Clifford Chance combines commercial expertise with strong industry knowledge to advise major sport leagues and governing bodies on both transactional and litigation matters relating to broadcasting rights. Yves Wehrli is a key player both in the practice and in many corporate and M&A matters in football, while also having chairing experience in both UEFA and Olympic and Paralympic Committees. Thibaud d’Alès and Clément Gandibleux are both key contacts for litigation, while Gauthier Martin is a public law expert.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Thibaud d'Ales has a very high level of expertise, as does Alexandre Manasterski’
- ‘Extensive expertise in the French professional sports sector, with a wide range of legal expertise. Strengths include contract law and litigation.’
- ‘Thibaud d'Ales is a very experienced and reassuring lawyer.'
- ‘Clifford Chance's lawyers demonstrate high standards.'
- ‘Thibaud d'Ales is pragmatic, responsive and combative.’
- ‘The team is particularly strong in the important field of sports media rights and successfully represents us in numerous disputes. The availability of its partners is one of the firm's greatest strengths.’
Key clients
- Fédération Française de Football
- Ligue de Football Professionnel / LFP Media
- Fédération Française de Tennis
- French Rugby Federation (FFR)
Work highlights
Advising the French Tennis Federation (FFT) on the sale of the French TV rights of the Roland Garros Grand Slam tournament.
Advised LFP Media, the commercial subsidiary of LFP, jointly controlled by LFP and CVC Partners, on the sale of the broadcasting rights of the Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 championships.
Advised LFP Media, the commercial subsidiary of Ligue de Football Professionnel, on the creation and structuring of its dedicated channel for the broadcasting of Ligue 1 .
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Yves Wehrli
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Practice head
Yves Wehrli; Thibaud d'Alès
Other key lawyers
Gauthier Martin; Alexandre Manasterski; Clément Gandibleux