Pauline Mbanza

Pauline Mbanza is an international sports lawyer with a distinguished career in the sports law field, specializing in football. She began her illustrious career at MMAKS Advocates, where she specifically worked on intellectual property matters. During this time, her interest and passion for specializing in sports law — a course she took during her undergraduate studies — continued to grow.
Driven by this interest, Pauline joined Olisa Agbakoba Legal (OAL), one of Nigeria’s prestigious law firms known for its strength in sports law. At OAL, she worked closely with the Sports, Entertainment, and Technology team, handling tasks that cut across intellectual property and sports law. This role allowed her to further hone her expertise and deepen her involvement in the legal side of sports.
After her tenure at OAL, Pauline moved on to Real Madrid FC, one of the most prestigious football clubs in the world. During her time there, she worked under the head of the club’s legal department, where she dealt with legal matters related to the club’s operations, contracts, and compliance with international sports regulations. This invaluable experience provided her with deep insights into the complexities and nuances of sports law at the highest level.
Following her successful stint at Real Madrid, Pauline joined the Sports and Justice Law Firm, an Egyptian law firm, where she continued to excel in sports law practice. At this firm, she handled a range of cases involving athletes, sports organizations, and other stakeholders in various legal matters. Her contributions were particularly noteworthy, resulting in numerous successes and further establishing her reputation in the sports law community.
In recognition of her outstanding contributions to the field, Pauline won the prestigious 14Sports Law Knockout Award for Women in Sports. She also worked at 14Sports Law, where she made significant contributions to sports law discourse and practice. Pauline remains actively involved in advancing the field of sports law and is a strong advocate for the rights of athletes and sports organizations.
In addition to her professional work, Pauline is a keen writer with a substantial following on her LinkedIn newsletter (European Football and Banter), where she regularly dissects various football-related matters. She also guides football agents in obtaining their licenses and provides legal advice where needed.
Pauline’s vision for the future includes continuing to advance the field of sports law, advocating for fairness and integrity in sports, and empowering the next generation of legal professionals. She is committed to making a positive impact on the sports industry and ensuring that athletes and organizations receive the highest standard of legal representation