Shoosmiths has advised Northridge , a UK-based specialist law firm dedicated to complex and high-stakes legal matters in sport, on a minority investment from US private equity firm Cordillera Investment Partners.

Published: 01 April 2026

Shoosmiths has advised Northridge , a UK-based specialist law firm dedicated to complex and high-stakes legal matters in sport, on a minority investment from US private equity firm Cordillera Investment Partners.

The transaction marks a significant milestone in Northridge’s growth and reflects increasing private capital interest in the professional services and sports sectors. The investment sees Cordillera take a minority stake and board position in Northridge to support its continued expansion into new areas such as media rights and stadium development.

Northridge has built a strong reputation advising on some of the most prominent deals in global sport. Its track record includes advising on Chelsea Football Club’s 2022 sale, as well as investments involving Leeds United and Everton Football Club. The firm also notes major organisations such as the Football Association and Spotify among its clients.

The Shoosmiths team was led by James Foster, Private Equity Partner. James was supported by Corporate Partners Simon Procter and Natalie Redfern, as well as Senior Associates Jordan Collinson and Jade Price. From the firm’s tax team, Principal Associate Caroline Airey and Senior Associate Manpreet Shoker also advised on the investment. Shoosmiths worked alongside Northridge’s other advisors, KPMG and Kindleworth LLP.

James Foster, Partner at Shoosmiths, commented: “We are thrilled to have advised Northridge on this strategic investment. The transaction reflects both the strength of Northridge’s market position and the growing appetite from private capital to invest in high-performing professional services businesses, particularly those operating at the intersection of law and sport. Our work on this successful deal with Northridge reflects Shoosmiths’ strong track record advising on investments into professional services firms. Private equity’s increasing focus on high quality professional services businesses reflects a structural shift in how the asset class thinks about durability and value creation. These high quality assets combine mission critical client relationships, recurring revenues and deep intellectual capital, creating platforms that are both resilient and highly scalable with the right investment and operational support.”

Shoosmiths’ corporate team of over 150 lawyers specialises in the premium and upper mid-market and is one of the UK’s leading advisers to professional services companies and their investors, as well as one of the most active M&A teams in the market.