Law firm sets up specialist team to advise on Padel boom
Manchester law firm JMW Solicitors has launched a specialist Padel team dedicated to serving up legal expertise to any entrepreneurs who want to build Padel courts or open a Padel club.
The initiative is being driven by self-confessed “paddict” Marc Yaffe, the firm’s managing partner.
JMW’s legal experts in the fields of Real Estate, Intellectual Property, Corporate, Commercial, and Employment have joined together to create what the firm believes is a unique offering, and already the team is working on 37 separate projects throughout the UK.
JMW spotted the opportunity last year when Yaffe was invited by a business colleague to play Padel at his home, and following a court-side conversation he realised that the desire to develop the sport was widespread, but was not matched by the necessary legal know-how when it came to negotiating on potential sites, protecting IP and drawing up the specific commercial agreements necessary to monetise such business ventures.
JMW is also the commercial sponsor of Manchester city centre’s first Padel Club, Club de Padel, situated between the iconic towers of Deansgate Square in Manchester’s New Jackson neighbourhood, established by four Manchester investors and entrepreneurs Lucy Noone Blake, David Blake, and Inflexion private equity partners Matt McKinlay and James Wigglesworth.
Yaffe said: “The key element of our offering isn’t just the legal expertise to be found at our firm, but our determination and desire to work together across multiple specialisms with the aim of delivering a fast, effective and highly specialised service to those in the fast-growing Padel sector.”
JMW has already held its own “Women in Padel” tournament at another Padel Club in Wilmslow; an equivalent men’s event is to follow at Pure Padel in Alderley Edge next month.
The Padel Club behind the Wilmslow courts have also submitted plans to Trafford Council to build a high specification Padel club, that will include 11 courts, nine covered courts and two open air courts at TraffordCity in a 1.5 acre development.
“A particular bonus of Padel is the unique networking it offers,” added Yaffe. “It is a sport that has captured the imagination, not only of those in the Professional Services industry but also the many entrepreneurs to be found in the North West. We fully expect our Padel Project to mature into a key offering of the firm and we intend to have a lot of fun playing the game with clients and contacts alike.”
