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England - London • TMT (technology, media and telecoms)
6

Sport

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Withers LLP

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Withers LLP offers multidisciplinary expertise across commercial, regulatory, and dispute work. The firm advises a wide spectrum of stakeholders, including clubs, governing bodies, intermediaries, and individual athletes. Recent highlights include advising Premier League club Leicester City on loan facilities and representing Algerian boxer Imane Khelif in a high-profile arbitration with the IBA regarding her eligibility to compete. The team is active in the football and motor sport spaces, being well-versed in international player transfers, intermediary registration, sponsorship and licensing deals, and sports-related tax planning. Luca Ferrari, who splits his time between London and Milan, is the key contact in the team. Jon Bond specialises in receivables financing in sports context, often advising high-profile football clubs. Sharon Whitehouse and Libby Payne make significant contributions to the firm’s sport practice.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Accolades

Client satisfaction

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The personal approach that the Withers team create they make you feel secure, with conviction and that you can trust their advice. They are constantly challenging themselves internally with new projects and updating their knowledge and expertise.'

  • ‘Luca Ferrari and Libby Payne are some of the finest individuals as human beings that I have ever come across, apart from being elite legal professionals. The conciseness that they use to speak about their topics, the knowledge that they have for the different industries that they focus along with the discretion that they operate with is a privilege to work with. ’

  • ‘Withers has a uniquely compassionate yet resolute approach. It works for individual athletes and managers and ensures that it understands their wishes and desires, and then executes them without fear or favour.’

  • ‘Libby Payne is highly competent. Her client handling and drafting skills are among the best in the industry. She is also a joy to work with.'

  • ‘Wide range of skillset in the sports, media and entertainment space, across various markets too, which we found very helpful.'

  • ‘Luca Ferrari is one of the most experienced and well respected lawyers in the industry. His experience stands him apart.'

Key clients

  • Leicester City
  • Imane Khelif
  • S.S.P. Reyer Venezia Mestre S.r.l.
  • Novak Djokovic
  • Icons Series

Work highlights

Advised Imane Khelif on the arbitration with the IBA and around media coverage at the Paris Olympics.
Assisted S.S.P. Reyer Venezia Mestre S.r.l. ("Reyer"), one of the leading basketball teams in Italy and a top-tier club in the Italian first division, in a dispute against the International Basketball Federation ("FIBA") before the Court of Arbitration for Sport ("CAS").
Advising Premier League football club Leicester City in relation to numerous loan facilities.

Practice head

Libby Payne; Luca Ferrari

Other key lawyers

Jon Bond; Sharon Whitehouse