Jamie provides specialist legal advice to the sports, events and entertainment industries. His expertise extends across motorsport, rugby, cricket, golf and football, as well as Olympic sports including athletics, rowing, and alpine and freestyle skiing. He also advises on legal issues connected with a wide range of live events, as well as providing transactional and litigation advice to talent agencies, high-profile actors, television and sports personalities. Jamie’s wider expertise includes advising on legal matters relating to art and antiques and, in particular, classic, vintage and historic cars.
Jamie is a CEDR accredited mediator and has wide-ranging experience of High Court and County Court proceedings, as well as national and international arbitration, mediation and national and international sports tribunals. He is also Chair of Snowsport England and an RFU Registered Agent.
Expertise
Sports
- Player, driver and coaching contracts
- Management, agency and performance agreements
- Image rights, personality rights and privacy
- Transfers, transfer disputes and career progression issues
- Restraint of trade
- Sponsorship, endorsement, merchandising agreements
- Television and media engagements
- Brand and reputation management
- Media relations and crisis management
- Sports events and event management
- Event production, sponsorship and supply agreements
- Commercial issues including strategic alliances
- Ambush marketing
- Championship entry agreements
- Championship and governing bodies’ regulations
- Advising regulatory and representative bodies in relation to corporate governance, talent selection and rule changes
- Insurance matters
- Career-ending sports injuries
- Regulatory and disciplinary matters
- Disciplinary hearings and sports dispute resolution and litigation
- Sports-related arbitration and mediation
Events
- Event production, management and licence agreements
- Joint venture arrangements
- Co-branding partnerships
- Venue hire and co-location agreements
- Merchandising and brand licensing
- Supplier/vendor contracts
- Entertainment and participation agreements
- Performer agreements and artist riders
- Hosting and joint marketing agreements
- Ticketing and hospitality
- Sponsorship and advertising agreements
- Ambush marketing
- TV format and broadcasting deals
- Licensing and merchandising
- Rights creation and clearance
- Audio-visual exploitation
- Prevention of ambush marketing
- Unofficial hospitality and ticket sales
- Anti-counterfeiting measures
- Intellectual property
- Rights creation and audio, audio-visual and digital media exploitation including free-to-air, satellite and digital broadcasting
Entertainment
- Management, promoter and performance contracts
- Commissioning, production, recording and programming agreements
- Sponsorship, endorsement, licensing and merchandising
- Touring/event agreements
- Film, TV and online agreements
- Intellectual property protection including image rights
- Rights creation and acquisition and audio, audio-visual and digital media exploitation
- Formatting and distribution
- Revenue share agreements
- Brand and reputation management
- Media relations and crisis management
- Privacy and defamation
- Writer’s agreements
- Book and publishing agreements
- Regulatory and compliance
- Copyright infringement claims
- Breach of contract claims
- Management disputes
- Music disputes
- Film and television disputes
- Royalty audit claims
- Breach of confidence claims
- Passing off claims
- Employment disputes
- Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and mediation
Art and Antiques
- Sale and acquisition of artworks, antiquities and classic and historic cars through private treaty or at auction
- Drafting agency, consignment, commissioning, and sale agreements
- Advising on standard consignment terms and conditions
- Risk management and pre- and post-acquisition due diligence
- Investigation of title and provenance
- Advising on Artist’s Resale Right Regulations
- Disputes concerning provenance, condition, authenticity and ownership and establishing title
- Restoration and race preparation disputes
- Litigation related to dual identity cars, replicas, fakes and recreations
- Drafting and advising on terms and conditions (both for use at auction and for private treaty sales)
- Resolving disputes relating to title and non-payment of lots
- Advising collectors on a range of commercial issues affecting classic and vintage cars
- Legal issues associated with the loan of art works
- Advising on issues relating to the CITES Convention
- Insurance disputes
- Intellectual property
- Online bidding, internet trading and distance selling
- Professional negligence disputes
- Regulatory and compliance issues
Marine/Travel and Tourism
- Merchandising and sponsorship
- Venue hire and charter agreements
- Passenger illness claims
- Passenger and crew accident and injury claims
- Cruise ship compensation claims
- Contractual disputes
- Tour operator liability
- Disputes under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangement Regulations 2018
Mediation
- Driver, player and athlete agreements
- Management agreements
- Sponsorship agreements
- Partnership disputes
- Contractual claims
- Director disputes
- Unfair prejudice and shareholder disputes
- Family business disputes
Agriculture
- Supplied terms and conditions to English Willow in relation to the planting of cricket ball willow trees and supply of cut timber to cricket bat manufacturers.
