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Market leaders Brabners Chaffe Street advises on top clubs' summer transfers
1/09/2011

The Sports law team at North West firm Brabners Chaffe Street LLP has yet again led the way this summer in advising its clients on a raft of multi-million pound transfers. The firm, which advises many of the top clubs throughout the North West, across the UK and internationally, has also been active in assisting its clients on contract re-negotiations and work permits during the summer transfer window.

The firm's continued growing presence in the football arena was demonstrated by the team's ability to handle over 50 deals for over a dozen major clubs during the transfer window, including continuing to advise its long standing client, Manchester United.

Premier League Champions United were active in the transfer market this summer as they seek to defend their title this season, bringing in England duo, Ashley Young and Phil Jones, as well as the replacement for retiring goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar; David de Gea from Atlético Madrid. The Reds also extended the contracts of Ji-Sung Park and Antonio Valencia with Brabners assistance and sold Wes Brown, John O'Shea and Gabriel Obertan to North East rivals Sunderland and Newcastle United respectively. In turn Brabners aided Newcastle in its purchase of winger Sylvan Marveaux from French club Rennes.

Brabners also assisted Liverpool, who brought in Uruguayan international Sebastián Coates from South American club Nacional. Coates, who also required a work permit to play in England, looks set to bolster the Merseyside club's defence having been named as the “Young Player of the Tournament” at the recent Copa America. Brabners were involved in advising new client, Arsenal, on its successful work permit appeals for Brazilian left back, André Santos and Japan star, Ryo Miyachi.

Elsewhere in the North West, Blackburn Rovers instructed Brabners in the transfers of Scottish striker David Goodwillie, Radosav Petrovic from Serbian club, Partizan Belgrade, Scott Dann from Birmingham and Nigerian forward, Yakubu. Everton were also assisted in their deadline day captures of Dutch midfielder Royston Drenthe from Real Madrid and Argentine striker Denis Stracqualursi on season long loans.

North of the border, Brabners were also instrumental in securing former Fulham defender Carlos Bocanegra as well as Romanian international Dorin Goian for Rangers. The Glasgow giants also required work permits for the pair of Alejandro Bedoya and Matt Mckay. In the Championship, Leicester City, now under the guidance of former England boss, Sven Goran Eriksson, sought Brabners' expertise in bringing in former Preston striker, David Nugent and former Manchester City striker, Gelson Fernandes.

On an international level, Brabners also advised on Roque Santa Cruz's season long loan at Spanish club Real Betis from his current club, Manchester City.

Matthew Bennett, a Partner in the firm's Sports department, comments: “This has been the busiest summer transfer window the Sports Team has experienced to date with us working on over 50 transactions for numerous clubs, players and agents. The strength, depth and experience of the team however meant we were able to deal with the volume of deals. The work we have undertaken justifies our position as the leading football practice in the UK.”

The Brabners team included Maurice Watkins, Matthew Bennett, Edward Canty, Lydia Edgar, Carol Couse, David Bentham, Stuart Baird, Nicola Soden, Matt Barnes, Chris Anderson, Mark Bennett, Stuart Ripley and Sarah Davies.


For further information contact Matthew Bennett at Brabners Chaffe Street on 0161 836 8800

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