Ashley appoints lawyers over takeover dispute with the PL
Mike Ashley has appointed lawyers to represent Newcastle United in its dispute with the Premier League.
Blackstone Chambers issued a statement which revealed that they would be acting for the club and Ashley, its owner.
T h e s t at e m e nt re a d : “Shaheed Fatima QC and Nick De Marco QC are acting for Newcastle United FC and
Mike Ashley (instructed by Dentons) in a dispute with the Premier League about its rejection of a takeover bid made by PCP Capital Partners, the Reuben Brothers and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) based on its Owners and Directors test.”
Fatima is described as a “widely-recognised and award-winning lawyer” on the chambers’ website, while
Who’s Who Legal described De Marco as a “top-tier sports silk”.
The club last week claimed that the Premier League had “rejected” a £300million takeover funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, whichwithdrewitsofferinlate July. A statement read: “Newcastle United can confirm that the PL has rejected a takeover bid made by PCP Capital Partners, the Reuben Brothers and the Public Investment Fund of SaudiArabia based on its owners’ and directors’ test.
“This conclusion has been reached despite the club providing the PL with overwhelming evidence and legal opinions that PIF is independent and autonomous of the Saudi Arabian government.
"The club and its owners do not accept that PL chief executive Richard Masters and the PL have acted appropriately in relation to this matter and will be considering all relevant options available to them.