Latham & Watkins Advises Oakley Capital on Investment Into Sir Ben Ainslie’s Athena Racing

Latham & Watkins has advised Oakley Capital, a leading pan-European private equity investor, on its investment into Athena Racing, the British America’s Cup team and world-class sailing franchise founded and led by Sir Ben Ainslie, the most successful sailor in Olympic history.

Oakley’s investment follows the creation of the landmark America’s Cup Partnership which will govern the America’s Cup. The Partnership is expected to enhance the commercial appeal and investability of the world’s most prestigious high-performance sailing competition. 

The Latham team was led by London sports partner Patrick Mitchell and London corporate partners Kem Ihenacho and Linzi Thomas, with associates Alex Watt, Alastair Mackichan, Farah El-Masri, Sam Cadd, and Jarren Koh. Advice was also provided on tax matters by London partner Simon Skinner, with associate Sam Duncan; on data, technology, and intellectual property matters by London partner Christian McDermott, with associate Dal Lim; on employment matters by London partner Sarah Gadd, with associates Charlie Bowden and Florence Duval-Roberge; on antitrust matters by London/Brussels partner David Little, with associate Josephine Levy; on regulatory matters by London partner Clare Nida, with associate Matthew Unsworth; on sanctions matters by London partner Robert Price, with associate Michelle Taylor; on finance matters by London partner Hugh O’Sullivan, with associate Nicole Courtney; and on local Spanish corporate matters by Madrid associate Lucía de Bustos.