A sports law attorney advises clubs, athletes, federations, and sponsors on the legal dimension of sport: player and sponsorship contracts, transfers, disciplinary regimes, and dispute resolution before sports bodies and the CAS. At KNR Abogados we bring corporate, labor, and intellectual property law together at the service of the sports industry.
Sport as a regulated industry
Professional sport combines unusual regulatory regimes: the General Law of Physical Culture and Sport, the statutes and regulations of national and international federations (FIFA, FIBA, WBC), the special chapter on professional sport in the Federal Labor Law, and sport’s own justice system — from disciplinary commissions to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne. Operating without knowing them exposes clubs and athletes to sanctions and unenforceable contracts.
From contract to arbitration
We draft and negotiate sports services contracts, federative rights documents, transfers, buy-out clauses, and sponsorship and image agreements — where personality rights and intellectual property converge. When disputes arise, we represent our clients before national sports justice bodies and in international arbitration.
This content is informational and does not constitute legal advice. Every case requires individual analysis.
Sports contracts
Athlete and coaching staff contracts, transfers and federative rights, termination clauses, and training compensation.
Sponsorship and image
Sponsorship agreements, licensing of sports trademarks, and exploitation of athletes' and clubs' image rights.
Sports discipline
Defense in disciplinary proceedings before commissions and federations, including doping and eligibility cases.
Sports arbitration
Representation in disputes before national sports justice bodies and the CAS.
Club corporate structure
Incorporation and governance of clubs, academies, and promoters, and compliance before federations and leagues.
Resolvemos tus dudas
Do professional athletes have labor rights in Mexico?
Yes. The Federal Labor Law devotes a special chapter to professional athletes: their relationship with the club is a labor relationship, with particular rules on salary, working hours, transfers, and termination. Many transfer and termination disputes are won or lost by ignoring that dual labor-sports nature.
What is the CAS and when does it intervene?
It is the Court of Arbitration for Sport, seated in Lausanne — the last instance for international sports disputes: FIFA transfers, doping, Olympic eligibility. Cases reach it through arbitration clauses in statutes and contracts, with strict appeal deadlines (usually 21 days).
How do I protect my club's brand or my name as an athlete?
By registering the club's trademark, the athlete's name and, where applicable, signature or nickname before the IMPI, and regulating image use by contract. Without registrations and contracts, merchandising and sponsorships become hard to defend against third parties.
Anticipate. Protect. Scale.
Free legal assessment
Answer a short questionnaire (under 2 minutes) and our team will send you an assessment of your compliance and a strategic proposal for your operations in Mexico.
