Lawyers from Freshfields, both on secondment at London 2012 and in Freshfields’ offices, will be providing a range of legal advice to oversee build-up to the Games. 

 

They have already been involved in the project since 2004 before London was awarded the Games by the International Olympic Committee at its Session in Singapore on July 6 2005.

 

Sebastian Coe, the chairman of London 2012, said: “The Olympic Games and Paralympic Games are the world’s largest peacetime events and it is vital that they are built on secure foundations - working with the best legal minds will ensure this happens. 

 

"Freshfields know the project inside out - they supported us during the bid and they will be a vital part of the team as we head towards 2012."

 

The firm has paid a small cash amount to have their name attached to the Olympics and won the role after a tender process carried out towards the end of last year by London 2012.

 

Guy Morton, Freshfields’ joint senior partner said: “We are proud that Freshfields will be providing the legal advice that this enormously complex event demands and welcome the opportunity to give practical support to the ideals of the Olympic movement. 

 

"We are looking forward to helping LOCOG deliver a Games for everyone in 2012.”

 

Freshfields will be providing the full range of legal services, through a combination of secondees and ad hoc advice, complementing and working alongside the London 2012 legal team. 

 

The scope of the legal advice broadly covers property; venue use agreements; employment law; intellectual property, brand protection and sponsorship rights; general corporate and commercial advice; procurement and competition law; tax law; and dispute resolution.

 

Freshfields can trace its history back to 1743 when it was appointed solicitor to the Bank of England, making it the oldest firm within the magic circle and also one of the most historied of the world's major legal practices.

 

The current firm was created  in August when Freshfields merged with Deringer Tessin Herrmann & Sedemund and with Bruckhaus Westrick Heller Löber to form Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

 

It is currently the world's fourth largest law firm and now has more than 2,500 lawyers in 28 key business centres around the world.

 

Freshfields are the fourth tier-three sponsor to be announced by London 2012, following Adecco, Airwave and the Boston Consulting Group.

 

London 2012 also has seven tier-one sponsors and three tier-two.