE compliance. Advising on commercial employer compliance issues for their workforce and right to work in the UK matters.
• Defending employers in unfair dismissal, discrimination, whistleblowing, breach of contract and other Employment Tribunal claims. Acting on sport sector regulatory matters and employment investigations.
• Tim advises on equal opportunities matters, and provides executives and HR Directors with training on employment law. Tim teaches post-graduate Masters students Sport and Employment law at the University of Bath and is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association.