Clifford Chance advises Sixth Street's Bay Collective on acquisition of Sunderland AFC Women
April 17, 2026
- Neil Barlow, Jamie Andrew, Eric Schaffer, Alex Walker, Craig Grant, Jessica Berkeley, Joshua Reynolds, Adam Clifton, Amanda Teh Sue Shun, Orsolya Gondos, Lourenço Limão Oliveira, Kamryn Rana, Jennifer Allardice, Alis Pay, Alex Pennington, Nicola Hemsley, Paul Harrington, Archie Zverev, Molly Margiotta, , Tom Shiel, Ryan Byrne, Kieran Mathiak, Amy Bird, Sarah McAleer, Andrew Patterson, Benjamin Purkiss, Kristen Hammond, Portia Wainman, Kate Haywood
- New York, London
Clifford Chance advises Sixth Street's Bay Collective on acquisition of Sunderland AFC Women
Global law firm Clifford Chance has advised Bay Collective, a multi club women’s football ownership platform backed by Sixth Street, on its agreement to acquire a majority stake in Sunderland AFC Women.
Bay Collective, led by Kay Cossington MBE, former Women’s Technical Director of The English Football Association, plans to bring its athlete-first model, deep women’s football expertise and knowledge, and long-term resources to launch a new era of success for Sunderland Women on and off the pitch. The investment will see Sunderland AFC Women become the second club in Bay Collective’s global platform, alongside Bay FC of the National Women’s Soccer League.
Private equity partner Neil Barlow led the transaction alongside Jamie Andrew, Eric Schaffer and Alex Walker. They were further assisted by:
- Private equity: senior associates Craig Grant, Jessica Berkeley and Josh Reynolds, lawyers Adam Clifton, Ariel Cohen and Amanda Teh and trainee Rachel Tong
- Commercial: senior associates Orsolya Gondos and Lourenço Limão Oliveira, lawyers Kamryn Rana and Jennifer Allardice and trainee Nurin Choudhury
- Real estate: partner Alis Pay and senior associate Alex Pennington
- Tax: partner Nicola Hemsley, senior associate Paul Harrington and associate Archie Zverev
- IP: associate Molly Margiotta
- Regulatory: partner James Cranston, senior associates Tom Shiel and Ryan Byrne and lawyer Kieran Mathiak
- Employment, Incentives and Pensions: partners Amy Bird, Sarah McAleer and Andrew Patterson and senior associates Ben Purkiss, Kristen Hammond, Portia Wainman and Kate Haywood.
