Bird & Bird appoints media, entertainment and sports partner
Global law firm Bird & Bird is continuing its growth trajectory, adding its second partner within a month, following its recent promotion of two internal lawyers to special counsel.
Global law firm Bird & Bird is continuing its growth trajectory, adding its second partner within a month, following its recent promotion of two internal lawyers to special counsel.
To continue reading the rest of this article, please log in.
Create a free account to get unlimited news articles and more!
Brianna Quinn (pictured) has joined Bird & Bird as a partner in its international media, entertainment and sports group, bringing more than 10 years of experience at a leading international arbitration firm in Geneva, Switzerland, where she advised and represented a wide range of international federations and other clients across various sports.
Ms Quinn has, the firm said in a statement, “significant expertise” advising on sport regulatory, governance, and contentious matters, including (among others) anti-doping, anti-corruption and match-fixing, safeguarding, and sports governance and regulations, and has represented many clients before international sports tribunals, including the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland.
She sits as a permanent arbitrator on the closed list of the Basketball Arbitral Tribunal (BAT) and is a member of the ethics board of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and a director of the Australian and New Zealand Sports Law Association (ANSZLA).
Her skills and experience, the firm noted, “are highly complementary” to its international media, entertainment and sports group.
Ms Quinn joined the firm on 1 June and will work with its Sydney and London offices while being based in the former city.
The news follows the appointment of partner Tim Macmillan from Mills Oakley last week, as well as its promotion of Sydney-based lawyers Matthew Bovaird and James Hoy to special counsel in the firm’s internal promotions round last month.
Speaking to Lawyers Weekly about the firm’s growth, Bird & Bird head of country in Australia Shane Barber said that the firm has grown “substantially” in the nine years that it has operated Down Under.
“The global firm, with a constellation of over 30 offices, has deep experience in technology, knowledge-rich and data-driven sectors, and works closely alongside the world’s leading organisations being transformed by the digital world,” he proclaimed.
“Our growth strategy in Australia intentionally reflects these areas of strength. With these new hires and promotions, we can deliver even better service to our Australian, regional and global client base.”
On the topic of Ms Quinn’s appointment, Bird & Bird group head of international media, entertainment and sports Andy Danson said: “Brianna brings fantastic international experience with her, and the nature of her work means she has great synergy with our existing international sports group.
“Brianna’s appointment is a part of an ambitious internationalisation and expansion strategy of the sports group, and her work with international federations, clubs, and other sports bodies makes her a strong addition to the firm.”
Mr Barber added: “I am pleased to welcome Brianna to our ever-growing Sydney office. This is a very exciting time for Australian sport, with almost 30 major sports events confirmed to take place in Australia over the next decade.
“The depth of Brianna’s expertise will ensure that we remain the go-to law firm for our clients on some of the most important and complex issues in the international sports sector.”
And Ms Quinn reflected that Bird & Bird has “a market-leading sports sector group that is internationally renowned”.
“I am very excited to return to my home country, Australia, while remaining at the forefront of sports law,” she said.
“I’m looking forward to working closely with my talented colleagues in Sydney, London and internationally to support our clients.”
Jerome Doraisamy
Jerome Doraisamy is the editor of Lawyers Weekly. A former lawyer, he has worked at Momentum Media as a journalist on Lawyers Weekly since February 2018, and has served as editor since March 2022. He is also the host of all five shows under The Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network, and has overseen the brand's audio medium growth from 4,000 downloads per month to over 60,000 downloads per month, making The Lawyers Weekly Show the most popular industry-specific podcast in Australia. Jerome is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in NSW, and a board director of Minds Count.
You can email Jerome at: