Standing out for the profile of Harrogate-based founding partner Peter McCormick, the sports practice at McCormicks continues to provide top-tier advice to its footballing clients, while also assisting a growing number of shooting groups, rugby clubs and cycling associations. McCormick, who has previously served as chairman of the Premier League and the Football Association, continues to actively advise on the regulatory and contracting aspects of major sports club buyouts and takeovers. He co-leads the practice alongside James Towler, a key contact for corporate and commercial matters, and sports litigation expert David Birks, who joined from Newtons Solicitors Limited in November 2022. Philip Edmondson departed the group in 2022 to Ward Hadaway LLP.
Sport in Yorkshire And The Humber
McCormicks
Practice head(s):
Peter McCormick; James Towler; David Birks
Other key lawyers:
Iain Jenkins
Testimonials
‘Brilliant sports law firm. Niche expertise, particularly in football.’
‘Peter McCormick is in a class of his own.’
Key clients
Harrogate Town AFC
IDRS/The EFL
Leeds Rhinos RLFC
Leeds United FC
Long Mountain Shoot
McLaren Formula One
Norwich City FC
Otley RUFC
Professional Game Match Officials Ltd
Ripley Castle Shoot Group
The Bostik League (Isthmian League)
The Northern Premier League
The Premier League
The Premier League Charitable Fund
The Southern League
Visit Harrogate
Walsall FC
Wycombe Wanderers FC
Walker Morris LLP
Considered ‘one of the best, if not the best, solicitors teams working within sport’, Walker Morris LLP has an impressive roster of football clients and frequently assists clubs with buyouts, commercial agreements, and regulatory matters. Practice lead David Hinchliffe has extensive experience in football finance matters and maintains strong relations with clubs such as AFC Bournemouth and Brighton & Hove Albion. The team also leverages a strong litigation offering, with key contacts Charlotte Smith and Matthew Lingard regularly acting in employment and corporate disputes. Regulatory expert Christian Slinger is also a key name to note. Alistair McHenry left the firm in April 2022, while the firm welcomed Tim Howden in October of the same year.
Practice head(s):
David Hinchliffe
Other key lawyers:
Jeremy Moore; Christian Slinger; Charlotte Smith; Matthew Lingard; India Swall; Tim Howden
Testimonials
‘Walker Morris is one of the best, if not the best, solicitor teams working within sport, especially football. Their industry knowledge of football is second to none, and they take on a wide variety of work, from transactional to litigation, in the sector.’
‘David Hinchliffe is one of the star lawyers in the UK working in football. I would rely on his judgment more than just about anyone else. He is extremely well-connected and brings in, or thinks up, excellent cases.’
‘A very experienced team steeped in the issues affecting sport clients.’
‘David Hinchliffe: Hugely experienced, very savvy, warm-hearted. India Swall: already a star. Switched on, clever, astute.’
Key clients
AFC Bournemouth
Ali Acun Ilicali – Hull FC
Barbarians
Bidding Consortium for the takeover of Chelsea FC
Blackpool FC
Brighton & Hove Albion FC
Burnley FC
Carlisle United FC
Huddersfield Town AFC
Leeds United FC
Sheffield United FC
Watford FC
Wrexham AFC
York City Knights RLFC
Work highlights
- Acted on the sale of AFC Bournemouth Limited to the consortium led by American philanthropist and businessman, William Foley II.
- Advised Brighton & Hove Albion FC in relation to a number of charges brought by the FA relating to a significant number of historic player transactions.
- Advised one of the bidding consortiums on the widely publicised race for the takeover of Chelsea FC and carried out due diligence on the target group (including football and regulatory aspects of target club).
Pinsent Masons LLP
The sports advisory practice at Pinsent Masons LLP is led nationally by Trevor Watkins and maintains a strong presence in Yorkshire, where the team acts for clients such as Derby County FC and World Athletics. The practice’s Leeds group is jointly headed up by Joe McMorrow, who frequently advises on the employment and HR aspects of major sports transactions, and finance expert Matthew Clayton-Stead. Employment specialist Charlotte Harman and commercial lawyer Josh Botfield are further names to note at associate level.
Practice head(s):
Trevor Watkins; Matthew Clayton-Stead; Joe McMorrow
Other key lawyers:
Charlotte Harman; Josh Botfield
Key clients
10Ten Talent
ALK Capital LLC
Aldermore Bank
Blackburn Rovers
Championship Racing
Derby County
Dundalk Football Club
Global Venue Services
Hampshire Trust Bank
Infront Sports & Media AG
Liverpool FC
Manchester City FC
Musselburgh Racecourse
PEAK6 Investments
Shawbrook Bank
The Jockey Club Racing
The Rugby Football League
Threshold Sports
UK Sport
Urban Legacies
Wigan Athletic
World Athletics
Clarion
Clarion‘s multidisciplinary sports practice is composed of lawyers with experience handling commercial contracts and sponsorships, contractual disputes, insolvencies, and M&A mandates for sportswear brands, clubs and sports venue clients. Led by senior partner Richard Moran, who handles transactional matters, the team has strong local connections with Yorkshire clients such as Harrogate Town. Commercial lawyer Charlie Smith is also recommended, as is IP specialist Esther Kirwan.
Practice head(s):
Richard Moran
Other key lawyers:
Matthew Hattersley; Charlie Smith; Esther Kirwan
Key clients
Harrogate Town
Outward Bound Trust
Tyr
Established by Alistair McHenry after his departure from Walker Morris LLP in April 2022, the sports practice at Tyr focuses primarily on arbitration proceedings and regulatory matters. The firm acts for a variety of standout sporting clients, including Table Tennis England and the Welsh Rugby Union, in high-value contentious work spanning regulatory compliance, sports integrity and corporate disputes. The ‘excellent, highly experienced’ McHenry sits on a number of sports appeals and resolution panels, broadening the firm’s offering in the sports integrity space.
Practice head(s):
Alistair McHenry
Testimonials
‘A new sports law team headed by an excellent highly experienced solicitor, Alistair McHenry.’
‘Alistair McHenry is an excellent partner and specialist in sports law, with a very wide range of experience. He is hard-working, creative and will always go the extra mile for his clients.’
‘Friendly firm with good professional football-specific experience.’
‘Alastair McHenry provides proactive and positive support in respect of football-specific matters and is able to provide great advice in a clear and concise way.’
Key clients
Basketball England
Crystal Palace FC
Sport Resolutions
Table Tennis England
Welsh Rugby Union
Work highlights
- Sat as arbitrator on the English Football League Disciplinary Commission in a case involving the sanction of individuals under the EFL’s Owners and Directors’ Test.
- Appointed as judicial officer for the Welsh Rugby Union, adjudicating over disciplinary hearings and appeals.