Chinese dancers

World Expo 2010 Shanghai China




About Brabners Chaffe Street (Back to top)

Brabners Chaffe Street LLP is a leading and highly respected North West law firm providing specialist legal and commercial support. With roots from founder law practices the firm has had a presence in the North West since the early 19th Century. Throughout our long and distinguished history we have built strong ties with key international port cities, including Shanghai, and whilst the North West is our home, we serve clients in London, throughout the UK and internationally.

We are a 400-people business with a long established and distinctive culture whose core beliefs are a commitment to value without compromising quality and the support and development of our most important asset, our people. This is perhaps best illustrated by our place in The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For 2010 (one of only three law firms to ever make the Top 20 in the history of the survey).

Excellence, experience and professionalism form a key part of how we routinely deliver our services. Our market position as a quality North West based firm of lawyers allows us to offer potential cost savings to clients in comparison with national and London practices. We are confident that you will be impressed by the level of service that our team of specialist lawyers is able to provide.

As a sponsor of the Liverpool Pavillion at the World Expo 2010 we are aiming to:

  • Develop strong and meaningful relations with a small number of law firms in Shanghai, with the aim of cross referring work to each other.
  • Build relationships with suitable Shanghai businesses intent upon undertaking business in the UK and, in particular, the North West.
  • Work with existing and new UK clients with interests in China, to introduce them to each other (where appropriate) and to raise awareness of our overall capability in the process.

Our Legal Services (Back to top)

We provide a comprehensive range of legal services to the corporate sector and a range of specialist services to PLCs, the institutional sector and the public sector. Brabners Chaffe Street is recognised as a leading firm in each of our core commercial practice areas:

  • Banking and Finance
  • Charity
  • Commercial contracts
  • Commercial litigation
  • Corporate
  • Employment
  • Intellectual property and information technology
  • Property
  • Sports law

We can assemble multi-disciplinary teams very readily in a short space of time and have specialist knowledge of supporting Chinese businesses looking to invest or market themselves in the UK and Europe.

Niche practice areas include advising international businesses on the identification, protection, exploitation and enforcement of their intellectual property rights. The firm continues to be a national and international market leader in the protection and exploitation of intellectual property rights through sponsorship, broadcasting and new media, merchandising and event organisation. We also have expertise in the software games industry including the development, supply, licensing, distribution, support, maintenance and outsourcing arrangements relating to software and hardware as well as e-commerce/website related matters.

The firm's reputation as one of the leading practices in sports law continues to grow dramatically, particularly on an international basis. We have developed a wealth of experience in sports such as football, motorsport, golf, swimming, diving and the other aquatic sports, athletics, rowing, tennis, boxing, cycling, cricket and rugby.

In football we continue to lead the way in disciplinary, regulatory, and governance issues with the team advising many of the English Premier League teams and having acted on some of the highest profile and most complex matters which have recently occurred such as David Beckham's transfer from Major League Soccer and LA Galaxy to AC Milan, Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer from Manchester United to Real Madrid and acting for West Ham United Football Club in various disputes and enquiries relating to the registration of Carlos Tevez.

On the commercial side of sport, the department continues to advise on some of the largest and most high profile commercial agreements within sport both in the UK and internationally and has recently received instructions from as far afield as the USA, South Africa, Italy and Switzerland. In particular, it has advised on over US $2.2 billion worth of sponsorship deals in the last 10 years. Events on which it has advised include the FIFA World Cup 2010, the FIFA World Cup 2006 and the Olympic and Paralympic Games to be held in London 2012.

The practice's sports clients include: Manchester United, other English Premier League football clubs, the English Premier League, FINA (the World governing body for swimming, diving and the aquatic sports), several leading international golfers and high profile golf clubs, numerous "big brand" sponsors such as adidas (sportswear and leisurewear), Molson Coors (beer), LloydsTSB (banking and insurance) Nielsen Media (market research) and Thomas Cook (travel and hospitality) and various international event organisers and marketing agents.

The practice head has also given presentations in both Beijing and Shanghai on various football related issues.

Our Clients (Back to top)

The firm acts for public and private companies, local, national and international institutions, local authorities, housing associations, newspapers and radio clients and major sports organisations including:

  • adidas
  • Associated British Foods plc
  • DHL/Exel
  • Edinburgh Woollen Mill Ltd
  • EMAP plc
  • Habitat UK Limited
  • Littlewoods Home Shopping Direct Ltd
  • Manchester United FC
  • Peel Holdings
  • Peel Ports
  • SITA UK
  • Typhoo Tea Limited

A Gateway to Europe (Back to top)

We are active members of two European legal networks:

Through our membership of these organisations we have access to associated offices and connections in over 60 European cities which can assist with meeting the increasingly complex and varied international needs of our clients.

Shanghai Law Firm Partnerships (Back to top)

Brabners Chaffe Street offers attractive and lucrative partnership prospects to Shanghai law firms looking to grow their global client base and provide existing clients with a more diverse service package. Within the firm we have an increasing number of UK and European based business clients looking to invest in China and requiring the expertise of a Shanghai based law firm. In return we offer specialist legal services relevant to your clients who are looking to invest in the North West and UK – please see 'Our Legal Services' section for more information.

In addition we can provide access to European legal expertise through our memberships of The Association of European Lawyers and Eurolegal – please see 'A Gateway to Europe' section for more information.

We have strong business relationships with national and international professional practices including accountants, architects, banks, developers, IFA's, insurance brokers, real estate advisors and key professional bodies and can arrange introductions when required.

There is also the potential to establish a reciprocal work placement programme combining both work experience within our firm and bespoke legal training courses run in connection with Liverpool universities.

Contact

If you would like to get in touch we are available via telephone, email or video conference. Both Nick Campbell and Sandy Gill from Brabners Chaffe Street will be attending the World Expo and you will find their contact details below. We can also provide translation facilities if necessary.

Nick Campbell, Partner, Employment
Telephone: + 44 151 600 3154
Email: nick.campbell@brabnerscs.com

Nick is a Partner within the firm's specialist and highly regarded Employment Law team. A member of The Law Society and the National Employment Lawyers Association, he has worked with a wide range of industry sectors assisting not only global businesses but also medium and smaller enterprises to address local, international and cross border employment issues. Nick is an experienced, trusted and highly regarded advocate and negotiator.

Nick will be attending the World Expo 2010 in September with the view to developing meaningful business relationships with a small number of trusted prestige law firms in China.

Sandy Chapple Gill, Partner
Telephone: +44 151 600 3414
Email: sandy.gill@brabnerscs.com

Sandy is a property Partner with Brabners Chaffe Street and specialises in commercial property, regeneration and development work. He acts for a number of local authorities as well as private developers including Peel Developments. He has been actively involved in many of the regeneration projects in Liverpool and throughout the North West.

Sandy will be present at the World Expo 2010 in October and taking part in the many events and initiatives to promote regeneration.

Business Grants and Funding

We can put you in touch with appropriate grant and funding organisations.