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Top Manchester sports lawyer on track with new role
1/09/2008

Maurice Watkins, senior partner at Brabners Chaffe Street LLP, has been appointed as the inaugural chairman of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain.

The announcement was made by Lord Donoughue of Ashton, the chairman of the Greyhound Racing Transition Committee.

The role adds to Mr Watkins` position as a director of Manchester United, a non-executive director of the Rugby Football League and a regional chairman of Coutts Bank.

The GBGB, which was formed following Lord Donoughue`s independent review of the greyhound industry in November last year, is scheduled to be up and running by early 2009.

It will combine the functions of the British Greyhound Racing Board and the National Greyhound Racing Club and will be the sole governing and regulatory body for licensed greyhound racing in Great Britain.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Watkins said: "I am looking forward tremendously to working with the newly-formed board.

"Lord Donoughue`s report contained important proposals for the industry as it moves forward, and the implementation of these will be a priority for us."

The report`s recommendations include better supervision for the rehoming of greyhounds once their racing career is over, and more research into the quality of tracks.

The study also proposed that greyhound registration fees should be increased, with a percentage be returned to the owner on evidence that the greyhound's future upon retirement has been secured.

Lord Donoughue`s investigation was commissioned in the wake of reports of greyhound welfare issues, which alerted a wider public to some of the welfare problems surrounding the sport during the passage of the Animal Welfare Bill.

Other members of the GBGB include Ian Taylor, a former Olympic Gold Medallist with over 380 caps representing England and Great Britain at hockey, who is the chief executive.

Lord Donoughue commented: "I and my colleagues on the Greyhound Racing Transition Committee are delighted to have such a strong team in place to lead greyhound racing and the Greyhound Board of Great Britain into the future.

"It is a great sport and its new governance and regulatory structure deserves the best leadership, which I am confident these appointments will provide."
Ends
Note to editors:

• Brabners Chaffe Street LLP is ranked within The Lawyer`s top 100 law firms in the UK and recognised within the Legal 500 as one of the North West`s leading firms.

• Last year, the firm reported a turnover of £26 million.

• Its core practice areas are commercial, corporate, employment, commercial litigation, private client, property and sports law.

• It currently employs 376 members of staff in offices in Liverpool, Manchester and Preston.

• In 2008, Brabners Chaffe Street LLP was listed at number 27 in The Sunday Times` Best Companies survey, only one of two law firms to be mentioned within the top 30.

• Other recent awards include the Groundwork Merseyside Responsible Business Award 2008 and the Gold Business Environmental Pledge award by Manchester City Council.

• Its website can be found at www.brabnerschaffestreet.com


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