Peter McCormick OBE
Peter heads the Corporate and Commercial team at McCormicks. He is an internationally recognised expert in Sports and Media and Entertainment Law. He is described by “Business Insider” Magazine as one of the “corporate elite” of Yorkshire and ranked as one of the most powerful business figures in the region.
Regarded as one of the top sports lawyers in the UK, Peter is best known as the Chairman of the Legal Advisory Group of the Premier League and Chairman of the League’s Football Board, both Executive positions. In August 2015, he was unanimously elected by the 20 Clubs of the League to be a Director of the Football Association (F.A.), a member of the F.A. Council and a member of the Professional Game Board of the FA. Prior to these appointments, he was Chairman of the Premier League 2014/15.
In March 2016, he was elected by the Premier League and the Professional Game Board of the FA to the Football Regulatory Authority (FRA), which performs the regulatory, disciplinary and Rule-making functions of the FA. He is also an FA Ambassador, representing England and the FA at international matches abroad and away from Wembley.
In May 2016, he was appointed Chairman of the FA International Committee and a member of the FA Remuneration Committee, the FA Committees Appointment Panel and the FA Protocol Committee.
In July 2016 he was appointed Chairman of FA Premier League Medical Care Scheme Ltd, a private health insurance scheme operated for the benefit of all Premier League and EFL Clubs, Chairman of the FA Judicial Panel Monitoring Group and Chairman of the FA Group Remuneration Committee.
In July 2017, he was unanimously elected Vice-Chairman of the FA.
Peter Chairs Tribunals and Appeals for the League, Football Association and Professional Game Match Officials Ltd. He is Chairman of Football Stadia Improvement Fund Ltd, a Trustee of the Football Foundation (the UK’s largest sporting charity) and a Chairman of Sport Resolutions (UK). He is also an experienced Arbitrator and Mediator.
He advises businesses, organisations and individuals on Corporate and Commercial, Commercial Litigation, Media and Entertainment, Regulatory and Disciplinary, Defamation and Reputation Management issues.
Peter is also a leading national figure in Charities Law. He advises charity clients on a local and regional basis and also national charities, including The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and The Outward Bound Trust. He is Chairman of the Yorkshire Young Achievers Foundation, Chairman of War Memorials Trust and a Trustee of the Helen Feather Memorial Trust and several other charities. He is a Vice President of the Future 50 Campaign for Harrogate International Festivals. The Festivals celebrate their 50th anniversary this year and have launched a £1 million campaign to secure the next 50 years. Other Vice Presidents include Lesley Garrett, Mark Billingham, Lee Child, the Earl of Harewood, Peter James, Mark Lawson, Julian Lloyd Webber, Sir Neville Marriner and Val McDermid. He is also Chairman of the Fundraising Support Group for the Royal Horticultural Society’s Northern Garden at Harlow Carr, Harrogate.
He was awarded the OBE for services to charity on 1 January 2000. He was awarded the Order of Mercy, in July 2016, by the League of Mercy Foundation, for outstanding voluntary service.
Peter was voted the inaugural Yorkshire Lawyer of the Year and Niche Practice Lawyer of the Year by the Yorkshire Law Societies. He has been ranked as a leading expert by the Legal 500 and Chambers UK, the leading independent guides to the profession, in Sport, Media and Entertainment, Corporate and Commercial, Commercial Litigation, Defamation and Reputation Management, Professional Discipline, Charities, Agriculture and Estates and Contentious Trusts and Probate.
The Legal 500 ranks him as an outstanding and leading lawyer nationwide and a leading individual in Yorkshire and the Humber.
He was the inaugural Chairman of Visit Harrogate, the Destination Management Organisation for business and leisure tourism in the Harrogate district, one of the largest in the country.
In 2008, Peter received the Lifetime Achievement in Business Award at the Ackrill Media Group Business Awards.
What people say about Peter…….
“’Godfather of sports law’ Peter McCormick heads the sports department at Harrogate firm McCormicks and is ‘vastly experienced, savvy and has the ear of The Premier League.’” Legal 500
“Versatile rainmaker Peter McCormick of McCormicks is one of the UK’s best-connected sports lawyers” Legal 500
“Extensive exposure to media issues through sports work has helped make Peter McCormick of McCormicks one of the canniest advisors in the region.” Legal 500
“Peter McCormick has an ‘impressively commercial overview of the sector,’ according to sources. He is the firm’s senior partner and has a broad corporate/commercial practice.” Chambers UK – Charities
“Peter McCormick is known for his experience in sports law and has a reputation as being a powerful advocate of his client’s case. Clients say he is a ‘very commercial, straight-talking lawyer’ who is ‘incredibly driven, with a clear determination to succeed.'” Chambers UK – Professional Discipline
“Peter McCormick is a towering figure within football. His prominence stems largely from his role as the chairman of the Legal Advisory Group of the Premier League. Opponents, colleagues and clients alike are quick to attest to the value of the ‘practical, common-sense advice,’ provided by ‘a lawyer who not only understands football, but always sees the commercial realities as well.'” Chambers UK – Sport
“McCormicks’ Peter McCormick is ‘vastly experienced, savvy, an able advocate and a fearsome opponent’. As chairman of the Premier League Legal Advisory Group, he continues to advise on Portsmouth FC’s insolvency and the Olympic Stadium dispute. He was also involved in bringing to Harrogate Le Grand Départ of the 2014 Tour de France. Other clients include Leeds United FC, Yorkshire County Cricket Club and a number of non-league football clubs. Philip Edmondson is also recommended.” Legal 500
