Withers secures Djokovic-Lacoste Partnership

Withers today announced that it had been the law firm in charge of the negotiations between tennis star Novak Djokovic and sportswear giant Lacoste. 

The law firm advised Djokovic, the current Roland Garros and Australian Open champion and world number two, on the negotiation of his new sponsorship agreement with sportswear group Lacoste.  The agreement follows on from a sponsorship relationship with the Uniqlo brand which commenced in 2012.

Luca Ferrari, head of Withers' Sports and Talent group, comments: "Lacoste has had tennis at the very heart of its business since its establishment in 1933.  The partnership with the brand is ideal for Novak, as one of the best known players in contemporary tennis, and they will stand together as epitomes of excellence in the sports world.  As ever, we've been delighted to act for Novak on this matter and to advise him on the negotiation of the agreement."

The Withers team was led by Luca, working with Ceri Vokes, Stella Riberti, Phineas Hirsh and Federica Caretta.

Withers is the standing legal adviser to Novak Djokovic, the Novak Djokovic Foundation (UK) and Novak Djokovic Foundation (USA).

The Lacoste press release described the agreement as one which was a natural fit, calling Djokovic 'the new crocodile,' in relation to the iconic snapper badge of their brand. During the 2017 French Open, Novak Djokovic will make his entrance on the Parisian clay courts, displaying the Crocodile of his new Lacoste outfits.

For its new advertising campaign, the brand imagined a changeover between the two champions, René Lacoste and Novak Djokovic. A film, directed by Julien Pujol, bears witness to the Brand's defining moment: the invention of the Lacoste Polo shirt - the day upon which René Lacoste decided to break away from contemporary tennis dress codes by cutting off the sleeves of his shirt, in order to allow himself greater freedom of movement. To watch the new brand film, please click on the link here.

The legal team at Withers, for one, will be delighted to watch Djokovic stride out onto those clay courts with the iconic crocodile emblazoned upon his chest, and can congratulate themselves on a job well done. 

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