Manchester City REHIRE prestigious £80,000 per day lawyer in wake of Premier League charges | OneFootball

Manchester City have rehired prestigious lawyer Lord Pannick KC after the Premier League charged the club for over 100 alleged breaches of financial regulations.

The six-time Premier League winners face the extreme prospect of potential expulsion from the top-flight, following a four-year investigation into the club for alleged financial breaches.

Charges span over a nine-year period and relate to financial information, profitability and sustainability, player and manager remuneration, failure to cooperate and UEFA regulations.

In wake of the barrage of charges against the reigning Premier League champions, Manchester City have rehired Lord Pannick KC, according to The Lawyer.

Lord Pannick KC of Blackstone Chambers is set to defend Manchester City alongside Paul Harris KC of Monckton Chambers, with the pair having been previously employed by the club.

The two men were heavily involved in Manchester City’s successful appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2020 to overturn a two-year ban imposed by UEFA for alleged breaches of Financial Fair Play.

Lord Pannick KC, who has recently advised former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson in relation to the Partygate inquiry, acted successfully against the Government in the Supreme Court case over the prorogation of Parliament.

The widely respected lawyer also successfully represented Gina Miller’s two court challenges relating to Britain’s exit from European Union.

Manchester City could be paying Lord Pannick KC up to £80,000 per week, with The Lawyer claiming that the leading silk charges around £5,000 an hour but has been known to request up to £10,000.

No timeframe has currently been set for the impending proceedings which will be heard by an independent commission appointed by Chair of the Premier League Judicial Panel Murray Rosen KC.

A Manchester City statement in response to alleged breaches read: “Manchester City FC is surprised by the issuing of these alleged breaches of the Premier League Rules, particularly given the extensive engagement and vast amount of detailed materials that the EPL has been provided with.

“The Club welcomes the review of this matter by an independent Commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position.

“As such we look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all.”