Saffery expands sports and entertainment offering with acquisition of AWFM Sport

Saffery has completed the acquisition of AWFM Sport.

AWFM Sport, formerly Arena Wealth Partners, is a specialist advisor to some of the world’s leading sportspeople, providing them with a comprehensive range of tax, accounting, compliance and business management services and support.

With clients including top ATP-ranked tennis stars and Ryder Cup winning golfers, AWFM Sport has established itself over the last two decades as an adviser of choice for the very best international sports talent.

The acquisition sees the AWFM Sport team join the Saffery Sports & Entertainment Practice Group, headed by partner Pete Hackleton.  This includes AWFM Sport founder and Director David Lumley, who becomes a consultant to the firm and its clients.

Since its launch more than a decade ago, the Sports & Entertainment group at Saffery has grown to become a major player in the industry, with over 50 professionals, including 12 partners, advising talented individuals and major corporates and providing the full spectrum of accounting, audit, tax and business advisory services.

Pete Hackleton, Partner and Head of the Sport and Entertainment Group at Saffery, said:

“We have known David and AWFM Sport for many years, and the opportunity to join forces and unlock new opportunities for our clients was one we both wanted to seize. Taken together, we have the privilege of counting among our clients some of the most exciting, successful and high profile personalities and corporates in the world of sport. With our complementary service offering, and Saffery’s reach both across the UK in major centres of sporting excellence and internationally through our Nexia partnership, we are ideally placed to support our now joint clients as they navigate an increasingly complex and globalised sports market.  We are tremendously excited for what comes next as we move forwards together as a combined offering.”

David Lumley, founder and Director of AWFM Sport, added:

“It is very pleasing to be joining together with Pete and the team at Saffery. Not only do we share a real passion for the sports and entertainment industry, but we both also believe wholeheartedly in nurturing talent and the importance of client service and experience. I know that the AWFM Sport team, and our clients, will not only be in the very best of hands but that, with the resources and reach that Saffery provides, will be able to realise new opportunities and pathways to success.”