Charles Russell Speechlys "sealed a deal to merge with City sports law boutique Couchmans, following the departure of several sports-focused partners from both firms last year." Couchmans' four partners and seven fee-earners will join CRS on Monday. Couchmans, which was founded in '01 by Chair Nic Couchman, works with clients including Ascot Racecourse, the Int'l Tennis Federation, Fitbit and Rapha Racing (LEGAL WEEK, 1/17).
Serie C side Vicenza was declared bankrupt by a tribunal on Thursday, "bringing 115 years of history to an end." The club's players have not been paid since September and "have taken strike action in recent weeks." Vicenza will be allowed to continue league play until the end of the season, and has "until the start of next season for interested parties to form a new club" (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 1/18).
Low-cost fitness operator The Gym "hailed" record openings and a "surge in memberships last year, as it teamed up with supermarkets and hotels to share space." CEO John Treharne, a former England squash player who founded the group in '08, said that the company opened 21 sites in '17, which was a record for the company in one year. The company has been responsible for 65% of the "growth of the low-cost gym sector since March" (London TELEGRAPH, 1/16).