- Acted in relation to a family farm dispute which settled at mediation.
- Instructed in relation to a dispute concerning the supply of substandard bare root and root-ball trees.
- Acted for a leading landscape gardener in relation to a dispute with a client.
- Negotiated an event agreement between a country estate and event management agreement for an obstacle and mud run over farm land.
- Advised Eager Drinks in relation to a pressing contract for the production of UK-grown organic fruit juice.
- Negotiated a sponsorship agreement between a motorsport team and Norfolk-based beetroot grower in relation to the promotion of a beetroot-based energy drink.
- Drafted a social media influencer agreement, linked to the endorsement of gardening equipment, for a world-renowned florist, author and designer.
Experience
Motorsport
- Advised an ex-F1 race engineer in relation to a dispute with an international motorsport brand resulting in settlement without recourse to litigation.
- Instructed by an international sports car team in relation to the termination of a driver contract with a high-profile ex-F1 driver.
- Represented leading brand experience agency Velocity Experience in relation to its successful appointment to design and operate the W HQ hospitality experience for the W Series.
- Provided multiple driver agreements for a leading factory-supported GT team.
- Advised the vendors of a British-based F2 team on the sale of its assets and assignment of the team’s Championship entry to a leading German motorsport brand.
- Lead contact for potential purchasers on the acquisition of a high-profile F1 team and co-ordinating a multidisciplinary legal team.
- Drafted and negotiated a sponsorship agreement with a title sponsor of an F1 team.
- Negotiated the terms of a consultancy agreement with a leading multi-championship-winning F1 team.
- Advised on the terms of a sponsorship agreement for a team competing in the Le Mans 24 Hour event.
- Led a multi-disciplinary team advising Northamptonshire County Council on a £10,000,000 loan to Silverstone Circuits Limited, which helped to fund the redevelopment of the track and its pit and paddock area.
- Advised on a joint venture between a British motorsport team and ex-F1 Driver Mark Webber.
- Provided quasi in-house legal function for a leading international motorsport team, including advising on all legal issues including driver and test contracts, engine and chassis supply agreements, title and second tier sponsorship, general brand management, insurance, corporate governance and employment-related matters.
- Delivered wide-ranging legal and operational support to the Young Racing Driver Academy.
- Advised a Red Bull Junior Team driver on contractual issues and image rights.
- Instructed by riders in relation to participation and sponsorship agreements connected with national and international motorcycle racing.
- Provided advice to a leading motorsport manager on immigration-related issues and successfully managed the ensuing Tier 2 visa process.
- Drafted and negotiated a sponsorship agreement for a Porsche Carrera Cup GB Scholar, and advising on media issues and the retention of image rights.
- Instructed by a number of leading young drivers, including McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver finalists and BRDC Rising Stars, and also by driver managers and management companies to draft and negotiate driver management agreements.
- Resolved a contractual dispute involving an F1 driver.
- Handling a contractual dispute involving a young driver and a leading team concerning his participation in the European F3 Open Championship.
- Advised a rider in relation to a contractual dispute with a leading British Superbike motorsport team.
- Represented drivers at Motorsport UK (previously MSC) National Court Disciplinary Hearings and Motorsport UK (previously MSC) National Court Tribunals.
- Acted for Mitsubishi Motors UK (MMUK) in relation to an MSC National Court Eligibility Appeal in relation to the Stewards’ decision to exclude the Mitsubishi Evo IX works rally car from the British Rally Championship on technical grounds.
- Retained in relation to the successful MSC National Court Appeal to overturn the Stewards Decision concerning a 24 Hours race at Silverstone.
- Represented two leading Blancpain GT teams at separate successful hearings in front of the Royal Automobile Club of Belgium Tribunal.
Olympic
- Negotiated a VIP hospitality agreement for Tokyo 2020 and also an agreement for the operation of Team GB House.
