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William Bowyer comments on the significance of McLaren Racing’s $30m claim against Alex Palou 

Posted on: January 2nd, 2025 by Hugh Dineen-Lees

Associate and sports law specialist William Bowyer comments on how McLaren’s claim against Palou will likely set a precedent for similar F1 contract disputes going forward – it will either enable racing drivers to have greater choice with respect to moving teams, or discourage them from moving whilst still under contract.

William’s comments were published in City AM, 24 December 2024, and can be found here. 

“Given the value of the claim, the current profile of F1, the nature of a driver’s role within a race team and McLaren’s position in the sport, this is a hugely important sports law case and will likely set a precedent for similar F1 contract disputes going forward.

“Given the nature of this case, it will be interesting to see what the court considers – or does not consider – to be caused by Palou’s breach of contract and/or what is reasonably foreseeable regarding the losses claimed by McLaren. McLaren will be pushing for a wide range of losses to be considered from livery changes, new marketing spend, unforeseen spend on new drivers and loss of sponsorships.

“When a party breaches a contract, the “innocent” party (in this case McLaren) often has a right to an award of damages if they have come into loss as result of the breach. It is important to remember that the purpose of damages (from an English Law perspective) is to put the innocent party in the same position as if the contract had not been breached. Therefore, McLaren can only be awarded as much as the court considers necessary to reach that position. We often see scenarios where parties attempt to recover beyond what is necessary to place them back in that position.

 “Should the court side with McLaren, drivers would be discouraged from moving teams whilst still under contract based on their perceived chances of success, and help ensure that race teams hold the power.

“However, should the court consider the damages to be far lower than McLaren claims, racing drivers will likely breathe a sigh of relief. Whilst they would still have to pay damages for breaching a driving contract, it may enable them to have greater choice to choose teams based on the opportunities presented to them – if they consider the pros of switching teams whilst still under contract to be greater than the costs they may incur.

 “Importantly, McLaren’s dispute with Palou highlights the importance of drivers seeking tailored and sports-specific legal advice before signing any ‘seat deal’ – especially before a decision as big as changing teams.”

Lawrence Stephens’ teams ranked by Legal 500 UK 2025

Posted on: October 2nd, 2024 by Hugh Dineen-Lees

Lawrence Stephens is proud to have been recognised in the 2025 edition of the Legal 500 UK directory. Our Real Estate Finance and Banking teams have been ranked as Tier 7 in the Property Finance category, and our Sports and Entertainment team has achieved a Tier 5 ranking in the Sport category within the TMT (Technology, Media and Telecoms) section.

We were also delighted to learn that Angélique Richardson, an Associate in our Sports and Entertainment team, has been recognised as a ‘Leading Associate’ for her exceptional contribution and commitment to providing top-tier legal and career management advice to elite athletes.

The Legal 500 UK edition provides a comprehensive overview of the top law firms in the United Kingdom. It includes detailed qualitative reviews from many law firms, barristers’ chambers, and individual lawyers. The rankings are based on feedback from law firm clients which helps firms benchmark their expertise and performance in various areas.

Managing Director Steven Bernstein said: “It is fantastic to see the firm recognised in this way. While it is no surprise, we are delighted to see the firm listed amongst the best in the country and shows just how far we have come. We look forward to building on these foundations and seeing more of our people and teams achieving this distinction.”

Feenix Group and Lawrence Stephens partner to launch Feenix Talent

Posted on: September 18th, 2024 by Hugh Dineen-Lees

We are delighted to announce our partnership with Feenix Group to create Feenix Talent.

A new esports and gaming agency bridging the gap between esports, entertainment, and gaming. Feenix Talent will manage top esports players, gaming creators, and influencers, helping them build careers that last. Our partnership will ensure talent is legally supported every step of the way.

Brands looking to work with the best talent in gaming will find their perfect match with Feenix Talent.

William Bowyer comments on Brazilian clubs signing European players in City A.M.

Posted on: September 16th, 2024 by Hugh Dineen-Lees

Will’s comments were published in City A.M., 16 September 2024, and can be found here.

“Investment in football from the Americas has grown substantially in recent years, with a move to Brazil’s top flight becoming an increasingly viable and profitable route for players.

“There is a strong argument to say that the standard of clubs (facilities, funds, squad quality and academies) in Europe is still growing and attracting the best global talent. However, as a result, European leagues are becoming increasingly saturated, with players now looking to other leagues to play their football and progress their careers.
 
“The growth of the Saudi Pro League is also hard to ignore. As noted recently by Ronald Koeman in relation to the moves of Steven Bergwijn to Al-Ittihad and Memphis Depay to Corinthians, the former effectively “closed the book” on his international career whilst the latter remains available for selection. Moving to Brazil is therefore an attractive option for players who want a move away from Europe but to keep their international aspirations alive.

“Importantly, Brazil’s Série A clubs have experienced a period of growth in revenue since 2010 which has meant that they have been able to offer higher wages than they had historically for the right players.

“Larger European clubs are also increasingly looking at Brazilian leagues for potential talent. For a young player or a player struggling to get minutes at a European club, playing in Brazil could therefore be a good opportunity to get some game time in a competitive league, with the view to hopefully returning to Europe later in their career.

“With football being the number one sport in Brazil, a move to Brazil is a chance for a player to broaden their own fan base, social media following and personal brand which could lead to brand deals and image rights related work.”

If you would like more information on how our Sports and Entertainment team help protect and innovate for top athletes, please contact a member of the team below.

