webeeui-hero-2-colImage & Sponsorship
Image & Sponsorship: Promote and Protect Your Rights
Image contracts, sponsorship, or protection of your personal brand? We can help.
Today, an athlete's image represents significant economic value.
Image, name, voice, silhouette, signature... these attributes of your personality constitute an asset that needs to be structured, enhanced, and protected.
Poorly prepared negotiations, an unbalanced contract, or unauthorized use can permanently compromise your income and reputation.
Since 1973, Cabinet Bertrand has been helping athletes enhance and protect their image rights.
Our exclusive expertise in sports law enables us to negotiate balanced contracts, structure your image income, and defend your interests with commercial partners.
Sponsorship contracts, partnership agreements, creation of image companies, personal brand protection.
We are involved in every stage of promoting your image. Whether you are a professional athlete, a high-profile coach, or an up-and-coming athlete, we tailor our support to your situation and your goals.
webeeui-centered-3-colYour Goals
Your image and personal brand are assets to be promoted and protected. Whatever your situation, we support you in optimizing your income and securing your rights.
Can't find your project below? Contact us: every situation is unique.
Promoting Your Image
Would you like to commercially exploit your image, name, or reputation and maximize your income?
Relevant projects:
- Negotiation of image licensing agreements
- Exploitation of your personal attributes (name, voice, silhouette)
- Transfer of rights for advertising campaigns
- Monetization of your sporting reputation
- Contracts for participation in events
- …
Negotiation of partnerships
Are you entering into discussions with a sponsor, equipment manufacturer, or brand and want to secure your terms and conditions?
Relevant projects:
- Sponsorship and equipment supplier contracts
- Sponsorship and ambassador contracts
- Partnerships with brands (lifestyle, tech, luxury)
- Sports influencer contracts and product placements
- Negotiation of exclusivity clauses
- …
Protecting Your Personal Brand
Do you want to build and protect your brand identity, personal branding, or reputation?
Relevant projects:
- Trademark filing and registration (name, username, logo)
- Protection against counterfeiting and unauthorized use
- Domain name management and cybersquatting
- Defense of your e-reputation
- Use of your image in video games and NFTs
- …
Conflict and litigation management
Are you facing a conflict with a partner, misuse, or infringement of your rights?
Relevant projects:
- Conflicts between sponsors (exclusivity clauses)
- Collective image vs. individual image (national team, selections)
- Unauthorized use of your image
- Early termination of sponsorship contract
- Invasion of privacy and right to be forgotten
- …
Legal and tax structuring
Would you like to optimize the management and taxation of your image income?
Relevant projects:
- Creation of an image management company (SAS, EURL)
- Tax structuring of operating income (BIC, BNC, IS)
- Agreements between image company and employer club
- Asset optimization and holding companies
- International taxation of image income
- …
Audit of your current commitments
Have you already signed image or sponsorship contracts and want to check your rights, identify improvements, or prepare for renegotiation?
Projects concerned:
- Analysis of current image or sponsorship contracts
- Verification of exclusivity clauses and their scope
- Identification of exit or renegotiation options
- Preparation for partnership renewal
- Detection of unbalanced or potentially unfair clauses
- Aligning your commitments with your career development
- …
webeeui-left-split-toggleOur Support by Profile
Professional and High-Level Athletes
Who do we support?
- Team sports: Soccer, Basketball, Rugby, Handball, Volleyball, Hockey
- Individual sports: Tennis, Athletics, Cycling, Swimming, Boxing, Golf
- Professional eSports players and streamers
- Olympic and international athletes
Our services
- ✅ Image contract negotiation: Support in your discussions with sponsors and partners
- ✅ Contract drafting and auditing: Analysis and securing of your commercial commitments
- ✅ Protection of rights: Personal brand, privacy, e-reputation
- ✅ Tax structuring: Creation of image companies, income optimization
- ✅ Conflict management: Resolution of disputes with partners and third parties
Should you set up a company to manage your image income?
Setting up an image management company (usually an SAS or EURL) can offer significant tax and asset management advantages. It allows you to separate your sports income from your image income, optimize your tax situation, and structure your assets. We analyze your personal situation to determine whether this structure is appropriate and assist you in setting it up.
How can I protect my image on social media?
Social media represents both an opportunity for promotion and a risk of unauthorized exploitation. We advise you on the clauses to include in your digital partnership agreements, the protection of your content, the management of collaborations with brands, and recourse in the event of misuse of your image.
Coaches, Consultants, and Sports Personalities
Who do we support?
- Professional and national coaches
- Sports consultants and commentators
- Former athletes who have transitioned to new careers (ambassadors, speakers)
- High-profile physical and mental trainers
Our services
- ✅ Consultant and ambassador contracts: Negotiation and drafting
- ✅ Professional image protection: Methods, publications, media appearances
- ✅ Intellectual property: Copyright and content
- ✅ Media partnerships: Contracts with TV channels, podcasts, platforms
- ✅ Career transition: Leveraging post-competition notoriety
How can I leverage my reputation as a former athlete?
The transition of a high-level athlete offers many opportunities for promotion: brand ambassador, media consultant, speaker, entrepreneur. We support you in legally structuring these activities, negotiating appropriate contracts, and protecting your image in this new phase of your career.
Amateur Clubs and Sports Associations
Who do we support?
- Amateur clubs in all disciplines
- Local and regional sports associations
- Training centers and educational institutions
Our services
- ✅ Local partnership agreements: Sponsors, equipment manufacturers, local authorities
- ✅ Player image rights: Framing and authorizations
- ✅ Use of the club's image: Merchandising, communication
- ✅ Brand protection: Club name, logo, visual identity
- ✅ Social media management: Rights and responsibilities
What image authorizations should we obtain for our players?
