Manchester City Hire £9m Nigeria Case Barrister for Premier League Legal Battle
Manchester City have strengthened their legal team by hiring prominent British barrister Mark Howard KC as their protracted legal battle with the Premier League continues to generate huge costs.
Howard, co-head of London-based Brick Court Chambers, joins a legal team led by Lord Pannick KC as City continue to contest allegations relating to their financial affairs and await further proceedings in the case.
According to The Lawyer, Howard is a leading barrister whose previous clients include former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and singer Elton John. His fee for representing City has not been disclosed.
However, Howard’s reputation is underlined by his previous work for Nigeria in its legal battle against Process and Industrial Developments (P and ID). The barrister reportedly received a record £9 million, approximately $12 million, upfront in 2023 for his work on Nigeria’s case, according to The Lawyer.
The publication described the payment as the largest upfront fee ever paid to a barrister for pre-trial preparation and attendance on the first day of a trial.
City’s latest legal appointment comes amid mounting costs associated with their dispute with the Premier League. The club’s 2023-24 accounts, as reported by The Sun, showed that Manchester City Football Group had already accumulated more than £30 million in legal fees.
The total has continued to rise as the proceedings and related appeals have progressed.
The financial burden extends to the Premier League, whose legal costs in the dispute are also substantial. The Guardian reported in September that the league’s costs were expected to exceed £70 million.
Combined legal bills for both sides are now estimated to have surpassed £100 million, according to reports cited by Spanish publication AS.
City have consistently maintained their position in the dispute, which has drawn intense attention across English football. The independent commission’s proceedings and any subsequent decisions will determine the consequences, if any, facing the club.
