Based in Paris. Service in Spanish.
Being a professional athlete means managing contracts, negotiating with clubs and brands, meeting tax obligations and, in many cases, adapting to a legal system that is entirely unfamiliar. At Winter Dávila & Associés, we support Spanish-speaking athletes in France and internationally so they can focus on their careers while we protect their legal interests.
Sports law is a highly specialized discipline that combines labor law, international law, taxation and federation regulations. A sports lawyer does more than draft contracts: they also take part in negotiations with clubs, manage disputes with federations, protect image rights and advise on the legal and tax structure best suited to each athlete.
More than 34 professional athletes represented since 2021“More than 34 professional athletes represented in football, rugby, tennis, cycling, athletics and basketball since 2021.”
We provide comprehensive legal advice to Spanish-speaking athletes, covering every area that affects their professional career:
Review and negotiation of sports employment contracts in France and abroad. Transfer and loan agreements, agent contracts, and defense in cases of unilateral termination or unpaid salaries and bonuses.
Negotiation of image rights agreements with brands and sponsors. Formation of companies to exploit image rights. Protection against unauthorized use of name or image.
Handling of visas and residence permits, registration with the French social security system, opening bank accounts, and advice on tax obligations for residents and non-residents.
We also represent athletes, clubs and agents before the FIFA Football Tribunal, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the ITIA, the BAT and the French national federations. More than 26 athletes represented in international arbitration proceedings since 2021.
Initial consultation
We review the athlete's situation: their contract, tax position, legal needs and career context. No obligation.
Contract review
We review the existing contract or legal situation and identify critical points, risks and opportunities for improvement.
Negotiation or action
We negotiate with the club, brand or agent, or initiate proceedings before the competent institution if the dispute is already underway.
Ongoing support
Taxation, corporate documentation, contract renewals and day-to-day questions for athletes who work with us over the long term.
Resolution and follow-up
Once the matter is resolved, we follow up to ensure compliance and the protection of the athlete's interests going forward.
Working with a generalist lawyer, or one without experience in sports law, can seriously jeopardize a claim or negotiation. FIFA regulations, CAS rules and national league regulations contain specificities that do not apply in other areas of law.
Some common mistakes we see in cases that reach us:
Signing contracts without specialized review. Sports contracts in France are subject to specific labor regulations and federation rules that a generalist lawyer does not always know.
Failing to claim commissions or salaries owed, due to unfamiliarity with the procedure before the competent institution.
Ignoring international taxation. Athletes who work in several countries face particular tax complexity that requires specific planning from the outset.
Our practice is dedicated to the legal support of Spanish-speaking athletes. We know FIFA regulations, CAS rules and national league regulations, and we have represented clients in football, rugby, tennis, cycling, athletics and basketball.
For a Spanish-speaking athlete arriving in France or facing a dispute in Europe, language should not be an additional barrier. We work in Spanish, French and English from Paris.
We know the French system from the inside: athletes’ social security, the specific fixed-term employment contracts used in professional sport, national federations and the legal environment surrounding professional sport in France.
And if the dispute reaches international bodies, we are there too. One of our founding partners is an accredited arbitrator at the CAS.
From Paris, in Spanish