"We are not trying to do everything; we are after the biggest projects, the biggest challenges to sporting rules or the setup of the biggest competitions," says former Charles Russell Speechlys sports co-head Ian Lynam of his new boutique, which launched today (23 October). 

Lynam is one of four CRS sports partners behind the new boutique, Northridge, founding the venture alongside Jonathan Ellis, Jon Walters and James Eighteen. Ellis and Lynam previously led the sports group at CRS.

The four partners will lead a 16-fee earner team that also includes three managing associates and four associates.

Between them they will focus on governance and regulation for sports governing bodies, high-profile issues for professional athletes, complex disputes and investigations, and business corporate and commercial deals.

Existing clients making the move with the partners to Northridge include the Football Association, the Welsh Rugby Union and Premiership Rugby.

High-profile individuals include professional footballers such as Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli, Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas, Manchester City midfielder Raheem Sterling and retired striker Thierry Henry, best known for his time with Arsenal FC.

Lynam said: "We have built a tradition over the past few years of being the team to turn to when the stakes are highest. It felt the time was right for us to have that extra focus within our own firm. The work we do needs a very strong team and we have been lucky to build a team that we think is unmatched in the industry.

"We have built great relationships and those clients are keen to learn about the new firm and get started. For most of them it should be a case of being advised on Friday from one home at CRS and that today we will advise them from another home without much changing."

CRS commercial partner Jason Saiban will take over as head of the firm's sport team, which has clients including Nike, the Youth Sport Trust and the British Horseracing Authority.

Photo: joshjdss