Conal Heatley
Testimonial
‘The Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council has been delighted with the service provided by Keith and the team at Conn & Fenton. Transactions have always been dealt with in a very courteous and professional manner. Importantly, they have not simply followed instruction but have also been proactive to suggest courses of action which have been beneficial to our organisation. We wish them every success for the future.’
Conal Heatley
Executive Officer, NICGC
Iain Lewers
Testimonial
Working alongside Keith McGarry at Sportslaw over a period of 18 months, i was hugely impressed with their professionalism, passion and determined approach. Their understanding of my situation, instilled confidence for me in the strategy and vision they adopted which ultimately led to a successful result in my dispute resolution case.
Iain Lewers – Team GB London 2012 Olympian, European and commonwealth medallist
KUKRI GB LIMITED
Testimonial
Kukri GB Limited and Kukri Sports Ireland Limited have retained the services of Keith McGarry on a number of matters over the last few years. He has been engaged in the two most recent Kukri contracts with Ulster Rugby and we have been extremely pleased with the service that we have received. From his expertise in Sports Law, Keith has been able to offer timely and appropriate advice in relation to all matters and we have been delighted with the service that we have received.
Terry Jackson
Director & General Manager
Kukri Sports Ireland Limited
WORLD POLICE AND FIRE GAMES
Testimonial
The World Police and Fire Games (WPFG or Games) is a bi-annual multi-sports tournament promoted by the World Police and Fire Games Federation running since 1985. In a 2007 bid process, Belfast was successful in securing the World Police and Fire Games to be held in 2013. A company, dedicated to delivering the Games was set-up by the Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure in early 2011. The 2013 Games attracted over 7000 athletes, accompanied by 2000 friends and family, from 67 countries competing in 56 sporting events across 42 venues in Belfast and across Northern Ireland. There were over 170,000 athlete and spectators attendances across the venues over the 10 days, made up of over 20,000 different people. 3,600 volunteers helped deliver the Games. Total visitor spend was £7.3m.
Those tasked with delivery faced the challenge not only of delivering a large scale, complex multi-sport event, but also a number of wider challenges which had arisen since the successful bid in 2007. These included the international economic downturn and negative global media coverage of disturbances in Northern Ireland as athlete registrations opened. An awareness of the significant reputational risk if the Games were not delivered well had also been accentuated by the mixed feedback from competitors in the 2011 New York WPFG.
A key part of delivery was the need for expert legal advice with a background in matters relating to sports events. 2013WPFg Ltd was fortunate that after a tendering exercise it appointed Conn & Fenton Solicitors from Lisburn. Keith Mc Garry a Senior Partner of the firm with a background in Sports Law provided the key day to day support. Given the nature of the event much of the work was highly time critical and pressurised. Conn & Fenton unfailingly provided timely and importantly, concise advice and guidance across a range of contractual issues. Responding to the spirit of the Games they prioritised the work of the Games attending meetings on short notice and dealing with correspondence within the same business day.
It was a tremendous assurance to the company and the WPFG Board that skilled and experienced legal advice was in place through Conn & Fenton. The delivery of the Games and the work with a range of delivery partners would have been very much more protracted and difficult without the service and support provided by Conn & Fenton.
The WPFG Board would wish to record its appreciation of the services provided by
Conn & Fenton and in particular by Keith Mc Garry.