Sports Law

Sports Law

Protecting Talent. Supporting the Game.

Sport is more than passion; it is a highly regulated, commercial, and competitive global ecosystem built on contracts, governance structures, regulatory compliance, and high-stakes decision-making. At Hansen Advocates, our Sports Law practice provides strategic, results-driven legal support to athletes, sports federations, clubs, sponsors, and governing bodies, ensuring that their interests are fully protected both on and off the field.

We combine deep legal expertise with a practical understanding of the sports industry, enabling us to advise clients on governance, eligibility, disciplinary proceedings, contractual disputes, anti-doping matters, and commercial arrangements within the sporting sector. Our approach is tailored to the fast-paced and reputationally sensitive nature of sports law, where outcomes often extend beyond the courtroom or tribunal.

Our firm has advised and continues to support leading sports federations, including the Kenya Rugby Union, as well as other sporting bodies and organisations within Kenya’s dynamic sports landscape. We also represent and advocate for athletes and players in disciplinary and contractual disputes before the Sports Disputes Tribunal in Kenya, ensuring that their rights are protected and their careers safeguarded.

In addition, we have extensive experience in international sports dispute resolution, having appeared before global sporting tribunals, including the World Rugby Anti-Doping Tribunal, where we have successfully represented clients in complex, high-profile regulatory and disciplinary proceedings. These engagements demonstrate our capability to operate at both national and international levels of sports law and governance.

Our services cover sports contracts and negotiations, athlete representation agreements, disciplinary hearings, doping allegations and defence, sports governance advisory, sponsorship and endorsement agreements, image rights protection, and dispute resolution before sports tribunals and arbitration panels. We also advise sports organisations on regulatory compliance, internal governance frameworks, and risk management strategies.

At Hansen Advocates, we understand that careers, reputations, and institutional integrity in sport can be determined by legal outcomes. We therefore approach every matter with precision, urgency, confidentiality, and a strong commitment to achieving fair and strategic results for our clients.

Whether you are an athlete, federation, club, or sponsor, we provide trusted legal representation designed to protect your interests, preserve your reputation, and support your success in both local and international sporting arenas.

Play hard. We’ll handle the rules.

Dedicated to Protecting Your Rights and Interests

Our Expertise

Player Contracts & Transfers

We draft, review, and negotiate player contracts and transfer agreements, ensuring fairness, compliance, and long-term security.

Governance & Compliance

We advise sports organizations on governance structures, regulatory frameworks, and compliance with local and international sporting bodies.

Sponsorship & Commercial Agreements

We structure and negotiate sponsorship, endorsement, and broadcasting agreements that protect value and enhance commercial success.

Dispute Resolution & Disciplinary Matters

We represent clients in disputes involving contracts, disciplinary actions, and regulatory breaches, offering strong advocacy and strategic solutions.

Anti-Doping & Ethics

We provide legal support in doping-related matters and ethical compliance, ensuring fair process and protection of reputations.

Image Rights & Intellectual Property

We help athletes and organizations manage and protect image rights, branding, and related intellectual property.

Dedicated to Protecting Your Rights and Interests

Why Choose Our Firm

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Excellent Track RecordClient-Centered Approach

We take time to understand your unique needs and tailor solutions specifically for you.

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Expert Legal Insight

Our team brings deep knowledge and practical experience across multiple areas of law.

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Results-Driven

We focus on delivering outcomes that matter, with strategies designed for success.

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Your Legal Partner in Sport

Whether you are negotiating a contract, managing a dispute, or building a sports brand, Hansen Advocates provides the legal expertise you need to compete with confidence.

Contact us today to protect your interests and elevate your success in sport.

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Hansen Omido, CPM
Managing Partner

 

Hansen Omido, CPM serves as the Managing Partner of the firm and is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with extensive experience in corporate and commercial law, dispute resolution, real estate and project financing, banking and financial services, succession and estate planning, mediation, public policy development, and legal research. He is recognised for combining strong legal acumen with strategic commercial insight, delivering practical, high-impact legal solutions while driving excellence across the firm.

Hansen has built a diverse and impactful legal career working with leading law firms including MAK & Partners Advocates LLP, Mosioma & Co. Advocates, and Ashitiva Advocates LLP. Through these roles, he has developed deep expertise in corporate advisory, real estate transactions, dispute resolution, and financial sector legal services, earning a reputation as a trusted advisor to businesses, investors, financial institutions, and families.

He has successfully led the restructuring of companies with a combined asset base exceeding Kshs. 800 million, developed and advised on family trust structures holding assets worth over USD 20 million, and overseen complex real estate and development projects valued at more than Kshs. 3 billion. Notably, he structured and provided legal oversight for a Kshs. 400 million residential development project for Kenya Airways staff, ensuring regulatory compliance, transaction efficiency, risk mitigation, and successful project execution.

He has also developed strong expertise in banking and financial services law, having perfected securities and structured transactions for leading financial institutions including KCB Bank, Kingdom Bank, Victoria Commercial Bank, UNFCU, and UNSACCO. He regularly advises and represents financial institutions in commercial transactions, recovery proceedings, and complex disputes, reinforcing his standing as a reliable legal and commercial strategist.

Hansen is also deeply committed to access to justice and public interest advocacy. He has provided pro bono legal representation in matters involving gender-based violence, discrimination against persons living with HIV, and other vulnerable groups, demonstrating a strong commitment to social justice, human rights, and community empowerment.

