About Everest Sports Law
A Belgian sports law practice with international reach.
Everest Sports Law is the sports department of Everest, a recognised Belgian business law firm with offices in Ghent, Brussels, Antwerp and Hasselt. When you look for a sports lawyer in Belgium, you reach a team that works on sport every day and knows the federations, the regulations and the deadlines from the inside.
We act before the Belgian federations and their disciplinary bodies, before the Belgian Court of Arbitration for Sport and the Flemish Sports Tribunal, and in anti-doping files before NADO Vlaanderen and ONAD. Internationally we handle FIFA and UEFA proceedings, WADA Code cases and arbitration before the CAS in Lausanne. The Legal 500 has ranked the practice every year since 2021.
End-to-end legal support
From contract review and negotiation to proceedings and arbitration, we run the file from start to finish.
Pragmatic and efficient approach
Concrete solutions, clear advice and swift action when a federation deadline leaves you little time.
Unique cross-pollination
Embedded in a large firm, so tax, employment and corporate specialists sit one door away.
Who we help
Who we work for
Whether you are a professional athlete, a sports club, a federation or another stakeholder, Everest Sports Law is here for you. Read more about the areas of sports law we cover.
Athletes
Amateur and professional athletes, for contract negotiations, disciplinary proceedings, doping cases and every legal challenge in their career.
Sports clubs
From non-profits to professionally structured companies. Clubs meet complex legal questions fast, from club licensing to player contracts.
Sports federations ↗
Organisations that carry a heavy legal responsibility for drawing up and enforcing their regulations and governance.
Sports agents ↗
Player agents, sports agents and football intermediaries sit between the athlete and the club. We draft your mandates and defend your commission.
Other sports stakeholders
Coaches, referees, agents, sponsors, organisers and government bodies. Everyone active in sport can turn to us.
Recognition
What others say
Tom De Mul, Gersh
Mathieu Baert is easily accessible, has a personal approach and a thorough knowledge of the sports-business.
The Legal 500, 2026
Standing out for its ‘professionalism, proactivity, and deep knowledge of the sports industry’, Everest demonstrates a specialist and multi-disciplinary approach toward the sports sector. The practice is led by Mathieu Baert, who is a key port of call among international sports agencies, individual elite teams and athletes, and major leagues and federations. Baert advises on and handles disputes regarding a wide range of matters, including transfers and contract negotiations, competition issues, and anti-corruption investigations and proceedings.
The Legal 500, 2025
Everest’s practice is commended for its ‘pragmatic working and good knowledge of the sports law industry’. Leading the team, which is commended for its ‘subject knowledge and drive’, is Mathieu Baert, who ‘stands out for his deep expertise, responsiveness, and strong client relationships’.
The Legal 500, 2024
The Everest sports team combines strong expertise in sports law with advice that is always clear and practical. What I appreciate most is that they don’t just stick to the beaten path, but really think along with me on alternative solutions that might be a better fit for my case.
The Legal 500, 2023
Everest’s team of ‘dedicated lawyers’ has an exclusive focus on sports and is active across an array of advisory and contentious work…
The Legal 500, 2022
Mathieu Baert and Fien Schreurs are a formidable combination – always available to clients with superb attention to detail.
The Legal 500, 2021
Clients also recognise senior associate Mathieu Baert as ‘extremely professional and knowledgeable’ in sports-based crime and compliance.
