A Manchester-based sports law specialist has said it will target international growth in the US and mainland Europe with the backing of a private equity investor.
Equity house Palatine is understood to have acquired a significant minority stake in Centrefield LLP in the latest deal in which outside finance has been brought into a legal services business.
Centrefield acts for sporting organisations around the world, with a client list that includes most of the Premier League football clubs and several EFL clubs. It already has a presence in the US through Major League Soccer clubs, sports businesses, agencies and high-profile players and athletes.
The firm is also active in other sports including rugby, cricket, boxing, swimming, golf, triathlon, basketball, cycling and eSports, as well as having a growing media team.
Centrefield was founded in Manchester in 2015 by three former partners of north west firm Brabners, Edward Canty, David Bentham and Matthew Bennett, with Stuart Baird being promoted to partner soon after.
The business has 33 staff including seven partners and has increased fee income by 20% in the last year. Accounts for the year to 31 March 2026, published last week, show net assets rising by 46% to £4.1m.
Canty said: ‘The partners decided that if we wanted to maximise Centrefield’s potential to be the leading global specialist sports law firm we would need an experienced and collaborative strategic investment partner to support us on the next stage of our journey. We are therefore incredibly excited to be working with Palatine. It was clear very early on in the discussions that there was a huge synergy in culture, ambition and outlook between us.’
Palatine is a UK mid-market private equity investor which already invests in MoneyPlus Group, a consumer financial services group that includes a legal services provision.
Tom Wildig, buyout fund partner, said: ‘Centrefield is an outstanding law firm with a stellar reputation in its sector and amid ever-increasing global interest in sport and a complex and evolving regulatory climate, the potential for further growth is very strong.’
The buyout fund invests between £10m and £50m in management teams trying to achieve their next phase of sustainable growth.
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