We have announced a legal partnership with the UK Cheerleading Association (UKCA), with senior associate Nick Murrills joining the UKCA board as independent chairman.
As a national, non-profit organisation, UKCA actively develops the sport of cheerleading from grassroots through to national, European and world level, organising competitions and events across the country, as well as training coaches, cheerleaders, judges, officials, young leaders and volunteers.
Joining UKCA as independent chairman, Nick Murrills is a senior associate in Gateley Plc’s Sports Sector team. Nick focuses on sports litigation, defamation and reputation management, as well as investigations and advice on matters of corporate governance, acting for a wide range of sports clients including Premier League football clubs, sports’ national governing bodies and players, managers and sports agents.
Nick commented: “We’ve worked with UKCA over the past couple of years, so it’s great for me to now join the organisation in an official capacity. The values that UKCA hold mirrors our own organisation’s values of collaboration and team spirit very closely, so it was a natural fit for us to also enter this partnership as a firm.
“Our national sports expertise spans property and construction matters, sponsorship and athlete agreements, brand licensing, commercial contracts, litigation and alternative dispute resolution, reputation management matters, and governance and competition issues. Over the years, we have represented a wide range of sports clients and I’m thrilled to be working more closely with UKCA and enhancing our expertise in this sport.”
Pat Hawkins, CEO/President at UKCA, added: “UKCA is delighted to announce a new and exciting partnership with Gateley Plc and have Nick Murrills as independent chair. On behalf of everyone involved in UKCA, we welcome Nick on board and look forward to working with Gateley Plc to support UKCA’s future development plans for the sport.”
Gateley Plc has a wide range of experience within the sports industry and is the exclusive legal services provider for the Sport and Recreation Alliance. The firm is selected by Sport England, Sport Wales and UK Sport to be on the panel of law firms recommended to provide legal services to the national governing bodies of sport and recreation organisations. Clients include Manchester City FC, Everton FC, the National Football Museum, the International Netball Federation and Lancashire County Cricket Club.