Peter McCormick OBE
Consultant
Peter is an internationally recognised expert in Sports and Media/Entertainment law and heads these areas at McCormicks. He was recently voted one of the best Sports and Entertainment lawyers in the world, following research by leading guide, Who's Who Legal.
He is best known as the Chairman of the Legal Advisory Group of the Premier League and Chairman of the League’s Football Board, both Executive positions. In August 2015, he was unanimously elected by the 20 Clubs of the League to be a Director of the Football Association (FA) and a member of the FA Council. Prior to these appointments, he was Chairman of the Premier League 2014/15.
His other roles include:
- The Premier League and the Professional Game Board of the FA to the Football Regulatory Authority (FRA), which performs the regulatory, disciplinary and Rule-making functions of the FA.
- Chairman of the FA Panel of Ambassadors, representing England and the FA at international matches abroad and away from Wembley.
- Chairman of the FA Group Remuneration Committee (2016-2022)
- Chairman of the FA Premier League Medical Care Scheme Ltd, a company providing private health care to 95 per cent of professionals in football in this country.
- Vice Chairman of the FA, serving a five-year term (2017 - 2022.Chairman of the Professional Game Board of the FA. Interim Chairman of the FA (2020 - 2022He continued as an FA Board Member until the end of his term in 2023.
Interim Chairman of the Premier League (2022 – 2023).
- Chairman of Premier League Stadium Fund
- Trustee of the Football Foundation (the UK’s largest sporting charity)
- Chairman of The Football Foundation Trading Ltd
- Chairman of Sport Resolutions (UK).
- He is also an experienced Arbitrator and Mediator.
- Chairman of the FA Challenge Cup Committee.
In March 2025, it was announced that he would be leaving the Premier League and FA to take up an unsolicited offer to be the Executive Vice Chairman of Leeds United FC.
He advises businesses, organisations and individuals on Corporate and Commercial, Commercial Litigation, Media and Entertainment, Regulatory and Disciplinary, Defamation and Reputation Management issues.
Peter is also a leading national figure in Charities Law. He advises charity clients on a local and regional basis and also national charities, including The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and The Outward Bound Trust. He has been Chairman of the War Memorials Trust and is Chairman of the Yorkshire Young Achievers Foundation and a Trustee of the Helen Feather Memorial Trust and several other charities. He is a Vice President of the Future 50 Campaign for Harrogate International Festivals. The Festivals celebrated their 50th anniversary and launched a £1 million campaign to secure the next 50 years.
He was awarded the OBE for services to charity on 1 January 2000. He was awarded the Order of Mercy, in July 2016, by the League of Mercy Foundation, for outstanding voluntary service.
Peter was voted the inaugural Yorkshire Lawyer of the Year and Niche Practice Lawyer of the Year by the Yorkshire Law Societies.
He was the inaugural Chairman of Visit Harrogate, the Destination Management Organisation for business and leisure tourism in the Harrogate district, one of the largest in the country. In April 2017, he was appointed a Harrogate Conference Ambassador for the Harrogate Convention Centre.
In 2008, Peter received the Lifetime Achievement in Business Award at the Ackrill Media Group Business Awards.
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What People Say About Peter...
"Peter McCormick is a towering figure within football. His prominence stems largely from his role as the chairman of the Legal Advisory Group of the Premier League. Opponents, colleagues and clients alike are quick to attest to the value of the 'practical, common-sense advice,' provided by 'a lawyer who not only understands football, but always sees the commercial realities as well.'" Chambers UK - Sport
“Peter McCormick is ranked as a ‘star performer.’ This Harrogate-based team continues to operate on a national level for which a great deal of the credit must go to Peter McCormick, a solicitor whom clients simply could not praise enough. ‘A legend in the field of football’, he is extremely active for marquee client, the Premier League. ‘McCormick is an intellectually brilliant, commercially astute and hands-on lawyer – he’s as good as it gets’, proclaim happy clients. The team attracts praise for its commendable work ethic and excellent client skills: ‘these lawyers make you feel like you’re their priority – they’ll work day and night to get the job done.’” Chambers UK - Sport
“Peter McCormick at McCormicks is ‘an outstanding sports lawyer’ and a ‘striker who any informed client would choose to lead his team.’ Clients say the firm ‘punches way above its weight and is a true specialist in the field.’”UK Legal 500 - Sport
“Peter McCormick is a prominent figure within sport, especially football. One client was highly impressed with his ‘very practical approach to commercial business – when I make big decisions, I run them past him. He’s so streetwise that while I know his expertise is in sports law, I feel confident asking him about anything!’” Chambers UK - Sport
"At McCormicks, the 'sophisticated and shrewd' Peter McCormick is the 'doyen of football law', and handles a raft of work for the Premier League. - Legal 500
“‘Godfather of sports law’ Peter McCormick heads the sports department at Harrogate firm McCormicks and is ‘vastly experienced, savvy and has the ear of The Premier League’.” - Legal 500
"Peter McCormick is praised by commentators for being "extremely experienced, savvy and commercial." He is known to be a leading light in football, serving as chairman of the Premier League's legal advisory group. According to a source, "he leads by example and is one of the most impressive lawyers I have ever worked with." - Chambers UK