Brabners Chaffe Street Solicitors - Sport Services

Sport News Stories

UFC stars call on Brabners Chaffe Street`s A-Team
20/05/2010

The sports team at leading North West law firm Brabners Chaffe Street has advised on a string of commercial and contractual agreements involving the stars of UFC - the US mixed martial arts (MMA) championship which is fast-gaining popularity in the UK.

A team led by Partner Mike Blood is advising two of the sport`s biggest names, America`s Quinton `Rampage` Jackson and Britain`s Michael `The Count` Bisping, on their global sponsorships, endorsements and public appearances, as well as fighting and film contracts.

Its latest role was managing the legal agreements surrounding Jackson`s starring role in the forthcoming Hollywood blockbuster The A-Team, in which he plays Sgt B. A. Baracus. The $150m film will be released globally in June and in the UK in July.

Brabners Chaffe Street advises Jackson - the former UFC world light heavyweight champion - on his contractual and commercial terms, working alongside his agent, Liverpool born Anthony McGann, and the LA-based talent agency, William Morris Endeavour Entertainment.

The firm`s Manchester team has also advised Lancashire based Bisping, who won the UFC`s reality TV series The Ultimate Fighter, in all of the fighter`s commercial and sporting contracts.

Both Bisping and Jackson train and fight together at the Wolfslair MMA Academy in Widnes - the UK`s leading training camp for mixed martial arts founded by McGann and colleague Lee Gwynn - which is also a client of Brabners Chaffe Street.

Commenting on the firm`s expertise in the sport, Partner Mike Blood, said: "The popularity of UFC and mixed martial arts has exploded all around the world in the last few years. As such its key protagonists have a huge commercial value, which needs protecting in order to ensure they and their representatives benefit appropriately.

"We`ve operated nationally in this field for many years in most sports and have some of the most experienced lawyers supporting our clients."

Bisping and Jackson are fighting separately at the UFC 114 bout in Las Vegas on 29 May, which will be screened live in the UK by broadcaster ESPN.


For further information contact Mike Blood at Brabners Chaffe Street on 0161 836 8800

Back to the Sport news headlines