Latham & Watkins Advises on Acquisition of MK Dons Football Club

Latham & Watkins has advised a Kuwait-based consortium led by Fahad Al Ghanim on the acquisition of Milton Keynes Dons Football Club (MK Dons) and the wider Stadium MK Group from Pete Winkelman.

Following the acquisition, which has been ratified by the EFL, Fahad Al Ghanim will assume the role of Chairman of MK Dons and Stadium MK group. Mr Al Ghanim’s family also owns Kuwait SC, one of the most successful football clubs in the Middle East.

The Latham team was led by Entertainment, Sports & Media partner Patrick Mitchell and corporate partner Richard Butterwick, with associates Ryan Martin, Nima Pourdad, Aisha Babalakin, and Tanay Mukherjee. Advice was provided on tax matters by partner Helen Lethaby, with associate Joshua Atkinson; on real estate matters by partner Quentin Gwyer, with counsel Michael Beanland and associate Costa Thrasyvoulou; on IP and data matters by partner Deborah Kirk, with associates Grace Erskine and Lorenzo Meusburger; and on employment and pensions matters by partner Kendall Burnett, with associates Paul Lawrence and Charlie Bowden.

Advice was also provided by leading Middle East regional firm Meysan.