Providing tailored advice to major professional football clubs, international football agencies and high-profile sports brands, Brandsmiths is hailed for being a ‘dynamic and forward-looking team’. Co-headed by the ’smart’ Tom Keane and ‘first-rate’ David Seligman, who were both promoted to partner in January 2024, the practice also welcomed Nicola Wilburn-Shaw as partner in February 2024. Adam Morallee has vast expertise in the football and boxing spheres, while Michael Forrester focuses on media and privacy work.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Great real-life experience across the sport sector, from working in-house at football clubs to acting as agents on high-profile transfers and contracts. You feel as though any query you put to them, they have practical experience to draw on which can be invaluable, as well as giving confidence.’
‘Michael Forrester is very commercial, very practical and very straightforward to deal with. Strongly advocates for you.'
- 'Tom Keane is smart, proactive and efficient. He knows his sector very well and is able to offer great advice.’
‘A dynamic and forward-looking team, who know the law and the intricacies of the sports business inside out. I would recommend them without hesitation.’
‘David Seligman is first rate both on the law and with clients. He has an enviable ability to make the complex seem simple, and communicates that with clients and stakeholders brilliantly well.'
‘Fantastic depth of IP knowledge across the team.’
Key clients
- Manchester United FC
- Everton FC
- Coventry City FC
- Jesse Lingard
- Mansa Sports Management / Moussa Dembele
- Dundee United FC
- YMU / Tyler Adams
- Prolific Sports Group / Jeremie Frimpong
- Ben Foster / Cycling GK / Fozcast
- Tom Aspinall
- Prodigy Sports Group / Danny Welbeck / Omari Kellyman
- Michael Keane
- Entourage Sports & Entertainment
- Evolve Talent Group / Alex Scott, Bobby Clark and Jordan Zemura
- Consilium Sports Group
- Umbro
- Joe Joyce, Johnny Fisher, Guido Vianella and Kody Davies (S-Jam Boxing)
- Oldham Athletic
- OmniSports
- Total Football Ltd / refsuite.co.uk
- Jordan Mellon / Michael Mellon / Josh Andrews
Work highlights
- Advising Everton FC’s in-house legal team and receiving regular instructions on a variety of sporting and commercial matters, as well as disputes.
- Providing advice to YMU’s football agents and players in relation to regulatory, commercial and contractual matters.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Tom Keane, David Seligman