Legal firm secure Paul Scholes to Oldham deal

Scholes the new boss at Latics

The legal company who worked on the deal to bring Paul Scholes to Oldham Athletic have been giving us an insight in to work behind the scenes.

The Manchester office of brand-focused boutique law firm, Brandsmiths, has overseen the appointment of the former England and Manchester United to Latics.

The move, announced by The Oldham Chronicle on Monday 11 February, is part of Brandsmiths’ year-long work with the club, for which the firm has become a trusted advisor in all legal matters.

• Oldham Athletic appoint Paul Scholes as manager

Representing a move into management, the Old Trafford legend was confirmed as the new manager of the League Two club after his move was sanctioned by the English Football League (EFL) Board.

Given his involvement as a shareholder at National League club Salford City FC, the move required special permission, which Brandsmiths was integral in securing. The month-long negotiations saw Brandsmiths present submissions to the EFL board which were vital to securing the deal.

Adam Morallee, founding partner at Brandsmiths, said: “As a firm with a major presence in football, this deal represents the pinnacle of our work with Oldham Athletic over the past year. Our significant experience working alongside both clubs and sporting talent to maximise the value of their rights in the game has ensured this deal provides the challenge and scope that the Club and Paul Scholes were striving for.”

After sacking Frankie Bunn in December, Oldham Athletic selected Scholes as the successor to caretaker boss Pete Wild. 

Abdallah Lemsagam, owner of Oldham Athletic, said: “Brandsmiths do a big job for us, I thank them for what they do for the Club and I am happy that I am working with them.” On the deal, he added: “Paul has won everything there is to win in football. He is a man who will bring a lot of footballing knowledge and his hunger to succeed in management will be there for everyone to see.”

Brandsmiths has a strong sporting heritage across the spectrum, from acting for numerous high net worth individuals in buying football clubs to acting for Rich Energy on its principal partnership with Haas F1 as well as acting for major promoters, trainers and talent in boxing such as Olympic silver medallist and heavyweight rising star Joe “the Juggernaut” Joyce. 

Some of Brandsmiths’ most notable cases in football include acting for Moussa Dembele on his record-breaking transfer to Olympic Lyon and acting for Roberto Carlos in his defamation case against the Daily Mail. Brandsmiths is also the only firm to argue successfully that an athlete should not be punished for refusing a doping test, when it successfully defended rugby league legend Ryan Bailey in his landmark victory against UK Anti-Doping.