The Premier League (PL) club, Southampton FC have announced a partnership with the local law firm, Paris Smith LLP.
The two-year agreement sees the law firm serve as the club’s official legal partner.
Huw Miles, Managing Partner at Paris Smith LLP, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, “We are incredibly proud to become the Legal Partner of Southampton Football Club. This partnership reflects our ongoing commitment to the community. Sport and especially football plays a huge part in the lives of those living in our region. We look forward to working closely with the club and contributing to its continued success.”
Clive Dobbin, Head of the new Sports Law team at Paris Smith, added, “As the head of our Sports Law team, I’m excited about the opportunity this partnership presents. Our work with Southampton FC will allow us to showcase our deep understanding of the unique legal challenges in professional football. We’re committed to providing tailored, innovative, legal solutions that will support the club’s ambitions both on and off the pitch. This collaboration is a natural fit, showing our specialist expertise in sports law, supporting all levels of the football pyramid from grassroots to teams in the Premier League, the best football league in the world.”
Tim Greenwell, Chief Operating Officer at Southampton FC, commented, “We are excited to welcome Paris Smith as our Official Legal Partner. Their expertise and support will be invaluable, and this partnership is a testament to our shared vision of excellence and community engagement.”
The partnership will see Paris Smith LLP provide comprehensive legal support to Southampton FC, covering areas such as contract negotiations, player transfers, commercial agreements, and regulatory compliance.
The partnership is anticipated to be mutually beneficial, with Southampton FC gaining access to expert legal counsel and Paris Smith LLP enhancing its profile within the sports industry.
Paris Smith LLP is a prominent law firm based in the United Kingdom, with offices in Southampton and Winchester. Renowned for its comprehensive legal services, the firm caters to businesses and individuals. With a strong reputation built on enduring client relationships, Paris Smith LLP offers expert advice across various legal areas, including corporate, commercial, property, family, and private client matters.
Before this deal, the Saints also inked partnerships with P&O Cruises, Draper Tools, Puma, Moonpig, Rollbit, Puma and Monster Energy.
This announcement comes on the heels of the club’s promotion to the English top flight. The club has been actively strengthening its squad during the summer transfer window with signings including Ronnie Edwards, Nathan Wood, Yukinari Sugawara, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Flynn Downes, and Ben Brereton Díaz. They will kick off their 2024-25 campaign with an away match against Newcastle United FC (NUFC) on August 17.