New law firm Centrefield targets overseas sporting success
A NEW law firm set up by three former Brabners partners has hit the ground running and is already looking to grow its overseas portfolio.
Centrefield was launched by Matthew Bennett, David Bentham and Edward Canty at the start of December last year.
Based in Manchester, its specialised team of 10 lawyers advise exclusively in the sport and media sector and it provides advice to clients including governing bodies, national associations, leagues, clubs, player associations, individuals, agents, sponsors and businesses operating in sport and media.
Matthew Bennett said: “Centrefield marks a significant development in our industry… Our goal is to create the leading sport and media practice with the greatest industry knowledge and the best possible client service.”
Nine of the 10 lawyers in the team left Brabners to form Centrefield. The three founding partners have been joined by senior associate Stuart Baird; associates Sarah Athi, Deirdre McCarthy, Oliver Sadler, Andrew Gartside, Jennifer Norris, Kate Findlow; and team administrator Janet Yates.
Edward Canty said that when the team set up the practice, their clients followed.
He added: “That all of our clients have come with us as we open Centrefield is not only gratifying – it’s proof of our skills and experience, our determination to secure the best results for them and the close relationships that we have built over time.”
The opening of the football transfer window in January meant the firm had a busy month acting in transfers, loans, contract re-negotiations and image rights arrangements for clients, including clubs and players from the Premier League, the Football League and Major League Soccer, and has set the pace for the practice.
David Bentham said: “The January transfer window was a good way to kick off the new business – it set the pace for what promises to be a thriving and growing practice.”
Hailing a strong maiden quarter, the team are already looking ahead to the summer transfer window but Canty underlined to TheBusinessDesk that the firm’s strengths are not just in football.
He said: “To have a firm that solely concentrates on sports and media is a real success and shows the strength and breadth of our practice because they are competitive markets in which to operate. Football is an important part of what we do but we are also very busy in other sports too – rugby, cycling, Olympic sports… we have a wide client base.”
The firm already works actively on a global basis, with its lawyers speaking a number of languages, and it now wants to build upon its international portfolio – something Canty expects to be helped by this year’s Rio Olympics.
He said: “We do want to expand our global reach and the beauty of what we do is that we don’t need a physical presence in these key territories to be successful.”
