Specialist sports law firm Couchmans LLP is proud to announce that it has been awarded the title of “law firm of the year” in the sports sector by Who’s Who Legal, a leading, independent guide to the international legal profession. This is the second successive year that Couchmans has won the award.

Couchmans, leading specialists in sports law, have helped The Great Run Company structure and agree a wide-ranging collaboration with mass participation specialists, Golazo.

Couchmans LLP, the specialist sports and media law firm, has advised The Association of European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) on the creation of a progressive new data rights co-operation involving 8 of its member leagues.

Nic, how was 2016 for the firm?

Overall I would describe it as intense. We work in a very competitive and dynamic space, and so 2016 was no different in that respect – we have had to work hard to stay front of mind for our clients. Some transactions slowed down a bit around the time of the Brexit vote but overall it was a very strong year for us. We picked up some fantastic new clients in football, worked on big name player transfers in the summer window, won a landmark case for Burnley FC with the highest compensation award given for an out of contract player, built our dispute resolution team, picked up exciting new work in motor racing and mass participation sports, helped to push the frontiers of data rights in sports still further, and made up a new partner and our first ‘home grown’ solicitor.

Couchmans LLP has advised Lega Nazionale Professionisti Serie B (“Lega B”) on a first-of-its-kind data and digital project for Italian football. The Couchmans team, led by Head of Sports Data Jody MacDonald, worked closely with Lega B’s Head of Digital Federico Smanio throughout 2016 to develop the League’s strategy.

Couchmans LLP has been recognised once again as a leading firm by The Legal 500 in its 2016 UK rankings, with the directory confirming the firm’s reputation as one of the top sports and brand management boutiques in the country.

International specialist and award-winning sports law firm Couchmans LLP is delighted to have advised Burnley FC in its recent claim for compensation from Liverpool FC before the Professional Football Compensation Committee.

Couchmans LLP, the specialist sports law firm, has advised Football DataCo Limited, the company responsible for the marketing and commercialisation of the official match data of The Premier League, The English Football League (EFL) and The Scottish Professional Football League, on the conclusion of Official Data Partnerships for Season 2016/17 to 2018/19 inclusive.