Brabners advises on 30 key football deals

BRABNERS Chaffe Street’s sports law team scored with 30 deals during the summer transfer window.

The team advised on a clutch of transfers, including the world record sale of Cristiano Ronaldo by long-term client Manchester United to Real Madrid, and a first deal for a US women’s team.

As well as the Ronaldo sale. the firm worked on United’s signings of Michael Owen, Antonio Valencia and Gabriel Obertan. 

It also advised Liverpool FC on its new contract deal with captain Steven Gerrard and the transfer of England defender Glen Johnson.

Brabners also advised Bolton Wanderers on its acquisitions of Korean player Lee Chung-Yong and Ivan Klasnić of Croatia, Wolverhampton Wanderers on its capture of Serbian Nenad Milijas, Wigan Athletic on its purchases of Jason Scotland and Mohamed Diame and Birmingham City on the transfer of Christian Benitez.

The firm also advised Welsh international Ched Evans on his move from Manchester City to Sheffield United, German defender Robert Huth on his move from Middlesbrough to Stoke City and on the proposed transfer of Chinese skipper Zheng Zhi to Celtic.

Off the field the team advised Steve Bruce on his appointment as Sunderland boss and Wigan Athletic on its appointment of former Swansea City manager, Roberto Martinez, as Bruce’s replacement.

The firm also worked on its first transfer of a female professional footballer during the window receiving instructions from US women’s team LA Sol to loan the three times FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year, Marta Vieira da Silva, to the Brazilian club, Santos.

Partner Matthew Bennett said: “The number and nature of the transactions we advised upon during this transfer window demonstrates our national and international reputation in the football industry.

“While total transfer spending in the Premier League appears to have been slightly down on last year, the football transfer market has overall remained largely resilient in the face of the economic downturn, which can be seen from the many high value transactions completed across the major European leagues.”

The Brabners team included Maurice Watkins, Matthew Bennett, Edward Canty, Lydia Edgar, Carol Couse, David Bentham, Stuart Baird and Matt Barnes.