Charles Russell has been instructed by online betting site Paddy Power to take legal action against the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) for allegedly taking down its advertising.

The bookmaker is seeking a court order against the London Olympic 2012 organisers, after LOCOG allegedly instructed advertising company JCDecaux to remove Paddy Power's latest advertising campaign from high-profile poster sites around the capital.

The billboards promote Paddy Power's sponsorship of an event set to take place in the French town of London next month; however, the bookmaker is seeking the court order on the grounds that its campaign does not breach LOCOG legislation on advertising around the 2012 Games.

Charles Russell sports specialist and Paddy Power relationship partner Ian Lynam is leading the firm's team alongside contentious intellectual property partner Mary Bagnall, while LOCOG is being advised by Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

A spokesperson from Paddy Power said: "We pride ourselves on listening to our customers and what we've heard loud and clear is that LOCOG have got their priorities upside-down. 

"It's a pity they didn't put the same energy into the ticketing and security arrangements for the games that they put into protecting their sponsorship revenue streams. We're taking this fight to the High Court in the interest of our customers and of common sense."

The news comes after Charles Russell was named among a roster of 17 law firms and chambers on the pro bono panel for the London 2012 Olympic Games last summer.

The firm will be offering advice on sport, defamation and privacy issues to athletes, coaches, team officials, national Olympic committees, national Paralympic committees and international federations throughout the games.