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Pinsent Masons agree global partnership with Soccerex

Pinsent Masons

Pinsent Masons

Soccerex, the football industry’s leading provider of business events, has announced a 4-year partnership with Global 100 law firm Pinsent Masons. The partnership will see Pinsent Masons become global partners of every Soccerex event until 2018.

Pinsent Masons are regarded as one of the world’s leading legal advisors to the sports sector working with over 35 professional teams in Europe, football associations, major funders and development projects, advising on a number of FIFA World Cups. The firm, which employs over 2,500 people, has market-leading UK coverage, with a significant presence in each of the UK’s three legal jurisdictions. Its international profile encompasses four offices in Asia Pacific, two offices in the Gulf and two offices in Europe. The firm also launched a presence in Turkey in 2013.

Soccerex, the global leader for the business of football, is renowned for delivering unique networking platforms around the world. Having staged 33 events across 5 continents over the last 18 years, this year, Soccerex will host an Asian Forum on 13-14 May in Jordan, a Global Convention on 6-10 September in Manchester and an African Forum on 4-5 November in Durban.

Trevor Watkins, Partner at Pinsent Masons, said: “We’re delighted to be forging a long-term partnership with Soccerex having witnessed at first hand their events over many years. Like Soccerex, we enjoy global reach and regional strength through our offices across the Gulf region, Asia Pacific, Europe and substantial work in North America and Africa. We take pride in being recognised as market leaders in advising on football – from national football associations to the takeovers and sales of clubs, their financing, transfers, commercial rights, hosting major events and creating facilities. Our ability to deliver this expertise globally in all aspects of sport is the foundation of this new, vibrant and exciting partnership.”

James Earl, Head of Pinsent Masons Gulf-region sports team, added: “The significance of both the Gulf and Asia to the business of world football is reflected in the substantial growth of the game and investment being made in the sport across and originating from both regions. It reflects our own approach at Pinsent Masons. With 6 offices in the Gulf and Asia Pacific region alone, and 18 internationally, we share the vision of a dynamic future where sport is a driver for investment. Soccerex provides a unique opportunity to bring together clients and contacts across all of the countries in which we work at events specific to their region, a key factor in our decision to enter this long term commitment.”

Soccerex CEO Duncan Revie said: “It was a great pleasure to be able to sign this new partnership with Pinsent Masons having welcomed them to our events for many years. Our two organisations have a significant global presence and we’re excited about developing that through our events. We are proud to add Pinsent Masons to the Soccerex Family and have them join our stable of global partners – Marketing Manchester, The Province of KwaZulu-Natal, the Asian Football Development Project and Lockton.”