Sports Law Firm Northridge Adds Gambling Practice

Partner Melanie Ellis and associate Tom Edmonds boost the firm’s betting and gaming offering

Northridge today announced the hire of new partner Melanie Ellis, who joins the firm alongside associate Tom Edmonds from specialist gambling firm Harris Hagan. Ellis is the first new partner hire since the firm was founded in October 2017.

A gambling regulatory lawyer with 13 years’ experience in the sector, Ellis advises on all aspects of gambling law, with a particular interest in the use of new technology for gambling products and novel product ideas. This ties in well with Northridge’s entrepreneurial approach, which has in the last year seen the firm launch NORTHRIDGE TRACK, an innovative new club for the best high-growth technology companies that serve the sports and entertainment industries.

As well as working with Ellis at their former firm, associate Tom Edmonds has commercial and in-house experience, having previously worked at Betgenius.

Northridge founding partner Ian Lynam comments: “We are delighted to enhance our betting and gaming offering by welcoming Melanie and Tom to the firm. Our existing sports practice has significant overlap with the betting industry – particularly in areas such as integrity, rules and regulations and sponsorship. We think the addition of gambling regulatory expertise to our offering gives significant potential for growth and further enhances our ability to advise clients when the stakes are highest.”

New partner Melanie Ellis comments: “Northridge has fast established itself as one of the most innovative and exciting firms in the market, and one keen to explore the opportunities new technologies are bringing to the fields it operates in. I’m excited to join such a forward-thinking team, and to utilise my own long-term experience in betting and gaming to help build on the firm’s already thriving practice.”

Ellis advises on all aspects of gambling law including licence applications, compliance, advertising, licence reviews and changes of control. She has acted for a wide range of gambling operators including major online and land-based bookmakers and casinos, B2B game and software suppliers and start-ups. She also frequently advises operators of raffles, prize competitions, free draws and social gaming products. She is a regular contributor to industry publications.

Northridge is an independent law firm that focuses on the most complex and important matters in sport. Founded in October 2017, it has already established itself as the firm the sports industry turns to when the stakes are highest. It is ranked in Tier One for sports law in the Legal 500, it won the “Boutique law firm of the Year” award from Legal Business in 2019 and is Europe’s largest sports practice with 25 dedicated fee earners.