In the sports sector we advise a range of sports regulators, such as the English Football Association; sports clubs, such as Manchester United, Juventus, Bayern Munich and Newcastle United; commercial organisations, such as Formula One Administration; and financiers, such as lenders for the new Wembley Stadium in England and the arrangers of the FIFA bond for the Football World Cup.

We also have significant practices in television (covered by our Media sector group) and sports retailing (covered by our Consumer Products group). We also advise on sports gaming.

Our experience includes advising:

  • Bayern Munich on the construction and financing of its new stadium;
  • The Court of Arbitration in Sport, as arbitrator, for the Olympics in Atlanta in 1996, the Winter Olympics in Nagano in 1998 and the Olympics in Sydney in 2000;
  • English Football Association on all aspects of its role governing English football including its relationship with FIFA and UEFA, the OFT’s investigation in to the sale of England football shirts, constitutional issues, the behaviour of fans and disciplinary proceedings against clubs, players and others;
  • Formula One Administration on corporate, tax, anti-trust and financing matters for the group organising Formula One motor racing;
  • the underwriters on the IPO of Juventus Football Club;
  • London Olympic Bid on its bid to host the 2012 Olympics;
  • Manchester United Football Club on matters arising from its London Stock Exchange listing, its relationship with various shareholders, various M&A proposals and commercial arrangements to exploit its brand;
  • Mike Ashley (owner of Sports Direct) on the acquisition of Newcastle United FC;
  • Rugby Football Union on the review of the structure of the professional game in England; and
  • the mezzanine financiers to the new Wembley Stadium project in London.

News

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Briefings

2008 Beijing Olympics or bust  View

New German gambling regime  View

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