New Sports-dedicated Law Firm Launched

22 Oct 2017 | tshego

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A number of the UK sports lawyers have launched a new law firm, Northridge, which is based in London. The team has moved from law firm Charles Russell Speechlys with four founding partners Jonathan Ellis, Ian Lynam, Jon Walters and James Eighteen. They launch with a large client list and a starting headcount of 16 fee earners.

Ellis and Lynam had headed up the Sports Group at Charles Russell Speechlys for the last five years, leading the team’s promotion to tier one in both Chambers and Legal 500.

The team’s clients from day one will include The Football Association, Premier League football clubs, the Welsh Rugby Union, Premiership Rugby and a roster of high profile sports stars such as Dele Alli, Thierry Henry, Cesc Fabregas, Raheem Sterling and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Northridge will provide a broad range of services from disputes and regulatory to commercial and corporate. It will advise on disputes and investigations, business critical corporate and commercial deals, governance and regulation for governing bodies, and the most sensitive, high profile issues for professional athletes.

Founding partner Ian Lynam stated: “We have been delighted with the response from all of our clients in following us to Northridge. Our focus and scale will enable us to build on our position as the team to turn to in the sports industry when the stakes are highest.”

Founding partner Jonathan Ellis added: “The quality and depth of our team is what sets us apart. Our associates have market-leading experience, with many of them being trusted advisors to our core clients. We will start on day one with 16 fee earners and have ambitious recruitment plans for the coming year. We are committed to repaying the confidence that the team has shown in us by operating an inclusive management structure and by having each member of the team share in the success of the firm.”

Polly Handford, director of legal and governance, The FA said: “The FA has had a long-standing relationship with Jon Ellis and the rest of the team. I also worked with Jon in my former role at the Rugby Football Union. The team’s advice is commercial, strategic but above all the team knows The FA so well that the advice is always ideally bespoke to The FA. We look forward to continuing to work with the team in the new firm, Northridge, which promises to be a huge success.”

The four partners are underpinned by three managing associates: Hannah Brunskill (also Northridge’s COO), Ben Rees and Paul Shapiro.