Patrick Stewart
Director of legal and business affairs
Manchester United Football Club
Patrick Stewart has presided over some big changes since he took over as director of legal at Manchester United Football Club, as the club has continued to become a global phenomenon: in the last 12 months alone, MUFC has opened an office in Hong Kong and listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Even the most straightforward of deals for other clubs become high-profile media events at Old Trafford. For example, Stewart was recently involved in negotiating the shirt sponsorship by Chevrolet for a seven-year shirt sponsorship deal thought to be worth in excess of £20m a year to the club.
His day-to-day focus is on the commercial rights issues facing MUFC, which are mostly dealt with in-house. The in-house team has grown substantially since Stewart became GC, he now has a team of four lawyers, a trainee and three brand specialists.
Law firms used: Allen & Overy, Brabners Chaffe Street, Latham & Watkins, Pinsent Masons, Wiggin
2006-present: Director of legal and business affairs, Manchester United Football Club
2001-05: Legal counsel, TEAM Marketing
1998-2001: Assistant, Maclay Murray & Spens