Northridge

Number of partners: 8

Number of other fee-earners: 23

Firm Overview

Northridge is an independent law firm that focuses on the most complex and important matters in sport. Founded in 2017, it has already established itself as the firm the sports industry turns to when the stakes are highest. As Europe’s largest sports practice, the firm offers a unique combination of scale and expertise, providing the depth required to staff the largest and most demanding projects.

Main Areas of Practice

Litigation

The firm's team of seasoned litigators have significant experience of all dispute resolution and litigation forums. The firm continues to advise longstanding client The FA on a range of contentious matters.

Key contacts: Jonathan Ellis (020 3957 8808; [email protected]) and James Eighteen (020 3957 8818; [email protected])

Corporate

Northridge offers a unique combination of technical corporate expertise and unmatched knowledge of the sports industry. The firm's ability to structure, negotiate and execute corporate transactions is widely recognised. The firm has acted on some of the biggest European football club transactions of recent years, including the sale of Chelsea FC and on the agreement for the sale of Everton FC.

Key contacts: Ian Lynam (020 3957 8809; [email protected]) and Jon Walters (020 3957 8810; [email protected])

Commercial

Northridge provides expert and practical commercial law advice on all aspects of clients’ strategic activities and business contracts. A highlight was the firm's work for Spotify on a ‘first of its kind’ sponsorship agreement with FC Barcelona.

Key contacts: Ian Lynam (020 3957 8809; [email protected]) and Jon Walters (020 3957 8810; [email protected])

Competition Law

Northridge's expertise ranges from defending regulations from competition complaints before the European Commission and national competition authorities, acting for complainants against anti-competitive conduct and advising on competition law issues in rights agreements. A prominent example was successfully representing Premiership Rugby in disciplinary proceedings against Saracens over salary cap rules, which included competition law issues.

Key contact: Benoit Keane (0032 2 280 68 80; [email protected])

Employment Law

Northridge's full service to employers and employees covers contentious and non-contentious work. This includes everything from recruitment, termination, grievance and disciplinary procedures to the negotiation of service agreements and contracts for directors and managers. Recent highlights include acting for The FA on numerous aspects of the women's game and acting for AEG Worldwide on various employment matters.

Key contact: Jamie Feldman (020 3957 8813; [email protected])

Gambling Law

The firm provides expert advice on regulatory compliance to a wide variety of gambling operators, underpinned by extensive industry knowledge. A recent highlight was advising Evolution Gaming on a restructuring of its UK gambling licences.

Key contact: Melanie Ellis (020 3957 8816; [email protected])

Representative clients

The FA, Puma, Premiership Rugby, Premier League football clubs, AC Milan, the British Horseracing Authority, Welsh Rugby Union, Rugby Football League, Betway, Spotify, Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho, Kevin de Bruyne, Mohamed Salah, Thierry Henry, Raheem Sterling, Two Circles (and its owner, Bruin Sports Capital), E20 (owner of the London Stadium), AEG Worldwide.

International Work

Northridge is based in London, but the firm's experience encompasses working for clients (and on matters) throughout Europe and internationally. This includes the firm's work for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr in signing Ronaldo and advising Elliott Advisors on the sale of Serie A champions AC Milan to RedBird Capital Partners.

Offices

90 Bartholomew Close

London

EC1A 7BN

[email protected]

+44 (0)20 3957 8800