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Clifford Chance joins forces with the Invictus Games Foundation

11 July 2019

Clifford Chance joins forces with the Invictus Games Foundation

Leading international law firm Clifford Chance today announced that it has been appointed as legal advisor to the Invictus Games Foundation ahead of the fifth Invictus Games, which will take place in The Hague, The Netherlands, from 9-16 May 2020.

The partnership will see Clifford Chance provide a suite of innovative legal services to the Foundation in a range of areas including commercial, intellectual property, employment and pensions, and governance and risk, among others.

Founded by HRH The Duke of Sussex, The Invictus Games Foundation is the international charity that oversees the development of the Invictus Games, an international adaptive multi-sport event in which wounded, injured or sick armed services personnel and veterans participate. The partnership with the Foundation demonstrates Clifford Chance's continued commitment to acting responsibly, contributing to its wider communities and promoting values such as diversity and inclusion within the workplace and beyond.

The team will be led by litigation partner and head of the firm's London sports practice, Chris Yates. Speaking on the firm's appointment, Chris Yates, said: "We are tremendously excited to be working in partnership with the Invictus Games Foundation. We have found very quickly that our sports sector capability and our international platform has created synergies, which has allowed us to make an immediate and positive impact. Working with the Foundation is a humbling reminder of what can be achieved through the power of the human spirit and the partnership will allow our staff to bring their skills and enthusiasm to what is a truly inspirational cause."

Speaking on the collaboration with the Foundation, Clifford Chance Senior Partner Jeroen Ouwehand, commented: "Sport has the power to change lives and the Invictus Games perfectly embodies this. As a law firm we can learn so much from the remarkable competitors involved and the values associated with the Games, such as teamwork, resilience, respect and inclusion. We are proud to be part of the Invictus Family and be sharing in the journey to The Hague 2020 and beyond."

Dominic Reid, Chief Executive of the Invictus Games Foundation, said: "As the Foundation moves from strength to strength as guardians of the ‘Invictus Spirit’, it’s great to have a passionate and international legal team ready to support. As we prepare for the fifth Invictus Games in The Hague next year, partnering with Clifford Chance ensures that we can confidently continue our work supporting international wounded, injured or sick Servicemen and women in their journey to recovery."

The cross-practice Clifford Chance team includes Jennifer Mbaluto (Partner, TMT) alongside lawyers Leigh Smith and Sean Wood (IP), Amy Bird and Alice Rockall (Employment), David Woolfman and Hannah Collins (TMT), and David Alfrey (Litigation).

The appointment further builds on Clifford Chance's experience of advising leading sporting organisations. Most recently, the firm helped to establish the Centre for Sports and Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland – the Centre brings together an alliance of governments, sports bodies, sponsors, broadcasters, trade unions and human rights institutions to encourage transparency and integrity during the construction and management of large sporting events. In addition, the firm is also currently advising the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the global governing body of the Paralympic Movement, assisting the IPC with their anti-doping proceedings against athletes who have tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. Clifford Chance was also appointed by Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL) to provide the full range of legal services required to deliver the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England, the third largest sporting occasion in the world.

For further information on the Invictus Games Foundation, please see: https://invictusgamesfoundation.org/