James Tobias

James specialises in advising clients at the intersect of sports, media and technology and has broad experience advising clients across the sports and media industries on all commercial matters.

James has a particular expertise in media rights exploitation and distribution, the production and acquisition of content, high-value sponsorship and endorsement agreements and complex contractual joint venture arrangements. James also regularly advises clients on Web3 strategy, the application of digital technologies to the sports industry and the establishment and delivery of new sports tournaments and competitions.

James advises a range of stakeholders across the sports, esports and media industries, including international federations, national governing bodies, clubs, brands, broadcasters, production companies, digital platform operators, technology start-ups, sponsorship agencies and influencers. Prior to joining Onside Law in 2019, James trained and worked in the Entertainment and Media Group at Reed Smith where he undertook multiple client secondments, giving him a valuable insight into the internal pressures and sensitivities facing clients and how to effectively advise them.

James sits on the advisory board of Street League, a charity that uses sports programmes to help unemployed young people move into work and training.

Away from work, James can usually be found watching Chelsea lurch between trophies (and managers) and threatening to return to any one of the basketball court, football pitch or tennis court.