Sports Group Expansion

Bird & Bird's specialist multi-disciplinary sports team is dedicated to serving the sports industry nationally and internationally. Well-respected and long-established, the group is highly ranked in the Directories and known for its "technical excellence" and "commercial savvy".

It has built up an almost unrivalled knowledge of the industry, acting for a range of clients including governing bodies, clubs, teams, stadium owners, rights purchasers, broadcasters and distributors of individual sportsmen and women.

Increasing the size of the team would allow the Sports Group to capitalize on its leverage and increase even more the workflow from existing and new clients.

Partners and associates at all levels will be considered to handle contentious or commercial aspects of Sports law.

Experience gained in-house as well as in private practice would be an advantage, and regulatory experience would dovetail well with the practice's existing capability.

Demonstrable passion for the sports world is key

Bird & Bird is ranked in the 2nd Tier for Sports work in Legal 500 UK and in the 1st tier for Sports Commercial work in Chambers Directory.

Legal 500:

Bird & Bird's traditional strength in IP/IT makes it ideally placed to cope with the burgeoning sports media and rights market. The firm maintains a strong relationship with the FA, and continues to win significant instructions from major players in the sector. Chelsea FC instructs the firm across a broad range of matters including sponsorship and commercial arrangements. The group has also scooped UEFA for high-value transactional work. Other clients include Wembley Stadium and Premium TV. The team's leading individuals are the 'outstandingly knowledgeable' Justin Walkey, Felicity Reeve and Matt Dennis.

Chambers comments:

The Firm: In a year that has seen a number of changes amongst the sports law fraternity, the "consistency of quality" and stability of Bird & Bird is felt to have shone through. It wins client plaudits for its skills in sponsorship, IP and broadcasting; one remarked: "It has great reserves of experience and expertise, and has the patience to work on a matter until it exceeds your satisfaction levels." Football remains the bedrock of the practice, but the group has attracted a strong client base of broadcasters and sporting agencies.

The Lawyers: Head of the sport's group Justin Walkey is "a top-dollar lawyer who has great flair for media sporting matters." Sporting clients appreciate his IP skills and his broad understanding of the market. "When you make that call to a lawyer, you want someone who can fill in the gaps of your knowledge, and he has never let us down there." Felicity Reeve is well versed in sponsorship issues. She is "an astute, sharp and innovative lawyer who makes large transactions seem easy." Together they have recently worked on a number of matters for Chelsea FC, including advising on the appointment of Samsung as official shirt sponsor. This was the largest football sponsorship deal in the UK. The group has also set up sponsorship deals with Orange and Lucozade, and has acted for the club on format rights and the commissioning of a new football television show.

Clients/Work Highlights:The group continues to represent the English Football Association, and in the past year has acted in the marketing and sale of all television, radio and new media rights, domestically and internationally, for all FA Charity Shield and FA Cup matches until 2008. The group also represents: UEFA; ESPN; FAW; Jack Morton Worldwide; Premium Television and Wembley National Stadium.

Contact

For an informal and completely confidential discussion about the role please contact:
Liz Neser at Graham Gill
t: 020 7430 1711 or
e: LN@grahamgill.com.

All direct or third party applications will be forwarded to Graham Gill for consideration.