The use of players' images by a club (team photos, social media, communication materials) requires written authorizations, particularly for minors. We help you set up the appropriate forms and procedures to secure the use of your licensees' images.
Important note: Cabinet Bertrand mainly represents amateur athletes and organizations in their image promotion projects. Our support for major brands or sponsors is limited to situations where there is no conflict of interest with our athletic clients.
webeeui-nested-featuresWhy choose Cabinet Bertrand?
Each sports issue requires specific legal expertise. Identify the situation that corresponds to your immediate needs. Our lawyers who are experts in sports law will support you with a tailor-made approach, whether your case is urgent or requires a long-term strategy.
OUR DIFFERENTIATING EXPERTISE
Exclusive expertise in sports law
Since 1973, we have practiced exclusively in sports law. This specialization allows us to understand the specific challenges of sports image, market practices, and the expectations of commercial partners.
Knowledge of the sports field
We know the players in sports sponsorship, contractual practices, and the pitfalls to avoid. Our experience allows us to negotiate effectively and secure your interests.
Comprehensive approach
We integrate legal, tax, and asset management considerations to offer you a coherent strategy for promoting and protecting your image.
Professional recognition
- Gold Trophy 2024 & 2025 — Law Summit (Sports Law)
- Gold Medals 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025 — Palmarès du Droit
- "Essential" ranking — Décideurs Magazine (since 2011)
OUR METHODOLOGY
Step 1: Analysis of your situation
In-depth interview to understand your objectives, partnership projects, and current situation (existing contracts, structuring).
Step 2: Personalized recommendations
We formulate tailored recommendations: negotiation strategy, legal structuring, points to watch out for.
Step 3: Drafting and negotiation
We draft or review your contracts, negotiate sensitive clauses, and secure your commitments.
Step 4: Monitoring and support
We remain available for contract execution, developments, and the management of any disputes.
webeeui-full-width-brandWhy anticipate your contractual issues? The image of an athlete: an asset to be protected
An athlete's image is an asset in its own right. Its promotion and protection require an appropriate legal strategy, well before a contract is signed. Preventive advice helps you avoid contractual pitfalls and optimize your income.
Risks avoided thanks to preventive advice
Risks in the absence of legal support:
- ❌ Misuse of your image beyond the authorized scope
- ❌ Sponsorship contracts that are unbalanced in favor of partners
- ❌ Unanticipated conflicts between sponsors (poorly drafted exclusivity clauses)
- ❌ Loss of control over your personal brand
- ❌ Non-optimized taxation of image income
- ❌ No recourse in the event of unauthorized use
Objectives of legal support:
- ✅ Total control over the use of your image and its scope
- ✅ Rewarding partnerships with balanced terms
- ✅ Structured and tax-optimized image income
- ✅ Personal brand protected and enhanced
- ✅ Image strategy consistent with your values and career
- ✅ Effective recourse in the event of infringement of your rights
- ✅ Being duly informed of legal issues and agreed contractual clauses
The economics of anticipation
A poorly negotiated sponsorship contract can cost you much more than legal fees. Beyond the financial aspects, misuse of your image can cause lasting damage to your reputation and market value. Investing in legal support upstream means protecting the most valuable asset of your career: your image.
webeeui-faqFAQ: Image & Sponsorship
When should you consult a lawyer to negotiate a sponsorship contract?
Ideally, as soon as you receive a proposal and before signing anything. We analyze the proposed clauses, identify the points for negotiation (duration, exclusivity, scope of use, remuneration), and support you in the discussions. Even if a contract has already been signed, we can audit your commitments to prepare for renewal or identify exit options.
What personality attributes are protected by image rights?
French law protects several attributes of your personality:
- Image: photographs, videos, visual representations
- Name: commercial use of your surname or pseudonym
- Voice: sound recordings for commercial purposes
- Silhouette: stylized representation, avatar, drawings
- Signature: reproduction of your autograph
Any commercial use of these attributes requires your prior authorization and may be subject to remuneration.
Should you set up an image management company?
Setting up an image management company (usually an SAS or EURL) may be appropriate if your image exploitation income is significant. It allows you to separate your sports income from your image income, optimize your tax situation, and structure your assets. We analyze your situation to determine whether this structure is suited to your needs and objectives.
How should a conflict between two sponsors be handled?
Conflicts between sponsors often arise when exclusivity clauses are poorly defined or overlap. We advise you on drafting these clauses in advance to avoid conflicts. In the event of a dispute, we intervene to find an amicable solution or, if necessary, defend your interests in legal proceedings.
Can my image be used in a video game without my consent?
The use of your image in a sports video game (such as FIFA or NBA 2K) generally requires your authorization. However, this authorization is often granted collectively through agreements between leagues, federations, or players' unions and publishers. We advise you on your rights and possible remedies in the event of unauthorized use.
How can I protect my image on social media and digital platforms?
There are several ways to protect your digital image:
- Contractual clauses: regulate the use of your image by partners
- Trademark registration: protect your name, username, and logo
- Monitoring and action: monitor unauthorized use and take swift action
We can help you implement a protection strategy tailored to digital challenges.
How much does image and sponsorship law advice cost?
Our fees depend on the nature of the assignment: one-off consultation, contract audit, full negotiation, or legal structuring. We offer a free 15-minute consultation to assess your situation. We will then send you a transparent, personalized quote before taking any action. Our fees may be flat-rate or based on time spent, depending on the complexity of the case.