Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance appointed 'Official Law Firm' of Rugby World Cup 2015

Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL) has appointed Clifford Chance as the Official Law Firm of Rugby World Cup 2015 in England following a competitive pitch process. The Rugby World Cup is, after the Olympics and the FIFA Football World Cup, the third largest sporting occasion in the world. Clifford Chance will provide the full range of legal services for the tournament, which kicks off in exactly two years time on September 18, 2015 when hosts England kick off at Twickenham.

This prestigious mandate continues a longstanding client relationship. Clifford Chance has been advising the International Rugby Board and RWCL for many years. Clifford Chance's Sports and TMT Sector groups, a 'go to' team for major sporting events, advised on the 1998 FIFA Football World Cup in France, the 2012 UEFA European Football Championships, the sponsorship negotiations for the Barclays Premiership, the London 2012 Olympics, and more recently the 2016 UEFA European Football Championships and the 2022 FIFA Football World Cup.

David Bickerton, Clifford Chance London Managing Partner, commented: "We are delighted to have been appointed to advise on a major global sporting project of this magnitude and look forward to expanding our strong association with Rugby World Cup." 

Daniel Sandelson, Clifford Chance Partner who will be leading the team delivering the services to RWCL, added: "Our expertise in advising on major sporting events and ability to mobilise a team of lawyers across the full legal spectrum positioned the Firm to win this prestigious mandate. We are excited to renew our working relationship with Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL), contributing towards the commercial success of a tournament that goes from strength to strength.'

Rugby World Cup continues to be the pinnacle event in the rugby calendar every quadrennial. With the Sevens format of the game to feature at the Olympics in 2016, rugby's globalisation continues apace.

Rugby World Cup 2015 is more than a wonderful spectacle of rugby involving the world’s top 20 rugby nations – it is the funding vehicle for the development of the game globally. Funds raised from the Rugby World Cup are reinvested in rugby around the world through union grants, development programmes, regional tournaments and international events. That is why RWCL places such importance on ensuring that its commercial rights in the tournament (which are granted to sponsors / partners / licensees / broadcasters) are protected, and that unauthorised third parties do not claim or attempt to associate themselves with the tournament.

Clifford Chance is proud of its key role as 'Official Law Firm' for Rugby World Cup 2015 and working as one international team with RWCL to ensure that the tournament is a commercial and sporting success.

The tournament takes place in England and Wales between 18 September 2015 and 31 October 2015.