Pinsent Masons wins Restructuring Team of the Year at The Lawyer Awards

The firm was recognised for its work advising on the administration of Derby County Football Club. The deal was complex from the beginning, having to deal with a transfer embargo and the risk of expulsion from the English Football League. Led by partner Steven Cottee, the team faced significant issues associated with trading a football club in administration whilst fulfilling fixtures in the Championship and maintaining a sufficient playing staff.

Steven Cottee said: “This accolade really is testament to our restructuring capabilities, as well as our ability to work across various sectors and practices. One of the biggest reasons we were instructed on this particular mandate was because of our restructuring expertise and football and sports law sector capabilities. Having previously acted for the administrators of Portsmouth Football Club – the first Premier League Club to go into administration – we were well placed to help Derby County Football Club navigate the various challenges thrown up by this complex restructuring.”

The firm was also commended for the ‘Best Client Service Innovation’ category for its Adjudication Analytics platform, designed by the Construction Advisory & Disputes practice.