Mills & Reeve lawyer to chair pro-manchester sports group

pro-manchester has appointed Mills & Reeve lawyer, Rachael Somerset, as the chair of its Sports Industry Group.

The group has also appointed Mills & Reeve associate, Rustam Sethna, as its vice chair.

The pro-manchester Sports Industry Group focuses on the business needs of clubs, organisations and sporting individuals as well as the contribution sport has on the region’s economy and service sectors.

Sam Booth, chief executive of pro-manchester, said the Sports Industry Group is committed to supporting talent across the North West and the appointment of Rachael and Rustam will further enhance the group’s impact on the sector. Sam said: “Rachael and I have worked together for many years, firstly when she was on the Future pro-manchester committee which helps young talent within Greater Manchester’s business community. Now, we are collaborating on developing talent across all areas of the region’s sports sector. Rachael and Rustam have a wealth of knowledge and skills across all sports and will be a valuable addition to the group.”

Rachael is a principal associate in the Manchester office of Mills & Reeve. She is a commercial litigator and an expert in reputation management and defamation, particularly in the sports, media and entertainment sector. She regularly represents high profile clients including celebrities, professional footballers at top-flight clubs, sports organisations, NHS and Education bodies, corporates and charities.

Rachael is also a champion of women in sport and is part of the team behind Mills & Reeve’s Equalizer initiative – a bespoke sports law package to help support growth and “level the playing field” for women in sport.

Rustam advises on sports disputes and regulation. He has acted for athletes, clubs, governing bodies, player associations, agents and administrators in contractual, employment, disciplinary, ethics, anti-doping and selection disputes before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and various international and national governing body tribunals, such as the FIFA Football Tribunal and the EFL’s Player Related Dispute Commission.

The Mills & Reeve sports team is regarded as one of the leading practices in the UK and overseas, acting for the biggest names in the sporting world.

Clients include Premier League clubs and players, governing bodies such as the Super League Europe and British Cycling, players’ unions including The Professional Footballers Association (PFA), sports agencies, professional sports stars and athletes. Several of the team are panel members on arbitration bodies including the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Rachael said: “I’m looking forward to driving forward the group to help enhance the North West’s international reputation as a centre for sporting excellence. Sport is a huge contributor to the North West’s economy and pro-manchester plays a vital role in developing businesses, clubs, sporting organisations and individuals to maximise the sector’s impact in the region.”