The team at Brandsmiths acts for a broad range of boxing and football clients in endorsement arrangements, joint practice heads Tom Keane and David Seligman were both promoted to partner in Jan 2024. Keane is noted for his exceptional expertise in football transfers, acting for a number of clubs, international agencies, and sports brands, while Seligman routinely appears before sports arbitration bodies. Nicola Wilburn-Shaw joined the group from JMW Solicitors LLP in February 2024, contributing her vast knowledge of family law. Michael Forrester leads the litigation group, representing numerous Premier League football players in reputation management cases and image rights matters.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
- Profile
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘David Seligman has been professional, expeditious and knowledgeable. His insight and discretion are invaluable.’
‘A highly knowledgable and dynamic team who attract fantastic work from a range of very interesting clients. Their approach to business development is new and exciting, and they're always looking for different angles to argue points on behalf of their clients. They're always brilliantly well prepared. Taking this alongside their approachable demeanour, it's hard to see why sports clients would look elsewhere.’
‘David Seligman is a tour de force. Clients love him, counsel love being instructed by him, opponents must wince when they see him on the other side. He is intelligent, down to earth, hugely knowledgeable, and has developed a rolodex of clients which might be expected of a partner twenty years his senior. He is enormously impressive, particularly in his knowledge of football regulation. His achievements to date portend a burgeoning career at the forefront of sports law.'
‘We deal mainly with David Seligman, and occasionally with his wider support team. David is very personable and hands on, with a proactive and diligent approach. In comparison with other firms we have used before we think that David's relationship building is second to none and he understands how we think and operate so it feels almost like he is part of our own team. ’
Key clients
- Manchester United FC
- Everton FC
- Coventry City FC
- Jesse Lingard
- Mansa Sports Management
- Moussa Dembele
- Dundee United FC
- YMU
- Taylor Adams
- Jeremie Frimpong
Work highlights
- Advised Manchester United FC on transfers, including Casamiro from Real Madrid CF and Antony from AFC Ajax.
- Advised YMU on securing payments owed following arbitration proceedings against a football club, and in relation to football transfers.
Lawyers
Next generation partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Tom Keane; David Seligman
Other key lawyers
Michael Forrester