Lead sponsor

Ankura is an independent global expert services and advisory firm that delivers end-to-end solutions to help clients at critical inflection points related to change, risk, disputes, finance, performance, distress, litigation, and transformation. Our dedicated sports advisory practice understands the relationship between sport, business, and society. The growing popularity of many sports alongside increased - and changing - commercial opportunities and societal expectations has created a dynamic environment in which clubs, franchises, leagues, investors, sponsors, international federations, and other stakeholders require expert support from trusted advisors who specialise in risk, integrity, and good governance in sport. We can help. Our cross-functional team of experts and advisors brings an extensive level of expertise in risk, compliance, investigations, forensic accounting, construction, infrastructure, and geopolitical advisory – all underpinned by cutting edge technology.

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Associate sponsor

Deutsche Bank provides retail and private banking, corporate and transaction banking, lending, asset and wealth management products and services as well as focused investment banking to private individuals, small and medium-sized companies, corporations, governments and institutional investors. Deutsche Bank is the leading bank in Germany with strong European roots and a global network.

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Associate sponsor

Excel Search & Advisory (formerly Nolan Partners) is the premier leadership consultancy and executive search practice specialising in sports, media, and entertainment worldwide. Leveraging decades of expertise, industry-leading research, and a global network, we excel in sourcing exceptional leadership talent, building high-performing cultures, and developing management teams. We have become experts in working with investors both pre- and post-acquisition to advise on their talent strategy and to identify and secure key business and performance leadership talent Our track record includes the English Premier League, The English Football League, the WSL, La Liga, Ligue 1, the Bundesliga, MLS, NWSL, Liga MX and Serie A. In addition to our market-leading position in Global Football, we have also partnered with 20 NFL teams, 16 NBA teams, 12 MLB teams, as well as multiple League Offices and Federations such as the MLB, LPGA, the ITF, and leading F1 teams including Mercedes AMG Petronas.

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Associate sponsor

Northridge is a law firm that focuses on the most complex and important matters in sport. With 31 lawyers dedicated to the sports industry, Northridge is unique in having the expertise and scale required to advise clients on the most complex and sensitive matters in the industry. The firm is ranked in Tier 1 for Sport in Chambers and Legal 500.

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Associate sponsor

Sporting Clube de Portugal was born in 1906, destined to achieve great accomplishments. “We want Sporting to be a big club, as big as the biggest in Europe”. This vote of approval was given on the 8th of May 1906 by José Alvalade and with this vote came the colour green: The colour of hope. One hundred years later this infamous quote is more than justified, with Sporting embracing its unique past and launching itself into challenges that await in the future. Today is by far, the Largest National Sports Power with 22 thousand titles won, 42 Internationals titles in 7 different modalities (football, athletics, hockey on roller skates, handball, judo, goalball and futsal), and 158 Olympian athletes that conquered 11 Olympic medals: 2 Gold, 7 Silver and 2 Bronze.

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Associate sponsor

Teneo is the global CEO advisory firm. We provide advisory services across our five business segments of Strategy & Communications, Financial Advisory, Management Consulting, People Advisory and Risk Advisory to help our clients solve complex business challenges. Teneo’s Strategic Sports Advisory team works with some of the biggest names in sport on business-critical issues. We work with national and international governing bodies; clubs, teams and franchises; private capital investors in sports assets; as well as their sponsors and partners. Our Sports clients trust us to support them with briefs ranging from protecting and enhancing reputation, developing operational models and addressing D&EI issues, through to complex sport-specific issues such as player welfare and treatment. We help our clients to navigate the increasingly complex sporting landscape to promote and enhance reputational and commercial value, under the core principle of sport as an enabler of social equality and a right for all. Our advice is based on genuine insight – from fans to investors, to politicians and governing bodies. We speak the language of sport and can communicate it effectively.

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Networking sponsor

The football industry is one of the most thrilling sectors and provokes a multitude of passion, opinions and excitement for everyone involved. The opportunities and challenges are far-reaching and diverse. Herbert Smith Freehills helps businesses navigate the sector in order to help clients thrive in the complex and rapidly changing landscape. The need to meet customer and board expectations in a thriving digital environment and remain competitive is leading many clients to change their business models and adopt technology-driven solutions. Herbert Smith Freehills works with international sporting bodies, corporations, venture, growth and private equity investors, sports clubs and individual sports personalities to provide cross-border, full-service legal advice wherever they do business globally. They advise on regulatory and disciplinary issues, investments in, and acquisitions/disposals of, clubs, exploitation of broadcasting and other rights, contractual issues, sponsorships and restructurings of sports governing bodies and other sports-related entities. They are a leading sports practice and act for all sports stakeholders, including, sponsors, television companies, gaming and wagering entities, governing bodies, clubs, teams and individuals. Their practice has wide-ranging experience of the sector in the UK, Europe, Asia, North America and Australia.

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Networking sponsor

Meltwater empowers companies with a suite of solutions that spans media, social, consumer, and sales intelligence. By analyzing ~1 billion pieces of content each day and transforming them into vital insights, Meltwater unlocks the competitive edge to drive results. With 27,000 global customers, 50 offices across six continents, and 2,300 employees, Meltwater is the industry partner of choice for global brands making an impact.

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Programme sponsor

Milltown Partners is a global advisory firm working with influential organisations and individuals on the communications and public policy challenges that define their reputations. Since our founding in 2013 we have worked for clients in sport across a wide range of categories – from clubs, competition organisers and rightsholders to media companies, governing bodies and international organisations. One of our core specialisms is advising owners and investors in European football. We understand that sporting organisations are cultural and social institutions, which operate in a unique, complex and highly-scrutinised environment of fans, media, business and government. We also understand that the individuals and organisations who invest in, own and partner with sporting institutions today are drawn from the very top level of global finance and business. The diversity of our experience, our deep sector-specific knowledge and our global footprint make us uniquely well positioned to help our clients successfully navigate these different worlds.

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