Pinsent Masons advises on US acquisition of Dundalk FC

Pinsent Masons has advised on the acquisition of League of Ireland football club Dundalk FC by a US-based consortium.

The firm not only advised on all aspects of transaction but played a key role in bringing the lead consortium stakeholders together.

The firm’s team was led by Trevor Watkins, global head of sport; Dennis Agnew, corporate partner in Dublin; and Ben Proctor, corporate solicitor in Leeds. They were supported by a team of twelve other fee earners based in Dublin, Leeds and London.

Mr Watkins said: “We are delighted to complete our first major sporting transaction in Ireland. It was particularly pleasing to be able to work from the outset by helping to bring the consortium together. It is a pioneering project and one that brings a tremendous stakeholder group together. Having advised on over thirty similar projects this one is particularly satisfying given the international dimension and domestic impact.”

Mr Agnew added: “We were pleased to spearhead such a landmark project so soon after the opening of our Dublin office. It was great to work closely with Trevor and our Global Sports Advisory team, who brought considerable specialist expertise into the Irish legal market to support our core offering in Dublin.

“We look forward to building on this going forward both within the sports sector and other key areas of the firm.”

Fred Spencer, the original source of the deal and part of the investment consortium, said, “We were delighted to work with Trevor, Dennis, Ben and the broader team at Pinsent Masons. Their blend of long standing sports industry experience and an impressive global network of contacts were at the heart of our bringing this consortium together and completing this transaction.

“They have guided us throughout, giving us valuable practical and commercial advice – even to the extent of identifying potential recruits – as well as delivering excellent service and understanding on all legal matters. Their role was absolutely central to the success of the project.”

Jay Coppoletta, in-house attorney at PEAK6, part of the consortium, added: “We highly value Pinsent Masons’ input and understanding and without their guidance and network, this transaction would not have happened.”

Chris Buckley of Acuity Sport and Adrian Benson of Dillon Eustace in Dublin advised the sellers.