Chris Farnell
Born (1969-12-21) 21 December 1969
NationalityBritish
Alma materLiverpool University
OccupationLawyer
Known forSports Law
Websiteipslaw.co.uk

Christopher William Farnell (born 21 December 1969) is an English solicitor. Farnell owns the Manchester-based legal practice IPS Law.[1] He is a sports lawyer, also working in media and entertainment-related law.[1] Farnell has worked for boxers, international footballers and managers, Premier League and English Football League clubs and European football agents.[2]

Biography

Career and sports law

Farnell studied economics at Liverpool University where he gained a 2:1 in economics before he studied law.[3] Farnell was signed to Blackburn Rovers, but was unable to continue his career due to an injury.[2][4]

Farnell worked at Eversheds before, in 2004, becoming a partner at Hill Dickinson, then founded and established IPS Law LLP in 2006 as a niche sports law practice.[2]

Farnell gained a reputation in sports law for representing players and managers[2] and in particular his work on image rights. IPS specialises in image rights, player transfers, intellectual property contracts, contract re-negotiations, sponsorship and endorsement contracts, defamation, sports dispute resolution, footballer and agent disputes, doping hearings, regulatory issues, and both contentious and non-contentious intellectual property law.[5][6] Farnell has been involved in the purchases of several professional football clubs.[7]

Wigan Athletic

Farnell was a club director between March and June 2013 of Wigan Athletic coinciding with the club's 2013 FA Cup Final win and Premier League relegation. His directorship was ended on the same day as manager Roberto Martinez left to join Everton.[8]

Leeds United

Farnell advised Massimo Cellino during his 2014 takeover of Leeds United. Farnell reportedly sacked Leeds United manager Brian McDermott by telephone on behalf of the club's prospective new owner, Cellino.[9][10]

Swansea City

Farnell was the lead lawyer on the 2016 sale of Swansea City to new owners;[11] on the sale of the club, and was later accused by former director Steve Penny, who wanted to profit from the sale of the club, of bullying and intimidation during a board meeting, to make him leave.[12] The judge found that these claims were unsupported.[13] Penny and fellow director Don Keefe won their claim of unfair dismissal.[14]

Charlton Athletic

Farnell came under scrutiny for his involvement in the Charlton Athletic takeover deal with Paul Elliott. He was invited to advise the board by owner Tahnoon Neimer, successfully removing Matt Southall as chairman.[15] He was present when police were called to The Valley as tensions rose.[16] His involvement continued until Farnell subsequently found himself professionally unable to continue with instructions due to the club being sold.[17] The takeover was for the transfer of shares from Panorama Magic, which owned 65% of East Street Investments,[18] where Farnell was a director, to Lex Dominius,[19] of which Farnell was a director, whilst representing Charlton Athletic.[20]

Burnley

Farnell was interested in purchasing Burnley along with Mohamed El Kashashy.[21] El Kashashy was also rumoured to be part of a takeover of Charlton Athletic in 2020,[22] and had completed a sales and purchasing agreement for Burnley.[23] However, in December 2020 they pulled out of a potential deal.[24]

Personal life

In February 2014, Farnell was found not guilty of assaulting his first wife Rebecca, with whom he had four children.[25] In September 2015 at Newcastle magistrates' court, Farnell, along with Sammy Lee, Phil Gartside and others, faced counts of perjury brought by Gavin McCann's former agent in a private prosecution relating to McCann's 2007 transfer to Bolton Wanderers.[26] No evidence was offered and all were cleared of any wrongdoing.[27]

Farnell is now married to his second wife Clare and lives in Mobberley, Cheshire.[28]

References

  1. 1 2 ByCallum Rice-Coates (28 October 2020). "Who is Chris Farnell? Sports lawyer profiled amid links with potential £200m Burnley FC takeover". Lancs Live. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Feddy, Kevin (15 February 2007). "New goal for sports lawyer". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  3. ↑ "Chris Farnell". IPS Law. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  4. ↑ John Scheerhout (13 June 2012). "Old Boy Chris Farnell's gift saves day for youth team". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  5. ↑ Solicitors Law Society. "IPS LAW LLP". Solicitors Law Society. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  6. ↑ "Proactive Sports Management Ltd V Rooney and ORS". Case Mine. 15 July 2010. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  7. ↑ Neil Rose (12 March 2009). "Sports law is now an established practice area". The Law Society Gazette. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  8. ↑ "Latics Realisation Limited". Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  9. ↑ Gibson, Richard (3 February 2014). "Brian McDermott refuses to walk away from Leeds despite takeover chaos". Guardian. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  10. ↑ "Football Academy hopes to score £250K Investment". Insider Media. 6 February 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  11. ↑ "Trust Response to Press Article". Swansea City Supporters Trust. 13 February 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  12. ↑ "Ex-Swansea City director 'bullied' into leaving role". BBC News. 11 December 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  13. ↑ Clare Louise (13 March 2022). "An Insight into Sports Law". Top Law Practices. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  14. ↑ "Ex-Swansea City directors' £100k unfair dismissal payout". BBC News. 10 July 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  15. ↑ Joe Moore (March 20, 2020). "VICTORY Charlton Athletic owner Tahnoon Nimer 'removes' Matt Southall, but chairman insists he has NOT left the club". Talk Sport. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Charlton Civil War continues with Police called to The Valley on Thursday Night". Evening Standard. 13 March 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  17. ↑ Pearce Bates (2 January 2020). "Charlton Athletic takeover completed by East Street Investments". Sports Pro Media. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  18. ↑ "East Street Investments Limited". 13 November 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  19. ↑ "Lex Dominus Ltd". 29 October 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  20. ↑ Toby Porter (28 October 2020). "Former Charlton solicitor Chris Farnell given right to pursue ownership of a football club". London News Online. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  21. ↑ Jonathan Northcroft (28 October 2020). "Burnley in takeover talks after suitor Chris Farnell's EFL ownership ban is lifted". The Times. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  22. ↑ George Dagless (29 June 2020). "Update given on Charlton ownership as new faces are spotted at Valley V QPR". The Football League World. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  23. ↑ Alex James (15 December 2020). "Burnley takeover latest with timeframe over deal as ALK Capital continue talks". Lancs Live. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  24. ↑ Simon Stone (22 December 2020). "Burnley takeover: Mohamed El Kashashy and Chris Farnell pull out of potential deal". The British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  25. ↑ "Leeds United takeover adviser Chris Farnell cleared of attacking wife at their luxury home". Yorkshire Post. 14 February 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  26. ↑ "Bolton chairman Phil Gartside in court over transfer row". BBC News. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  27. ↑ "Sammy Lee and Phil Gartside cleared over £1m McCann transfer". The British Broadcasting Corporation. 21 September 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  28. ↑ "Making it work: An Interview with Sports Lawyer Chris Farnell". Market Watch. 28 October 2021. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
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