Football Association revamps legal team

16 August 2010 | By Andrew Pugh

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.