JMW’s sports team has advised Warwickshire County Cricket Club on a complex deal that saw Knighthead Capital Management acquire 49% of Birmingham Phoenix for £40m.

The team advised Warwickshire not only in its capacity as the host club for Birmingham Phoenix but also in its capacity as a majority shareholder in Birmingham Phoenix, and is part of a wider deal which will see over £500m invested into English cricket. This pivotal moment sees The Hundred become the first UK sports competition to secure franchise partnerships of this scale.

The JMW team comprised Mike Blood, John Burns and Georgie Clayton: the trio advised Warwickshire on the spectrum of commercial and corporate agreements that come with formalising a cricket competition of this kind and scale.

John Burns, JMW relationship partner for Warwickshire, said: “We were privileged to work with Warwickshire County Cricket Club and their knowledgeable senior executives. The deal was extremely complex, but drawing on the depth and breadth of the sports team’s experience we were able to structure a powerful partnership for Warwickshire with their JV partners Knighthead, delivering a successful outcome which also promotes and protects Birmingham Phoenix’s position in the Hundred competition.”

Craig Flindall, Chief Operating Officer at Warwickshire Cricket Club added: “It was a pleasure working with JMW on this transaction – it was an extremely complex process which included not just Warwickshire, Birmingham Phoenix and Knighthead, but also the interests of the seven other Hundred teams and the wider cricketing ecosystem in the UK.  However, JMW were a key adviser, navigating the Club through the complexity and we are delighted with where we have landed with an excellent partner which should enable us to grow the Phoenix to the next level in the UK and beyond.”

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Notes to Editors

JMW is an award-winning, full-service law firm established more than 45 years ago, renowned throughout the UK for its expertise in achieving positive outcomes for its clients, both businesses and individuals. The firm, and the individuals working within it, are recognised by the prestigious legal directories Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners. JMW has offices in Manchester, London and Liverpool.

If you require any further information, please contact Gill Alexander, telephone 0161 527 5141, mobile 07435 858759, or email gill.alexander@jmw.co.uk