Hammonds and Addleshaw Goddard have won lead roles on the proposed takeover of Blackburn Rovers Football Club by an Indian poultry farming company.

The Premier League club's owners are currently in talks with the Venky's group about a sale, reportedly worth around £40m, which is expected to close within weeks.

Hammonds is advising Venky's, fielding a team led by sports law heavyweight David Hull, a partner in the corporate strategy & finance department in the national firm's London office.

Venky's, established in 1976, was formerly known as Western Hatcheries Limited. The company produces poultry products as well as animal health products and pet food, and has also more recently branched out into the pharmaceuticals sector.

The Jack Walker Trust, Blackburn's majority shareholder, has turned to Addleshaws for advice on the deal. The UK top 20 firm is fielding a team led by Manchester senior associate Dan Hart.

The takeover, if completed, will see Blackburn become the first Indian-owned Premier League club.

Blackburn are one of only four teams to have won the Premier League since its inception in 1992, alongside Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea. The club was owned by steel millionaire Jack Walker until his death in 2000.

The deal marks the second major football takeover instruction for Hammonds in recent months, after Hull advised Leicester City FC on the club's takeover by Thai consortium Asia Football Investments in August this year.

Notable football-related deals for Addleshaws in recent years include advising AIG on its 2006 shirt sponsorship deal with Manchester United.

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