Everton pick top flight team for brand advice

Mar 5 2008 by Peter McCusker, The Journal

PREMIER League football club Everton has appointed Watson Burton as brand protection advisor.

The appointment demonstrates Everton’s continuing commitment to protect the club’s history, heritage and intellectual property rights.

The firm has been instructed to review the Merseyside club’s national and international brand protection strategy, as well as to advise on anti-counterfeiting matters, licensing issues and intellectual property infringement disputes.

Ed Meikle, Watson Burton’s head of intellectual property who led the team working with Everton, said: “These are interesting times for Premier League clubs and we are pleased to be able to provide Everton with the benefit of our experience in this constantly changing sector.”

Watson Burton’s sports business group, led by partner Allan Henderson, has acted for over 70 sports clubs across the United Kingdom – including more than 40 professional football clubs – advising on a wide range of issues including commercial contracts and disputes, brand protection, community sports and education schemes, property issues and image rights deals.