- Represented and negotiated partnership and ambassadorial opportunities for three members of the men’s coxless four representing GB at the Rio Olympics in 2016 and also a leading 110m hurdler in run-up to London 2012.
- Advised on the legal aspects of the tender for the provision of design and fit-out services in respect of temporary hospitality structures at the Olympic Park, Eton Dorney Lake, St. James Park, London (Horse Guards Parade) and Greenwich Park for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
- Negotiated brand ambassador sponsorship for Gorgs Geikie (2012 Olympian, double Commonwealth Bronze Medallist).
- Advised on the legal aspects of the production of a London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay Festival.
- Formed part of a beach volleyball selection appeal tribunal for London 2012.
Rugby
- Advised leading global production and event management company TBA plc (TBA) in relation to the 2019 and 2015 Rugby World Cup tender processes and its successful appointment to work alongside IMG to help deliver the Worldwide Partner (WWPs) Hospitality Programme at Twickenham and the Millennium Stadium (2015) and Tokyo (2019).
- Contract negotiations with the British Lions regarding the management and live production on Sky Sports of the announcement of the British Lions Squad and a British Lions leaving dinner held at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
- Provided wide-ranging legal advice to professional rugby players at all levels including academy players and also those making the transition at the end of their playing careers.
- Conducted negotiations with Premiership, Championship and National League One clubs on behalf of professional rugby players.
- Acted for a player regarding the termination of his contract from a leading rugby union club.
- Advised a Premiership Rugby Club in relation to the termination of both player and coach contracts.
- Advised the shareholders of a Championship club in relation to a s.994 Companies Act 2006 dispute.
Football
- Advised in relation to legal aspects the design, production and management of The FA Partners’ Hospitality for invited FA Club guests on match days at Wembley Stadium.
- Acted for a leading events management company in relation to the Guinness Pan African Football Programme and staging of a Guinness-sponsored International Friendly Football Match in Africa, including drafting, negotiating and finalising agreements with FIFA registered match agents, national football associations, high-profile celebrity ambassadors and free-to-air and satellite broadcasters.
- Advised on the live television launch of the Wembley arch which involved Tony Blair and David Beckham.
- Instructed in relation to the launch of a new body care antiperspirant and connected one-off urban football experience in Old Spitalfields Market, London.
- Advised a high-profile foreign national in relation to an Ambassador Agreement with a Premiership Football Club. Drafted agreement and negotiated the agreement and advised on sponsorship rights.
- Negotiated with celebrity football talent and their representatives to assist with the delivery of various brand engagements across a portfolio of key developing markets across Africa and Asia.
- Advised a football club in relation to a charge of misconduct and the threat of exclusion from the league, which was successfully defended at a subsequent league disciplinary hearing.
- Acted for a leading events management company in relation to the staging of an International Friendly Football Match in Nigeria, including drafting, negotiating and finalising agreements with FIFA registered match agents, national football associations, high-profile celebrity ambassadors and free-to-air and satellite broadcasters.
Cricket
- Acted for a test cricketer in relation to a dispute with his agent resolving the matter without recourse to litigation.
- Represented a leading member of the England women’s cricket team in all on and off the field matters.
- Provided commercial advice to a multiple Championship-winning first-class county and subsequently advised the same county in relation to an ECB Appeal.
- Advised the first team coach of a leading county cricket club regarding his exit from the club.
- Instructed by a cricket league to advise on the application of Kolpak Regulations.
Other Sports
- Advised a boxer and holder of British and Commonwealth Middleweight titles on his title defence obligations.
- Advised Snowsport England on corporate governance issues.
- Provided start-up and ongoing legal support to The French Snowsports Academy which operates in Serre Chevalier and trains aspiring ski instructors for the entry-level examinations for the French National Ski Instructor’s Diploma as well as offering ski snowboarding and telemarking courses.
- Instructed by the directors of RockSolid Race and Color Obstacle Rush to provide wide-ranging legal advice in relation to the staging of their events.
- Carried out contractual negotiations for an America’s Cup crew member.
- Retained by individuals involved in sport in relation to media comment and engagements.
Art & Antiques
- Acted for a collector in relation to the acquisition and restoration of a vintage Bentley.
