Mike Ashley Newcastle United
A sports law specialist believes a resolution could be reached in Newcastle United’s takeover arbitration case within the next six months. Newcastle’s statement outlined they are considering an appeal against Judge Mark Pelling’s decision as fans wait for a timeline for the full arbitration process. Peter Nunn – a legal director with London-based firm Mishcon de Reya – believes the Magpies will decide against an appeal to avoid ‘dragging out’ the potential takeover.
The date and length of the hearing has not been confirmed, but Nunn reckons it is ‘feasible’ for a resolution to be reached in the next six months if no appeal is launched.
Peter Nunn said “If they are going to appeal, you actually have to get the permission to appeal fairly quickly. If the arbitration goes on, because it’s a closed process we won’t be told it’s a hearing on this date. It could be one day, three days, or five days. It’s not going to be three months, I think it’s most likely to be between a three and a five-day hearing. It’s very much like a court hearing behind closed doors, the big difference is the public can not walk in and watch what is going on. Following the hearing, the arbitrators will go off and write their decision. How quickly they get that done is partly up to them. Usually it’s pretty quick, it will probably be within a month of the actual hearing that there could be a written decision. Because it is an arbitration, both parties can agree upon the speed of the process. I would think within the next six months, there should be the hearing and the decision which again we won’t get to see.”
The Magpies confirmed last week that they were unsuccessful in their bid to remove Michael Beloff QC from the three-man panel which will preside over the hearing with the Premier League. The High Court ruling was made public, and revealed Lord David Neuberger and Lord John Dyson have also been selected to sit on the panel.
