Harneys advises Rob Couhig on acquisition of Reading Football Club

Reading FC is a professional football club based in Reading, England. It was established in 1871 and is one of the oldest football clubs in England. The club currently plays in League One, narrowly missing out on a play-off place in the 2024-2025 season.

The Harneys team was led by Partner George Weston with support from Counsel James Kitching. BVI Managing Partner Tanya Cassie-Parker also advised on a bridge financing. Kitson Boyce advised on the UK law aspects of the transaction.

George said, "We are delighted to have assisted Rob Couhig and his team on the acquisition of Reading Football Club. This deal was very much in the public eye and had a number of challenging aspects, including the need to meet tight deadlines imposed by the English Football League. The acquisition will help ensure the survival of a football club which is more than 150 years old. We know that Rob and his team have exciting plans to revitalise both the club and its stadium."

Rob Couhig commented, "I want to thank George and his team for their counsel and expertise throughout. Their guidance on due diligence and structuring was instrumental in getting this deal done. The team’s professionalism and responsiveness were highly impressive."

The Corporate team at Harneys advises on complex cross-border transactions involving British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Luxembourg, and Cyprus corporate vehicles. The team’s significant track record includes advising on high-profile private equity transactions, landmark IPOs, as well as public and private M&A and joint ventures.