A trainee's role in...

We advised Everton Football Club on financing for its new stadium. Michael Dolan was involved in the deal as a trainee and after qualifying as an associate into our Real Estate and Projects team. 

At what stage did you become involved in the transaction?

I first became involved in the project in September 2023 in the fourth seat of my training contract. The firm had been involved in the project since 2016 and construction of the new stadium was well underway by the time I joined the group, but I quickly became embedded in the team.

I qualified into Real Estate as an associate in March 2024 and was very fortunate to be able to continue to advise the Club as the development progressed. Although construction of the stadium has now practically completed, I remain involved in a number of ongoing aspects of the development and I have also assisted the Club with other matters, including Everton Women’s move to Goodison Park.

What was your role on the transaction as a trainee?

As a trainee, I was part of a team of four, which, in addition to myself, consisted of one partner, one senior counsel and one associate. The relatively small size of the team allowed me to take on significant responsibility at an early stage, which I found both highly rewarding and (at times) highly challenging!

My main role was to directly support the associate working on the project and this largely involved co-ordinating the completion of agreements relating to utilities on site, including the lease of an electricity substation and the grant of an easement relating to the gas supply. This meant that I had a great deal of contact with the Club and also that I worked directly with the counterparties and their lawyers on a regular basis.  I enjoyed seeing my work play a tangible role in the progress of the project as the completion of these agreements tied directly into the overall development timeline. All of this set me in good stead for my continued work with the Club as an associate.

As an associate, I have continued to work closely with the Club, but I have now become more involved in the substantive negotiation of documents and the provision of legal advice.

How did that change when you were an associate?

As an associate, I have continued to work closely with the Club, but I have now become more involved in the substantive negotiation of documents and the provision of legal advice. This has included, for example, negotiating a lease of adjoining land to the stadium, as well as advising on the real estate aspects of the Club’s new financing arrangements at the start of 2025. My level of responsibility has increased since I qualified in a way that has allowed me to develop professionally, as well as develop my relationship with the Club and deepen my understanding of the professional football sector.

What did you find most interesting about the transaction?

The most interesting aspect of the project for me is the stadium’s unique location on the site of a former dock which was filled in as part of the development. As well as being impressive from an engineering perspective, this has given rise to a lot of interesting and bespoke legal arrangements and working with these has allowed me to gain a greater appreciation for the direct interaction between the legal and technical aspects of major development projects such as this one.

What did you find most challenging about working on the transaction?

 As the development had been ongoing for several years before I joined the team, there was a considerable amount of background to get familiar with and it took time and hard work to get to know the site and its various complexities. However, as I worked more on various aspects of the project, it was very satisfying to see this develop into a deep and detailed knowledge of such an interesting site.    

What was your favourite moment?

My favourite moment was watching the BBC News report on the first major test event at the stadium earlier this year. It was a very exciting (and somewhat surreal) experience to see the stadium fully constructed, operational and lit up in blue with the first spectators taking their seats! This brought my work on the project to life in a way that pouring over plans and title deeds could not quite manage, and I’m looking forward to seeing international football matches being played there when the UK and Ireland host the Euros in 2028.