Beyond legal practice, Hansen holds key leadership roles in sports governance. He serves as Chairman of Stingers Rugby Club and Secretary to the Kenya Rugby Union Constitution Review Committee, where he contributes to institutional reform, governance strengthening, and policy development within Kenyan rugby.

He holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree, a Postgraduate Diploma in Law, a Master of Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy, and is a Certified Professional Mediator (CPM).

Here’s a fun twist: when he’s not structuring multimillion-dollar transactions, shaping succession plans, or arguing complex legal matters, Hansen might just surprise you with his hidden talent. He is a skilled rapper with a knack for dropping bars as smooth as his courtroom arguments. With an unrivaled blend of professionalism, creativity, and a touch of rhythm, Hansen is redefining what it means to lead, inspire, and make a lasting impact

Professional Affiliations

  • East Africa Law Society
  • Law Society of Kenya

Email

hansen@hansenadvocates.com

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Valerie Cherono, CPM
Partner | Head of Strategy

Valerie Cherono is a Partner and the Head of Strategy at Hansen Advocates, and an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with a diverse and dynamic legal background spanning commercial law, conveyancing, intellectual property, entertainment law, and creative economy advisory. She is widely recognised for her innovative, solutions-driven approach to legal practice and her ability to translate complex legal challenges into clear, actionable strategies.

Before joining Hansen Advocates, Valerie built her legal foundation at Robson Harris Advocates LLP, where she gained extensive experience in legal advisory, transactional work, and strategic client engagement. Her time there played a key role in shaping her practical, commercially aware approach to legal practice and strengthened her ability to deliver high-quality legal solutions in fast-paced environments.

At the firm, Valerie leads the firm's strategic direction, ensuring that clients benefit from well-structured, forward-thinking legal strategies aligned with their commercial and operational objectives. She is known for developing step-by-step legal and business strategies that transform legal challenges into opportunities for growth, compliance, and long-term sustainability.

Her practice experience includes managing high-value property transactions worth millions of shillings, structuring and perfecting securities for leading financial institutions with portfolios exceeding Ksh 5 billion, and advising on the formation and structuring of sustainable business entities. She also has strong expertise in intellectual property law, supporting creatives, innovators, and businesses in protecting, commercialising, and leveraging their intellectual property assets.

Valerie has a particular passion for the creative economy, content creation industry, and entertainment sector, where she advises clients on brand protection, content monetisation, contracts, licensing, and digital platform legal frameworks. Her work in this space reflects her commitment to supporting innovation and the growth of Kenya's creative and digital industries.

When she's not busy being a legal superhero, Valerie's life is just as colorful. A founding force behind Kenya's first online radio station dedicated solely to Kenyan music, Radio 254, she even took a spin as a radio presenter. Outside the office, she loves podcasting, traveling, and devouring books, and her legendary skills in the kitchen? Let's just say Michelin stars better watch out.

With her dynamic mix of professionalism, creativity, and a dash of fun, Valerie Cherono isn't just shaping the legal landscape; she's making it her playground. If you're looking for legal excellence with a touch of flair, Valerie's the one to ring.

Professional Affiliations

  • East Africa Law Society
  • Law Society of Kenya

Email

valerie@hansenadvocates.com

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Francis Kariuki Kinuthia
Director of Operations

Francis Kariuki Kinuthia serves as the Director of Operations, where he leads the firm's operational strategy, business processes, and administrative functions to ensure seamless service delivery and sustainable growth. As the driving force behind the firm's operational excellence, he is responsible for optimizing workflows, enhancing efficiency, coordinating cross-functional teams, and ensuring that the firm's strategic objectives are effectively translated into measurable outcomes.

With extensive experience in operations management, project execution, and organizational leadership, Francis brings a unique blend of strategic oversight and hands-on execution to the firm. He oversees internal operations, resource management, performance systems, client support functions, and process improvement initiatives, ensuring that the firm consistently delivers exceptional service while maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and efficiency.

Before joining the firm, Francis served in senior operational leadership roles, including as Director of Operations at Orca Agriculture Company in Israel, where he managed large-scale operations, coordinated multidisciplinary teams, and oversaw the implementation of systems designed to improve productivity, resource utilization, and organizational performance. His international experience provided him with valuable exposure to global best practices in operations management, strategic planning, and business process optimization. He further enhanced his expertise through advanced training at the Arava International Centre in Israel, gaining insights into innovative management systems, operational efficiency models, and large-scale project coordination.

Known for his structured, solutions-oriented, and results-driven approach, Francis works closely with the firm's leadership team to strengthen organizational capacity, improve operational performance, and support the firm's continued growth. His leadership philosophy is grounded in accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement, ensuring that Hansen Advocates LLP remains agile, efficient, and positioned to meet the evolving needs of its clients.

Away from the office, Francis is a former rugby player and an aspiring professional golfer. The transition from the teamwork and intensity of rugby to the precision and strategy of golf reflects the qualities he brings to leadership, discipline, resilience, focus, and a commitment to continuous growth. Whether driving operational excellence or pursuing personal goals, he approaches every challenge with determination, professionalism, and an unwavering pursuit of excellence.

Email: francis@hansenadvocates.com

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