Tony Downes

TONY DOWNES’ practice includes private and public M&A and investments, private equity transactions, joint ventures, and other complex cross-border corporate and commercial matters.

He has extensive experience working across the betting and gaming, sports, media, technology, real estate, and hospitality sectors for private equity sponsors, private businesses, and listed public companies.

Tony is recognized in The Legal 500 UK 2024 for Private Equity: Mid-Market Deals, Gaming and Betting, and Sports. Tony led the team awarded “Corporate Team Of The Year” for 2019 by Legal Business Magazine for their work advising William Hill PLC on its entry into an exclusive partnership with Eldorado Resorts for sports betting operations in the United States. Tony was also named as a “Rising Star for M&A and Private Equity” by IFLR1000 2020, with noted experience in the betting and gaming sector.

Prior to joining Sidley, Tony was a partner in the Private Equity & M&A practice of another international law firm.

• Advising One Equity Partners and Buckthorn Partners in their Acquisition of Acteon Group.

• Advising 7Ridge in relation to its investments in Raft Technologies, Digital Assets Holdings, Inc., and KRM PLC, and its acquisition of Trading Technologies International.

• Advising Synova in relation to its disposal of a controlling interest in Fairstone and its acquisition of Orbis.

• Advising a global private equity sponsor on its acquisition of a portfolio of hotels in the United Kingdom and Germany, and subsequent operation and disposal of each portfolio.

• Advising a global private equity sponsor on its disposal of certain UK and European pay-day lending and pawnshop operations.

• Advising BetCity and its shareholders in relation to its acquisition by Entain PLC.

• Advising William Hill PLC in relation to its partnership with Caesars Entertainment, Inc., and eventual merger with Caesars Entertainment, Inc.

• Advising William Hill PLC on its exclusive partnership with Eldorado Resorts, Inc. for sports betting operations in the United States.

• Advising William Hill PLC on its disposal of its equity interest in NYX Gaming Group to Scientific Games, and associated commercial arrangements.

• Advising William Hill PLC on its proposed merger of equals with Amaya, Inc.

• Advising William Hill PLC on its consortium investment in NYX Gaming Group, and subsequent £275 million acquisition of OpenBet Technologies.

• Advising William Hill PLC in relation to its investments in and software development contracts with NeoGames, including the eventual listing of NeoGames, Inc.

• Advising The Stars Group, Inc. on its acquisition of Sky Betting & Gaming, and related commercial arrangements and brand licensing arrangements with Sky PLC.

• Advising Kindred Group PLC on its public takeover of 32 RED PLC by way of recommended cash offer.

• Advising Gala Coral Group on its £2.3 billion merger with Ladbrokes PLC.

• Advising Gala Coral Group on the disposal of its Gala Bingo operations.

• Advising a global private equity sponsor in relation to its investment in a payment technology service provider to the betting and gaming industry.

• Advising Terra Firma on its £921 million disposal of Odeon and UCI Cinemas Group to AMC Entertainment Holdings.

• Advising King Digital Entertainment on its listing on the New York Stock Exchange, its entry into an Asset Backed Lending Facility, and on various acquisitions.

• Advising a consortium of mezzanine lenders on the equity and shareholder arrangements associated with the restructuring of KCA Deutag, awarded the ILFR “Restructuring Deal of the Year” for 2011.

• Advising Endorphin Magine in relation to its media, sponsorship, and betting rights arrangements with the Croatian Football Federation.

• Advising a major pan-European broadcaster and media rights company in relation to numerous media, sponsorship, data rights, and content supply agreements.

• Advising the Ladies European Tour in relation to broadcast rights agreements, sponsorship agreements, and event promoter’s agreements.

• Advising the World Series of Boxing and the International Boxing Association in relation to all legal matters relevant to the establishment, governance, and commercial operations of the business.

• Advising Amryt Pharma PLC on its acquisition of Aegerion, Inc. out of bankruptcy proceedings.

• Advising Qorvo, Inc. in relation to its investment in, and subsequent acquisition of, Cavendish Kinetics.

Some of the above matters were handled prior to joining Sidley.