Taylor Wessing advises Kentaro on partnership with leading sports management agency SEM

Taylor Wessing has acted for longstanding client Kentaro on the formation of a corporate partnership with Jerome Anderson’s Sport, Entertainment and Media Group (SEM), whose clients include Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand and Barcelona’s Thierry Henry. The deal, which further enhances Kentaro’s sports management expertise, was completed on 27 January 2009 and was celebrated in unique style with a dinner held at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium prior to Brazil’s recent friendly international with Italy – a match that was managed, promoted and marketed by Kentaro. 

Kentaro is one of the world’s leading sports rights agencies with extensive experience in the television rights and football event management business. It is responsible for the worldwide distribution of over 250 qualification and friendly matches in the run-up to the 2010 World Cup finals, including those involving Brazil and Argentina. SEM is one of Britain’s leading sports management agencies, representing over 150 professional footballers and clubs, including Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester City.

Taylor Wessing partner Daniel Rosenberg comments:

“We are delighted to have acted for Kentaro to help seal this partnership, which demonstrates Taylor Wessing’s unique ability to provide specialist advice across the entire sports arena. We look forward to continuing our cooperation with Kentaro as their business grows and develops into the club player and management sector.”

Kentaro’s Philipp Grothe adds:

“This was an important deal for Kentaro and we were delighted not only with the attentive and co-ordinated service Taylor Wessing provided, but also with their all-round knowledge of the sports and sports management sector.”

The Taylor Wessing team advising on the deal included Hamburg corporate partner Frank Koch, and London lawyers Daniel Rosenberg (partner, Corporate), Charles Lloyd (partner, IP), Nikol Davies (partner, Tax), Tim Davidson and Sukh Chana (Corporate), John Plant (Employment), Nicholas Kilbey (banking), Simon Bourn (IP) and Kosta Zujic (Tax).

Howard Kennedy acted for SEM.


Ends

Lawyers Dr. Frank Koch, Charles Lloyd, Nikol Davies, Timothy Davidson, John Plant

Notes to editors

For more information or to speak to Peter Kempe please contact Sarah le Cheminant or Helen Needham at Taylor Wessing:

Tel:      +44 (0)20 7300 4930 / 4156
Email:  s.lecheminant@taylorwessing.com / h.needham@taylorwessing.com

Taylor Wessing LLP is a leading law firm providing support for commercial organisations doing business in Europe, the Middle East and China.

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