Former Brabners partners launch new sports and media law firm

North West commercial law firm Brabners LLP has announced plans to collaborate with Manchester-based Centrefield LLP, a new company established out of its existing sports practice.

As part of the agreement, three Brabners partners will exit the firm to form Centrefield, while Brabners’ Maurice Watkins CBE and Jason Smith will continue to provide legal services from its own sports business.

Centrefield has been launched by Matthew Bennett, Edward Canty and David Bentham, along with a seven-strong team of solicitors and associates.

Moving forward, the two companies will collaborate closely to provide services to new and existing sports industry clients.

Brabners’ managing partner, Mark Brandwood, said: “Placing a clear focus on core commercial services, across key sectors, continues to deliver growth for Brabners and this remains our long term strategy.

“This agreement will enable Matthew, David, Edward and their team to focus on sports and media law, and for our two firms to work together on a mutually beneficial basis.”

He continued: “Sport remains an important sector for the firm and in Maurice Watkins CBE and Jason Smith we have two of the most renowned sports lawyers in the country.

“They continue to advise some of the UK’s most prestigious brands and are supported by members of the wider firm in offering a range of other services to clients in the sector, including employment, corporate, property, litigation, private client, matrimonial, charity and tax law.”

Discussing the formation of Centrefield, former Brabners partner Matthew said he and his colleagues felt the time was right to place a renewed focus on sports and media law.

He added: “We are looking forward to launching our new venture and continuing to work closely with our colleagues at Brabners.”

Brabners currently employs close to 350 people across offices in Liverpool, Manchester and Preston.

In April 2014, the firm’s fee income rose to £30.2m, up from £28.9m in 2013.

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