About

Leading Irish bookmaker Paddy Power Betfair’s legal support is led by group general counsel and company secretary Edward Traynor, who was appointed to the position in May 2015. The £5bn merger of Paddy Power and Betfair in 2015, created one of the world’s largest online gambling businesses. The legal teams came together in order to support the new company, now known as Paddy Power Betfair, gaining competition clearance, integrating operational systems and generally supporting the coming together of two previously competing companies. There are a variety of day-to-day challenges the company still faces requiring support from a legal point of view. These include, but are not limited to licencing, planning, and compliance with regulatory authorities. Recent rules drawn up in response to calls for reform in the gambling industry has meant the establishment of regulatory bodies such as The Gambling Commission in Great Britain and legislation including Ireland’s Gambling Act of 2015. In one of the most highly-regulated industries, one that contains complex and changing rules with the threat of government intervention consistently looming large, Paddy Power Betfair’s legal team is under unending pressure to ensure compliance without endangering the business function. Well-known in the industry for their risqué, unique and often controversial marketing campaigns, the publicity drawn through social media in particular has often attracted attention to Paddy Power Betfair’s business and invited legal pressures. Proving themselves to be adept problem-solvers and business-enablers, the legal team allow Paddy Power Betfair to continue their pioneering marketing strategies that set them apart from their competitors via excellent legal counsel and collaboration.