- Instructed by a family trust in relation to a provenance dispute with a leading international auction house.
- Represented the consignor of a collection of inherited art works in negotiations with various auction houses.
- Acted for the owner of a classic car in a dispute with insurers concerning the total loss of the vehicle in a fire.
- Instructed on behalf of a leading international car collector in relation to a replica of his unique and valuable vehicle being sold with highly misleading provenance at auction.
- Resolved a dispute with restorers on behalf of a well-known personality.
- Advised a client on auction-house terms and conditions.
- Drafted terms and conditions for an antiques dealer.
- Acted for an international collector in connection to the acquisition of an extensive collection of arms and armour.
- Advised the owners of a country estate in relation to a dispute with insurers following a burglary.
- Resolved a dispute with carriers relating to serious damage caused to a vintage Steinway piano.
- Advised a photographer in relation to a copyright dispute.
In-House
- Provided quasi in-house legal function for an international motorsport team including advising on all legal issues including driver and test contracts, engine and chassis supply agreements, title and second-tier sponsorship, general brand management, insurance, corporate governance and employment-related matters. Also advised in relation to (and negotiated) the non-exclusive right to use a driver’s image in the team’s promotional and merchandising material.
- Acted as an in-house lawyer for an international events company on multiple successful acquisitions.
- Provided an all-encompassing in-house legal service to the Young Racing Driver Academy.
- Fulfilled an in-house legal role for international sports management consultancy The Business of Sport Limited.
- Provided in-house legal support to a custom injection moulding and mould-making business.
Marine
- Worked as part of a large team of lawyers and experts advising a Singaporean client in connection with the largest and longest-running shipping arbitration in London relating to the termination of a complex ship conversion contract.
- Represented a major UK passenger ferry operator and its insurers in connection with a serious incident on board one of its ferries. In addition to being involved in the initial casualty response as part of the Emergency Response Team, subsequently advised the clients in relation to the personal injury claims brought against them, one of which involved ground-breaking PTSD allegations.
- Provided advice to an international cruise line regarding the establishment of a permanent office in the UK, and in connection with the difficulties associated with using protected words in the company name.
- Defended a large group action of personal injury claims brought against Greek clients following an alleged food poisoning incident on board one of their cruise ships. Negotiated pre-trial settlement of all of the claims and successfully resolved the charterer’s associated loss of profit claim and also the costs aspects stemming from the personal injury claims.
- Involved in the procurement of cruise ships as accommodation for the Olympic Games.
- Investigated and prosecuted claims for Trinity House relating to damage caused to buoys and navigation aids.
Dispute Resolution
- Part of the legal team handling the High Court proceedings stemming from the Ladbroke Grove rail crash on behalf of Network Rail.
- Represented a large group of individuals in respect of their claims against a company that provided extended motor warranties and to which they were contracted as agents, that was put into liquidation by its parent company, a leading international motor manufacturer.
- Advised on various procurement-related issues and on EC environmental regulations and their adoption into English law.
- Instituted protective proceedings in relation to a £1.7m dispute centring on various indemnities and warranties given under a sale and purchase agreement.
- Provided advice to HSBC on the enforcement of judgements and arbitration awards in various jurisdictions.
Events
- Advised leading global production and event management company TBA plc (TBA) in relation to the 2019 and 2015 Rugby World Cup tender processes and its successful appointment to work alongside IMG to help deliver the Worldwide Partner (WWPs) Hospitality Programme at Twickenham and the Millennium Stadium (2015) and Tokyo (2019).
- Represented leading brand experience agency Velocity Experience in relation to its successful appointment to design and operate the W HQ hospitality experience for the W Series.
- Negotiated a VIP hospitality agreement for Tokyo 2020 and also an agreement for the operation of Team GB House.
- Acted for a leading events management company in relation to the Guinness Pan African Football Programme and staging of a Guinness-sponsored International Friendly Football Match in Africa, including drafting, negotiating and finalising agreements with FIFA registered match agents, national football associations, high-profile celebrity ambassadors and free-to-air and satellite broadcasters.
