Simon Thorp

Corporate, Commercial

Simon acts for a broad range of clients including investors, founders, business owners, sport’s governing bodies, teams, talent and entrepreneurs in the sport’s industry. Clients include  ATP Media, England Netball, ECB, Two Circles, Ackerley Sports Group, Ellipse Data, Twenty First Group, Srixon, Engage Digital Partners and Gloucester Rugby.

Simon’s practice predominantly involves general corporate and commercial matters including share purchase, asset transfer, investment, shareholder and joint venture agreements, along with specialist due diligence, investment and structuring in sport recent examples being:

the structuring and launch of a new professional netball super league in UK including tender process for interested clubs and potential equity for third party investors and clubs; advising ATP Media on the reorganisation of the commercial assets of ATP Tour, ATP Media and TDI Data in men’s tennis; advising Ackerley Sports Group (US) on its investment in a new commercial vehicle holding and exploiting all of South African Rugby’s commercial rights, including the Springboks; advising Ellipse Data on a commercial and equity transaction with Football Dataco (a joint venture company of the Premier League and English Football League); advising Sports Recruitment Group on a sale to Elevate Sports Ventures; and advising Gloucester Rugby on the release of Louis Rees-Zammit to the NFL pathfinder programme, amongst many other matters.

Simon is ranked as a leading sports law practitioner, in which he is described by commentators as “approachable, responsive and very practical in his approach and we are always impressed with his commercial understanding of our business needs. Commercially excellent with strong industry knowledge” and “adept at handling corporate work” (Legal 500) “He understands different types of acquisition and structures that we need to look at. He is very diligent and pragmatic” (Chambers & Partners).

Simon also assists his former university, Durham, on the development of their sport’s programme and infrastructure.

1995 – 1997: College of Law

1992 – 1995: Durham University