Law Firm Joins Forces to Champion Sustainability in Sport

Irwin Mitchell has announced a long-term pro-bono retainer with Football For Future (FFF), a prominent non-profit organisation dedicated to building an environmentally sustainable culture in football.

Football For Future is a sustainability organisation that works with football clubs, from Premier League to non-league, providing audits and developing sustainability strategies. They educate professional players on how to use their platforms effectively to promote environmental issues, offer staff training, and run educational workshops for young fans and academy players.

As part of the partnership, Irwin Mitchell’ specialist sports lawyers will provide ongoing pro-bono legal advice to FFF, whilst supporting their mission to create a more sustainable future for football.

Expert Opinion

"We are thrilled to be partnering with Football For Future. Sustainability is a crucial issue in the world of sport, and we strongly believe that it should be high on the sector's agenda. Working together with FFF, we aim to drive positive change and encourage the adoption of sustainable practices across the entire football industry." Tom Barnard, Head of the Sports Sector at Irwin Mitchell

This collaboration builds upon FFF's valuable contributions to Irwin Mitchell’s Sustainability in Sport report which was published earlier this year. The in-depth study examined what sustainability means to various sports organisations, the challenges they face in becoming more sustainable, and strategies for change.

Barney Weston, director of Football For Future said: "Working with Irwin Mitchell has been different. The Sports Sector Team at Irwin Mitchell have provided FFF with practical, detailed, and understandable advice about a range of legal issues. This has created opportunities for FFF to grow while safeguarding against various legal risks. The genuine pro-bono support from Irwin Mitchell has enabled FFF to confidently navigate this space."

Irwin Mitchell is number one for sports law in the independent Legal 500 rankings and is the official legal partner to England Rugby and British Rowing. It also has partnerships with the England Amputee Football Association, British Wheelchair Basketball, and UK Athletics. Recently it also announced a partnership with Athlete Now, an innovative sports directory connecting athletes with verified practitioners and support.

The firm works with a wide range of sports clubs, athletes, and sports industry businesses. Recent successes include working on the successful planning application for Millwall Football Clubs new training facility and advising an England International cricketer on image rights.