James Towler > McCormicks > Harrogate, England > Lawyer Profile

McCormicks, based in Harrogate, covers an array of agricultural issues faced by individuals and estates, with notable expertise in matters relating to shoots. Peter McCormick co-leads the department alongside Elaine Lightfoot, who additionally heads the private client practice within the firm. James Towler advises on restructurings and refinancings.

Renowned for its prowess in the sports domain, McCormicks guides major clients such as the Premier League, Leeds United FC, and the PGMOL through a host of corporate and commercial issues. Extending beyond sports, the firm remains engaged in the hospitality and leisure sectors. The team’s leadership in Harrogate is shared by Peter McCormick and James Towler, with the latter excelling in the negotiation of sponsorship agreements.

McCormicks acts for an impressive roster of football clubs and associations, prominent sporting individuals and professional cycling clients, which seek out the firm for the extensive expertise of founding partner Peter McCormick, a pre-eminent sports lawyer who is the former chairman of the Premier League, the Football Association and the Football Foundation. Leading the practice alongside McCormick are James Towler, who focuses on corporate and commercial transactions, and David Birks, whose wide-ranging expertise covers sporting disputes and Premier League and EFL regulations. Peter Minnikin is well versed in game shooting law and regularly advises estates; and Iain Jenkins assists sporting clients with employment matters.

Providing bespoke advice on employment and tax matters within sport, in tandem with bringing a ‘commercial approach’ in contractual disputes, McCormicks regularly represents major sport associations and top-level teams. Peter McCormick co-heads from London and Harrogate, specialising in handling complex competition law cases, while Harrogate-based co-leads David Birks and James Towler assist in complex commercial disputes and on corporate transactions. Peter Minnikin is also noted as key.