Latham Advises the Sellers on Chelsea FC Ownership Transition

Latham & Watkins has advised the sellers, including Todd Boehly, on the ownership transition of Chelsea Football Club, in which affiliates of Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. will acquire full control of the Club. 

The Latham team was led by London corporate partners Ed Barnett and Hector Sants, with associates Ryan Martin, Nima Pourdad, and Francesca Forzoni. Advice on tax matters was provided by New York partner Alan Kimball and London partner Helen Lethaby; on finance matters by London partner Hayden Teo; and on funds matters by London partner Clare Scott, with associate Hena Rupal.

The transaction is the latest in a series of high-profile UK football investments on which the firm has advised in London, including 1892 Holdings, a consortium led and managed by Amit Bhatia, on the acquisition of a strategic minority stake in Liverpool FC; the sale of a minority stake in Manchester United to Sir Jim Ratcliffe; Apollo's investment in Wrexham AFC; the £4.25 billion acquisition of Chelsea FC led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital; the acquisition of a majority stake in Rangers Football Club; and This Day and MARV's investment in Brentford Football Club.