How to build a successful career in sport

This interactive panel discussion and networking drinks evening brings together leading figures in the sport industry from across law, media, and business to provide insights on how you can develop long and successful career in the sports industry.

This event is to celebrate the launch of Daniel Geey’s new book ‘Build The Invisible’, an accessible guide that outlines his philosophy and shows how investing in yourself – building your invisible foundations – leads to a successful and fulfilling career.

Who should attend?

This seminar will be of interest to professionals, students and athletes looking to start, change or develop their career in sport.

Agenda

18:00 - 18:30 - Registration & welcome reception

18:30- 19:20 – How do you build a successful career in sport?

Our expert panel will share their experiences and take questions on how they broke into the sports sector, how they overcame obstacles to their career development, lessons they have learned and much more.

Speakers: 

1. Daniel Geey, Partner in the Sports Group at Sheridans.
2. Leon Mann MBE, broadcaster turned filmmaker, the founder of Black Collective of Media in Sport (BCOMS) and co-founder of the Football Black List and Tennis Black List.
3. John Mehrzad KC, Barrister & Arbitrator, Littleton Chambers.
4. Jane Purdon, Director, Women in Football and Chair, Professional Game Academy Audit Company. Former Head of Governance and Leadership at UK Sport, and Director of Governance at The Premier League.
5. Sean Cottrell (moderator), Co-founder & CEO at LawInSport.

19:20-20:30 - Drinks reception and networking

Price

This event is free for LawInSport Plus and Institutional Members and £30+VAT for non-Plus members.

You can register for Plus membership for as little as £25 per month or £156 for the year.

Students, if your institution has academic membership you can register for a free plus account by registering for a free account with your academic email address and this will be automatically upgraded within 24 hours.

If your institution does not have academic membership but you are on a full time course you can still receive a 50% discount on membership. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information. 

Current and former professional athletes are eligible for free Plus membership and full-time students are eligible for half price Plus membership.

PLEASE NOTE: there is a limited number of spaces available so tickets will be on a first come first served basis.

Speaker Bios

Daniel Geey, Partner in the Sports Group at Sheridans.

Daniel works with a variety of clubs and athletes helping them with transfers and contracts. He is the well known author of the book 'Done Deal ' and has recently published his new book 'Build The Invisible'. Daniel founded the fashion brand called ((Thirteen.)) to raise money for cancer research. Daniel is the Chairman of charity Football Aid and is a longstanding member of the LawInSport Editorial Board. 

Leon Mann MBE, broadcaster turned filmmaker, the founder of Black Collective of Media in Sport (BCOMS) and co-founder of the Football Black List and Tennis Black List.

He is a Director of Refresh Sports, which works to create world-class content for leading athletes, sports authorities, and brands, and provides professional advice on how to nurture authentic and inspiring film and campaigns for global audiences. Leon has helped hundreds, if not thousands of people to develop their careers in sport and media. Leon has worked tirelessly in advocating for more inclusive and diverse representation in sport and media across all levels.  

John Mehrzad KC, Barrister & Arbitrator, Littleton Chambers.

John is a former international rower for Ireland. John transitioned from the finance industry into law, being appointed silk in 2020 after just thirteen years’ practice at the Bar. He is the founder of the ‘Inspire’ Sports Law Initiative, which offers work experience and mentoring to athletes transitioning away from sport and those from under-represented backgrounds at the Bar.

Jane Purdon, Director, Women in Football and Chair, Professional Game Academy Audit Company. Former Head of Governance and Leadership at UK Sport, and Director of Governance at The Premier League.

Jane is a pioneering woman in football for over thirty years. After falling in love with the game as a child, she went on to work in football at the highest levels including at Sunderland AFC, the Premier League, and UK Sport. Jane is now a director of Women in Football and the chair of the Professional Game Academy Audit Company. She gave expert input into the UK government's 'Raising the bar - reframing the opportunity in women's football' into the future of women's football. Jane was recently awarded a distinction for her Master of Fine Arts in creative writing by Manchester Metropolitan University and recently authored and published her first book 'The Homecoming: The Lionesses and Beyond (Football Shorts)'.

Sean Cottrell (moderator), CEO at LawInSport.