Mills & Reeves nets at Football Awards
THE sports team at law firm Mills & Reeve has defended its title in the Professional Services to Football category at the annual North West Football Awards.
The awards, which took place at The Point, Old Trafford, celebrate the region’s brightest and best in football both on and off the field.
The Mills & Reeve team, led by partner Mark Hovell, was recognised for its involvement and commitment to football in the North West from grass roots up.
Hovell’s team advises on the full range of issues that may arise for clients in the sport sector including regulatory governance and disciplinary issues; sponsorship, merchandising, broadcasting and image rights; insolvency and restructuring; reputation management, sports arbitration and mediation; HMRC investigations and tax issues.
The team recently represented Jake Livermore in a landmark case which resulted in the Football Association deciding not to ban the Hull City midfielder after he tested positive for cocaine.
Hovell is one of a handful of Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) appointed English arbitrators in the UK. He was recently a member of the CAS panel in Switzerland that allowed an appeal by violinist-turned skier Vanessa Mae against her four-year ban from competitive skiing following her qualification for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.
He said: “We are delighted to win the award for the second year running which once again honours our commitment to football in the region. It is great to be recognised for our achievements in the sector.”
Clients include the PFA, the England Women’s Football Team, Manchester County Football Association, Manchester City and Preston North End.
The awards on Monday night were organised by Manchester company Journey9 and sponsored by MBNA, the Chester-based credit card provider.
The title of Premier League Player of the Season went to Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero, winner of the Golden Boot.
City bagged a brace of trophies as England midfielder Jill Scott, a bronze medallist with the Lionesses at the 2015 World Cup, was voted Women’s Player of the Year for a second time.
UCFB Burnley-a Higher Education facility offering degrees and executive education in the football business, sports and leisure industries, based at Turf Moor- won Best Club Sponsorship & Engagement.
MCFC’s City in the Community Foundation One City’ Disability Project aimed at educating primary school children about disabilities and to breakdown stereotypical attitudes, was also recognised.
Blackburn Rovers FC Community Trust were judged Community Club of the Year, outside the Premier League, while Dave Fevre earned the Ewood Park outfit more recognition when he won the Fabrice Muamba award for outstanding contribution to football Medicine and Science.
Everton’s ‘We Are Chosen’ season ticket campaign won the Toffees ‘Best Club Marketing Campaign’ for a second successive season, while Chester firm Complete Sports Solutions were first time winners of the UCFB ‘Business Services’ award-a company specializing in arranging group sports tours and producing tailor-made itineraries to main sporting destinations.
Tony Barrett, Merseyside writer for the Times, won the ‘golden pen’ prize; better known as Journalist of the Year.
