Our Team

David Becker is an international lawyer with approximately 30 years in practice, specialising in the sports, media, and entertainment sectors.

David began his career at leading firm Sonnenbergs (now ENS Africa) in 1995. In 1998 he worked as an associate with magic circle firm, Freshfields, in London before joining sports lawyer Gary Blumberg and subsequently the specialist sports law and entertainment firm Townleys.

Thereafter he became a partner at Collyer Bristow, where he headed up the Sports Group.  During that time David was listed by the directories Legal 500 and Chambers as a leading entertainment and sports lawyer for several years running.

After five years at Collyer Bristow, David became General Counsel and Senior Executive of the International Cricket Council in Dubai in 2008. In 2011, he completed the General Management Programme at Harvard Business School in Boston.

In 2012 David started his own practice, which would later become Becker Kemp, with offices in Cape Town and London.

David has advised a plethora of sports governing bodies on legal, regulatory and commercial issues over the years, including but not limited to ICC, World Rugby, America’s Cup, SA Rugby, Cricket South Africa, International Table Tennis, FEI, International Sailing Federation, Paralympic World Cup, WP Rugby, British Polo Players Association, World Cricketers Association, SA20, the British SAILGP team, NFL Europe, British Triathlon and EFC Africa. 

David has advised a number of high-profile athletes and personalities during his career, including Sir Ben Ainslie, Eddie Jordan, Oscar Piastri, Adrian Newey, Tyson Fury, Christian Pulisic, HRH Princess Haya of Jordan, Michael Johnson, Jimmy Spithill, UN Patron of the Oceans Lewis Pugh, as well as several of golf’s Major winners. 

In South Africa, he has advised sporting icons such as Francois Pienaar, Graeme Smith, Chad le Clos, Lucas Radebe, Mark Fish, Jean de Villiers, Kagiso Radaba, Faf du Plessis, Shaun Bartlett, Benni McCarthy, Chris Bertish, and Suray Kumalo.

David has written chapters in “Sport: Law and Practice” by Taylor and Lewis. And in 2007, he published the first book dedicated to the legal aspects of event management, entitled “The Essential Legal Guide to Events”.

In the field of entertainment, he’s advised several bands and musicians such as Amy Lee, Grow, Ard Matthews, Just Jinjer, Goodluck, DJ Shimza and The Kiffness, as well as several events and festivals such as MOBO Music Awards, Boardmasters Festival, Ultra South Africa, NASS Festival, and Showtime.

With particular expertise in media and production, David has advised leading international companies such as Head London, DSTV Media Sales, SuperSport and Probia, as well as the founding of E-sports leagues in both South Africa and the United Kingdom.

David is also a consultant with leading sports business consultancy The Sports Consultancy, who offer specialist legal and business consulting services to a number of rights holders around the world.

He has appeared on BBC News 24, BBC World, Radio Five Live, and BBC Prime Time News on regular occasions, advising on diverse matters ranging from slide tackles to doping scandals to the valuation of global media rights and technology deals.

A competitive sportsman and keen endurance athlete, David has represented his native Western Province at Jarvis Cup and completed 27 marathons, including the 7-day Sahara Ultra-marathon.

He is a co-founder of the South African Aids charity Starfish, and a trustee of Beyond Sport, the Legends Trust, and the Lewis Pugh Foundation.

Matt is a Partner in the firm and focuses on various commercial and litigious matters in the sports law, media and entertainment sectors.

Matt’s interest in all things digital has resulted in his becoming an industry leader on this aspect and the impact it has. As a result, he has been able to walk (and talk) the firm’s clients through the inevitable digitisation of their businesses and offerings.

In counter-balance to this, Matt’s general practice background has resulted in wide-ranging experience. It has left him with a solid understanding of many various aspects of the legal complexities about which clients may seek advice.

Matt obtained his BA LLB degrees from the University of Cape Town in 2007. After studying at Melbourne University, Australia he joined McLoughlin Clark as a candidate attorney in 2011. He was admitted as an Attorney in the High Court of South Africa in February 2013.

Matt is an avid sports enthusiast and played water polo for the South African national team, and refereed rugby at the national level.

On the home front Matt has teamed up with a loving wife, Kimberly, and immensely enjoys the pleasures that being a father brings.