Brandsmiths‘ sports team has a noted specialism in football, advising elite clubs, national associations, players, agents, and major sports brands. The practice is led by Tom Keane, David Seligman, and Michael Forrester. Keane is known for football transfers and IP-related matters, while Seligman handles a wide range of commercial and regulatory issues for clubs and players. Forrester is experienced in reputation and image rights matters.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Brandsmiths have a proactive approach to providing us with legal advice. They seem to know what we need better than we know ourselves and offer to support with pieces of work without us even having to ask! Everyone I have come across at the firm is down to earth, approachable and easy to work with.’
‘Tom Keane is an excellent source of support. He goes out of his way to check in on us for no reason and I always feel as though I can bounce ideas off him or run issues past him.’
‘They are human in the way they treat their clients.’
‘The partner is an expert & knows the latest regulations.’
‘Brandsmiths tailor everything to the individual. I've never received a generic piece of advice, and they're always approachable. Brandsmiths excel at most things they touch - commercial deals, image rights, intellectual property, general contracts. When explaining complex legal concepts, Brandsmiths are able to do so in a simple way without using legal jargon. Without Brandsmiths, I'm not sure I would have a business.’
‘I deal with a range of individuals within Brandsmiths, from partners to associates. Regardless of who I am talking with, they speak with clarity and integrity. Tom Keane & David Seligman are my two main contacts, both of whom have a wealth of knowledge about the sports industry. Their attention to detail and ability to think outside the box sets them apart. I recommend them to anybody who asks.’
Key clients
- Manchester United FC
- Burnley FC
- Mansa Sports Management/Moussa Dembele
- Triple S Sports Management
- YMU/Tyler Adams
- Prolific Sports Group/Jeremie Frimpong & New Balance
- Ben Foster/Cycling GK/Fozcast
- Anthony Serafino/Bromley FC
- Prodigy Sports Group/Danny Welbeck/Omari Kellyman
- Entourage Sports & Entertainment
- Umbro (Iconix Brand Group)
- Joe Joyce, Johnny Fisher, Guido Vianella and Kody Davies (S-Jam Boxing)
Work highlights
Advised a Premier League club on a variety of sporting, IP, commercial and litigation matters.
Advised Prodigy Sports Group on regulatory, commercial and contractual matters.
Lawyers
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
David Seligman
Practice head
Tom Keane; David Seligman; Michael Forrester