Football Association revamps legal team
English football’s governing body the Football Association (FA) is overhauling its legal team, following the departure of senior solicitor Rhodri Lewis.
Welshman Lewis, who took up the role in November 2009, left the association two weeks ago to become head of legal affairs at the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).
At the FA he reported to group legal director and company secretary Alistair Maclean. His departure has given the body an opportunity to review its 10-lawyer legal function.
The senior solicitor position will be replaced by a senior commercial solicitor and a senior litigation solicitor. The new roles will be filled by internal promotions. Interviews for the vacancies are underway.
The legal team will also be restructured into three business units: commercial, litigation and company secretarial. The commercial unit will be a broad area covering the association’s main income streams, such as broadcast rights, sponsorship and Wembley Stadium.
The litigation unit will also be responsible for areas such as governance, regulation and child protection.
The two units will run alongside the existing company secretarial function.
The FA plans to hire a junior litigation solicitor, as well as a junior commercial solicitor, once the two senior vacancies have been filled.
Readers' comments (3)
Anonymous | 16-Aug-2010 9:05 am
I bet Rhodri is thrilled to see his so called "senior" position being filled from within by a junior.
Another case of in-house lawyers involved in self-aggrandisement, which the Lawyer dutifully laps up. Yawn.
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JD | 17-Aug-2010 11:06 am
If you read the article correctly, they are appointing two junior lawyers ONCE the senior positions have been filled. ie. to support / assist the senior personnel.
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Anonymous | 18-Aug-2010 9:48 am
JD you dimwit, you've missed the point entirely. I suggest you re-read the article, and then the post above.
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