Lewis Silkin has expanded its sports law group with the appointment of the former chief executive of the Football Association (FA) as a consultant and the hire of a former partner from Hammonds.

Rated sports immigration lawyer Andrew Osborne is joining to head up the firm's immigration practice, which sits within the wider employment and incentives group (EID).

Osborne, who was a partner at Hammonds before leaving late last year, joined Lewis Silkin earlier this month. He advises on all areas of player transfer work, including work permit appeals and regulatory issues, with a focus on football.

The firm has also hired the FA's former chief executive, Brian Barwick, in a newly-created role as chairman of the sports group. Barwick, who is not a lawyer, will serve as a part-time consultant in the position.

Prior to working at the FA between 2005 and 2008, Barwick also held posts as the BBC's head of TV sport and controller of sport at ITV.

Michael Burd and James Davies, joint heads of EID, commented: "These appointments are excellent news for both our sports and immigration practices. Andrew's appointment provides additional strength and depth, while Brian's knowledge of the sporting world is second to none and greatly strengthens our position in this sector."

Lewis Silkin's sports group, which is part of the firm's sector focus running alongside its practice groups, has four partners, eight associates and two consultants after the latest hires. The firm's most recent lateral hire came in November with the appointment of commercial property partner Rachel Francis-Lang from Simmons & Simmons.