Angelique Richardson interviewed by The Law Society Gazette

Posted on: September 13th, 2024 by Hugh Dineen-Lees

Associate Angelique Richardson discusses her background as a competitive swimmer and how sports have dominated her life and career, as well as highlights of her legal life, including her work on Bates & Others v Post Office Ltd.

Angelique’s interview was published in The Law Society Gazette, 13 September 2024.

Full text below:

Given my sporting background, sports law appealed. Having spent a large amount of my childhood in St. Maarten in the Caribbean, water-based sports were very much second nature. I started swimming competitively at a young age, and when I was 10 took up synchronised swimming. While at university, I ‘hung up my noseclip’ and took up finswimming. I competed at a national level, becoming British champion in the 25m bi-fins event in 2015 and setting what remains a national record in that age group. My experience as an athlete (and later as a coach) gave me a strong commitment to succeed at an elite level. 

While I graduated with a first-class degree from Northumbria University’s MLaw course, I was not initially excited by the idea of pursuing a legal career. Instead, I obtained a graduate job as a headhunter in the legal market, within litigation. This job was not for me, though I gained invaluable insight into how law firms operate and, ultimately, this piqued my interest in pursuing a career in law.

It was through this role that I met my former boss. He was looking to hire a legal assistant to help his team with a huge group action, acting for 555 claimants in the Bates & Others v Post Office Ltd case.

In 2018, I joined Freeths as a legal assistant and started my training contract. I qualified as a solicitor in the commercial dispute resolution team before being promoted to senior associate. I then moved to Lawrence Stephens in December 2023, where I work in the sports and entertainment department. This coincided with the arrival of a new director at Freeths who specialised in this area. I ended up working closely with him on a number of sports-related cases and found it the perfect route to pursue.

Ultimately, I have lived the life of an athlete. I know what pressures athletes face on a daily basis and what can happen at different points in their careers. For instance, while I might not be a boxer (unlike most of my current clients), I understand what it is like to go through training camp, the pressure of competition and navigating everything that accompanies this. As a lawyer and trusted adviser, this makes my clients more comfortable in instructing me, knowing that I understand what is on the line for them.  

Sadly, you hear all too often of athletes being taken advantage of by stakeholders. This has happened in my own sporting career and is a key driving force for me in ensuring this does not happen to my clients.

The Post Office group litigation was, naturally, a hugely noteworthy case in terms of its profile and its significance for the claimants. That case taught me a lot about strategy in litigation, which has been invaluable in my role as a sports lawyer.

I work with athletes at all levels. They range from fighters who are just turning professional (Mario Silva) and experienced, high-profile fighters (including the likes of Chris Eubank Jr, Joshua Buatsi, Lawrence Okolie, Ben Whittaker, Chev Clarke) to Olympians (including weightlifter Emily Campbell – silver medallist at Tokyo 2020 and bronze medallist at Paris 2024). Footballers include Reiss Nelson, Ivan Toney and Destiny Udogie. I am also currently leading on one of the biggest UK arbitrations in the boxing world.

On a personal level, we can all agree that sport usually takes place outside ‘normal’ working hours. With boxing, there is no off-season like there is in football. I am pretty much on standby 24/7 but my approach to practice is holistic. I am available to my clients when they need me. I also advise on strategy, brand development, reputation management and more.

I was recently appointed to the Sports Resolutions Pro Bono Service. Costs should never be a barrier to justice. I am looking forward to continuing to help athletes who need legal advice so that their rights are protected.

 

Mohit Pasricha has been recognised as one of just 30 Leaders Under 40 Class of 2024 in the Leaders Sports Awards

Posted on: August 15th, 2024 by Hugh Dineen-Lees

We are delighted to share that Director and Head of Sports and Entertainment Mohit Pasricha has been recognised as one of just 30 Leaders Under 40 Class of 2024 in the Leaders in Sport awards.

Leaders in Sport serves to connect the most influential people and the most powerful ideas in global sport to drive the industry forward. Sponsored by Deloitte and now in their tenth year, the awards acknowledge exceptional individuals who have moved the sports industry forward in the last 12 months. Mohit was selected by an esteemed panel of over 70 judges in a highly competitive category with hundreds of nominations of an exceptional standard.

Mohit joins a high profile international cohort representing governments, regulators, clubs and major sports brands. He will receive his award at the awards ceremony to be held at BAFTA on Piccadilly on Tuesday 15 October. The event forms part of a series that comprise Leaders Week London, a gathering of the entire ecosystem of global sport to foster understanding of the global trends impacting the sport business landscape and how to commercialise them.

Click here to view the Class of 2024 in full.

Lawrence Stephens advises Compliance Group on the acquisition of CT Fire Protection

Posted on: June 13th, 2024 by Yvonne Uzoka

The Lawrence Stephens Corporate team has advised Compliance Group, a leading provider of safety and regulatory compliance for electrical, fire and water services, on the acquisition of CT Fire Protection, an owner managed company specialising in fire control systems.

Compliance Group focuses on providing integrated electrical, water and fire compliance services and applies best of breed technology solutions to ensure the full compliance of its customers. The company has built its leading position in this sector through a number of strategic acquisitions. Compliance Group’s long-term mission is to provide the best proposition in the industry by bringing together five-star customer services and technical excellence.

This latest transaction is Compliance Group’s third deal of 2024, underscoring its robust growth and strategic expansion plans via partnerships with high-quality businesses across the fire, water, and electrical compliance areas.

The Lawrence Stephens team was delighted to advise on this and earlier transactions. The team was led by Senior Associate Katherine Zangana, supported by Director Craig Mullen in commercial property and Solicitor Carla Bernstein in corporate.