The firm's head of sport, Maurice Watkins, is leading the team. West Ham appointed Brabners to take over from Travers Smith, who had previously been acting for the club on the dispute with Sheffield United.
A source at Travers said that the firm is still the club's main external firm for other matters, including corporate and finance, but that Brabners would be advising West Ham on its appeal to the Court for Arbitration in Sport in Switzerland.
Denton Wilde Sapte has acted for Sheffield United, winning the club £30m in compensation from West Ham United after a Football Association hearing. Litigation partner John Rosenheim and arbitration specialist Paul Stothard led the team.
Dentons instructed Ian Mill QC and Adam Lewis, both at Blackstone Chambers. Fountain Court's Michael Brindle QC, and Paul Harris at Monckton Chambers, were counsel to West Ham United.
The compensation claim came about after Carlos Tevez, who was later found to be ineligible to play, scored the winner for West Ham United against Manchester United on the last day of the 2006/2007 Premier League season, causing Sheffield United to be relegated.
Brabners
From: Goatero
The compensation claim was imposed because West Ham admitted breaking two FAPL rules:
One prohibited third-party player ownership; the other breach was viewed as more serious and required West Ham did not conduct all it's transactions 'in utmost good faith'. West Ham were found guilty of 'an obvious and deliberate deception'.
Brabners
From: Terry
Please get your facts right, Carlos Tevez was never ineligible to play for West Ham United. He was at all times registered with the Premier League. Typical of all the press printing what you like instead of the truth.