Lydia Edgar, partner and head of sport at Brabners
Purpose-led independent law firm Brabners has strengthened its commitment to Liverpool and elite sport in the UK by becoming an official partner of the inaugural World Boxing Championships, taking place in the city this September.
The championships, which will be held at the M&S Bank Arena from 4-14 September, are the first elite-level global competition to be hosted by World Boxing, the new international federation which has been established to ensure that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic movement.
The commercial partnership will be led by Brabners’ specialist sports team, which is recognised nationally and internationally as one of the largest and most experienced multidisciplinary legal practices in the industry. It has an extensive client base including leading sport clubs and national governing bodies ranging from the Lawn Tennis Association, British Swimming and the English Cricket Board to the Commonwealth Games Federation.
The firm also advises a number of elite athletes and high-profile individuals, including Wayne and Coleen Rooney –who Brabners successfully represented throughout her now infamous Wagatha Christie libel case. The firm is also deeply embedded in the regeneration of Liverpool’s waterfront, including supporting the development of Everton FC’s soon-to-open Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium.
The World Boxing Championships, which are supported by Liverpool City Council, England Boxing & GB Boxing and UK Sport, will see more than 500 boxers hailing from 60 nations compete in front of 20,000 spectators for the title of world champion across 10 weight classes.
The championships will be the first time ever that male and female boxers have competed in Olympic-style boxing for the title of world champion at the same event. The format is known for launching the careers of some of the world’s most famous boxers, including Nicola Adams and Anthony Joshua.
Brabners – making the difference
As part of its partnership, Brabners – which is a certified B Corp and has recently invested in upgrading its 30,000 sq ft Liverpool office at Exchange Flags – will sponsor the championships’ Social Impacts Programme. The programme will engage with communities across Merseyside and the wider North West to deliver careers programmes, a boxing-led social mobility scheme and volunteering initiatives.
In line with Brabners’ commitment to making the difference in the communities it serves, the sponsorship will ensure that tickets for the event remain affordable for local communities, encouraging engagement with boxing and inspiring the next generation of athletes.
The sponsorship represents the latest sporting partnership for Brabners, which was the official legal partner to the 2023 Para Swimming World Championships in Manchester. The firm has also supported a number of Liverpool-based community initiatives in recent months. This includes providing support to local charities such as Rotunda and Liverpool in Arms through its independent charity the Brabners Foundation, as well as advising baby hospice Zoe’s Place as it successfully sought rescue funding.
Brabners, which was recognised with the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Award at the Liverpool Law Society Legal Awards in 2024, is also the founding and driving force behind the True North network – a 400-strong collective of the region’s most influential and purpose-driven voices brought together to shape and unlock the true economic potential of the North.
Lydia Edgar, partner and head of sport at Brabners, said: “We take great pride not only in our ability to support the development of UK sport, but also in connecting with the communities we operate in and using sport as a vehicle to support inclusive opportunities. With this in mind, our partnership with the World Boxing Championships represents an ideal match.
“Aside from the great things happening in the ring – like equality through gender parity – the event will ripple much further, with an extensive community impact programme billed for implementation across Merseyside. We’re excited to see how this develops in the coming months as part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring that business brings about positive and lasting change.”
Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze medallist, Frazer Clarke, who spent more than a decade as part of the GB Boxing squad and is an Athlete Representative on the event Steering Group, said: “Like me, a huge number of Britain’s best boxers have risen to fame through the Olympic boxing circuit, so it’s great to be playing a part in this event which is showcasing the best of the sport.
“The positive consequences of boxing are far reaching, but the World Boxing Championships are making that connection crystal clear and pushing to be the championships of purpose and social impact.
“This wouldn’t be possible without our commercial partners, and we’re grateful to be able to partner with a firm like Brabners, which understands the positive potential of sport in the community.”
For more information, visit: https://www.brabners.com/
For information related to the World Boxing Championships, visit: www.worldboxingliverpool.com