- Advised on the legal aspects of the tender for the provision of design and fit-out services in respect of temporary hospitality structures at the Olympic Park, Eton Dorney Lake, St. James Park, London (Horse Guards Parade) and Greenwich Park for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
- Advised in relation to legal aspects of the design, production and management of The FA Partners’ Hospitality for invited FA Club guests on match days at Wembley Stadium.
- Advised on the live television launch of the Wembley arch which involved Tony Blair and David Beckham.
- Acted for a leading events management company in relation to the staging of an International Friendly Football Match in Nigeria, which included drafting, negotiating and finalising agreements with FIFA registered match agents, national football associations, high-profile celebrity ambassadors and free-to-air and satellite broadcasters.
- Instructed in relation to the launch of a new body care antiperspirant and connected one-off urban football experience in Old Spitalfields Market, London.
- Advised on contractual matters for a leading events management company connected with the launch of David Beckham’s exclusive Haig Club Whiskey.
- Advised on the creation of a temporary Ralph Lauren residence for guests to be attracted and entertained throughout Wimbledon.
- Provided legal support in relation to TBA’s involvement in the design, production and broadcast of the Guinness 250 live concert in Lagos, Nigeria.
- Advised TBA in relation to the pitch process and its subsequent role to design, produce and deliver an Autumn Winter 2015 Sales launch event for Clarks.
- Provided legal support in relation to TBA’s involvement in the design, production and broadcast of the Guinness 250 live concert in Lagos, Nigeria, featuring international star Sean Paul as well as D’Banj and major local artistes and also the placement of brand Fan Parks in Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria, road shows and associated international football matches.
- Legal input on the design, production and delivery of a series of UK-wide professional seller events for eBay in 2015, to help the leading global ecommerce brand to restate its position as the business “partner of choice” for professional sellers focusing on specific sectors including Technology, Home and Garden and Fashion.
- Represented longstanding client TBA in relation to all legal matters connected with its appointment by Diageo to design and produce showcase events in New York, Madrid and London to relaunch the Tanqueray brand.
Entertainment
- Negotiated agreements and artist riders for private concerts involving Bryan Ferry, Gary Barlow and CeeLo Green.
- Instructed to advise on the terms of a production agreement relating to the UK tour of the play “Morecambe”.
- Drafted and negotiated brand ambassador agreements for television personalities.
- Advised the Kenny Everett Estate on the terms of an agreement relating to Hello, Darlings!: The Authorised Biography of Kenny Everett.
- Drafted an engagement contract and associated terms and conditions for a talent management agency.
- Advised on a royalty contract for a well-known actress, singer and television personality.
- Advised on the terms of an inducement letter with Saatchi & Saatchi.
- Provided advice to a leading personality in relation to a Channel 4 exclusivity deal.
- Negotiated the terms of a consultancy agreement for a leading international entertainer.
- Drafted and negotiated the terms of multiple artiste engagement agreements.
- Advised on a terms of a publishing agreement.
- Negotiated the terms of a talent engagement agreement for a supermarket chain’s annual supplier dinner.
- Drafted a writer’s collaboration agreement for a leading impressionist and comedian.
- Advised on the terms of a content supply agreement with an internet streaming provider.
- Drafted numerous non-disclosure agreements for artistes and entertainers.
- Acted for a leading presenter and entertainer in relation to a dispute involving the unauthorised use of his image.
- Acted for a leading talent agency in relation to the application and enforcement of its disciplinary and grievance procedures.
- Represented a talent agency in relation to a dispute with a well-known television personality.
- Advised on reputational issues involving television personalities.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Recognised by The Legal 500 (2022-2023) for Sport
Recognised by The Legal 500 2022 for Media & Entertainment
“Jamie Horner is an outstanding practitioner in the sports sector, with enviable experience in many fields, including motor racing.” The Legal 500 2023
“The Sport’s practice includes the excellent Jamie Horner.” The Legal 500 2023
“Jamie Horner is a stand out expert in the motor racing field. An excellent advocate as well as technical lawyer, he is greatly respected (and liked) by clients and peers alike.” The Legal 500 2022
‘extremely efficient and thorough’, and provides ‘first-class advice and guidance’ (reference to Ashfords Sports Team) Legal 500
Career
Jamie qualified as a solicitor in 1999. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2020, he worked at the following firms:
- Ashfords
- Kennedys
- Norton Rose Fulbright