Northwest firm Brabners Chaffe Street has advised Manchester United Football Club on a new marketing deal with its main sponsor, insurance giant AIG.

The firm advised on the deal after absorbing the 30-strong sports practice from the football club's regular adviser, James Chapman & Co, in May this year.

Legacy James Chapman intellectual property (IP) partner Amanda Kearsley led the Brabners team, working alongside Manchester United's head of legal, Patrick Stewart.

Kearsley has advised on all of the club's marketing arrangements since the launch of MU Finance in 2001.

The seven-and-a-halfyear deal grants AIG the rights to offer its portfolio of financial services products via Manchester United's merchandising.

From January 2007, the contract will replace all the other existing deals that Manchester United has with several providers for Man U-branded UK insurance, mortgages, savings products and UK and international credit cards.

AIG was advised by Addleshaw Goddard IP partner Michael Lowry and insurance partner Ivor Edwards, and US firm Hughes Hubbard.

Kearsley said: "It has been terrific to help construct another groundbreaking deal for the club. The issues are particularly complex when working in regulated sectors, especially those surrounding the use and security of personal data."