Manchester City Football Club is in for a major legal battle, as the Premier League has brought more than 100 charges against the club.
The charges stem from a four-year investigation into potential breaches of the League’s financial regulations, dating back to the 2009/10 season.
If proven, the charges could face a variety of punishments, including the club being expelled from the Premier League, or the directors being banned from the club’s board.
This is where Lord Pannick KC of Blackstone Chambers comes in, as the leading barrister is set to defend Manchester City.
Pannick is known as one of the best barristers of his generation, with a reputation for being one of the most sought-after legal minds in the country.
He has a track record of success, having recently advised Boris Johnson on the Partygate inquiry and acted against the UK Government in the Supreme Court case over the prorogation of Parliament.
He has also had a two-year ban overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after being accused by UEFA of “serious breaches” of club licensing and financial fair play regulations.
These are only some of his incredible achievements.
His expertise, however, comes at a cost.
Pannick typically charges around £5,000 an hour but has been known to request up to £10,000.
At £5,000 an hour, he would still be paid more than all but seven of Manchester City’s players, while if he were paid at the top end of his fee scale, he would be earning £80,000 a day, or £400,000 a week.
That puts him on par with Manchester City star, Kevin De Bruyne, who is understood to earn over £350,000 a week with the club.
Despite the high cost, City fans are excited to have Pannick on their team.
And it is easy to see why. If the lawyer were to win this case, he would have repaid the fees multifold times to his clients.
Any football fan would be thrilled to see their club being represented by one of the best legal minds in the world.
With Pannick leading the charge, City fans are already celebrating a potential victory in the case against UEFA.
The Premier League has brought in some heavy hitters of its own, including Blackstone’s Adam Lewis KC and Monckton Chambers’ Paul Harris KC.
This legal battle is shaping up to be one of the biggest and most expensive sports law cases in history.
No timeline has been released for the case, but legal battles of this magnitude can often take years to conclude.
This case, however, is unprecedented in its scope, with over 100 charges being brought against the club.
This is a critical moment for Manchester City, as the outcome of this case could determine the club’s future in the Premier League.
The case is, as mentioned previously, extremely critical. But Man City fans need not panic, for Mr Pannick is here to potentially save the day.
