Our Tech & High Growth team advised Birmingham Panthers on their seed investment from US advisory firm Knighthead Capital Management, completing in March 2025.
Knighthead acquired a significant ownership stake in the netball franchise before the launch of the revamped Netball Super League (NSL) season.
Background to the deal
Birmingham Panthers joined the NSL for the 2025 season as one of two new franchises in the sport that is rising in attention and popularity.
Knighthead Capital Management invested in Birmingham Panthers as part of its sports portfolio strategy in Birmingham, where Knighthead is looking to develop a £3 billion ‘Sports Quarter’ regeneration project, including a new 60,000-seat stadium and sporting facilities. The US advisory firm also owns Birmingham City FC and has been named as the successful bidder to acquire a 49% stake in The Hundred's Birmingham Phoenix.
Women’s sports are experiencing rapid growth, creating investment opportunities across the country where US capital is becoming an increasing player in developing British sports.
Insights on the seed investment
Having provided support on the company’s initial pre-seed rounds, we successfully managed the process in respect of the Knighthead seed investment, and we were happy to secure a great outcome for management and existing stakeholders as part of our efforts to secure long lasting relationships with our clients.
As with many seed investments, timing was a key aspect of this deal, with the Birmingham Panthers entering the revamped NSL for the 2025 season, which began in early March. We are always keen to work in line with our client’s objectives and were therefore happy to deliver on this transaction within the required timeframe to meet expectations. We believe that by adopting a commercial, straightforward approach, we can consistently achieve a positive outcome for all parties.
In particular, we are always supportive of promoting entrepreneurship in the Midlands and guiding Birmingham Panthers through their initial stages of investment is something that we have been proud to advise on.
“Thank you to Jamie and Richard for navigating us through this latest stage in the Birmingham Panthers shareholder agreements. We all appreciate the professionalism you have brought to the process and ensured that we got to (very smoothly) a successful conclusion with Knighthead.”
Alison Kay
Co-Founder, Birmingham Panthers
Conclusion
The deal highlights yet another example of our expertise in advising founders on successful rounds as a trusted legal partner in the venture capital space. It also demonstrated our ability to handle complex, time-sensitive corporate transactions in evolving sectors where legal and commercial frameworks are rapidly changing.
