header-logo header-logo

24 November 2025
Categories: Movers & Shakers , Profession , Career focus
printer mail-detail

NLJ Career Profile: Stefan Borson, McCarthy Denning

Stefan Borson, football finance expert & head of sport at McCarthy Denning, discusses returning to the law & digging into the stories behind the scenes

What was your route into the profession?

It was a traditional start—reading law at university, LPC and training at Addleshaw Goddard, before pursuing roles in corporate finance and the C-suite.

What has been your biggest career challenge so far?

Returning to a General Counsel role at Quindell in 2014 after nearly 15 years of investment banking, listed company boards and a CEO role. However, I believe those experiences helped me win GC of the Year a year later.

Which person within the legal profession inspires you most?

Lord Pannick KC—if he wins the Manchester City 115 case!

If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you choose as an alternate career?

I like forensic analysis of business, the stories behind the scenes and financials, so perhaps financial investigative journalism or crisis management. I enjoy unpacking complex issues for broader audiences, which is why I now write and broadcast on football finance and regulation.

Who is your favourite fictional lawyer?

Saul Goodman!

What change would you make to the profession?

Having paid the bills for years, there must be a better way to value the skills of lawyers than billing by the minute, which incentivises the wrong practices.

How do you relax?

Mainly football, running, and gazing out to sea.


Stefan Borson is head of sport at McCarthy Denning.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Bell Yard Kysen—Liz Giles

Bell Yard Kysen—Liz Giles

Bell Yard Kysen appoints senior legal PR and ex-government communications adviser, Liz Giles

Clarke Willmott—Lee Edwards

Clarke Willmott—Lee Edwards

Clarke Willmott boosts Southampton commercial property team with addition of partner Lee Edwards

Lime Solicitors—four promotions

Lime Solicitors—four promotions

Lime Solicitors announces four promotions

NEWS
The Attorney General, Ellie Reeves KC MP, and Solicitor General, Andy Slaughter KC MP, marked the 25th anniversary of Pro Bono Week by joining lawyers, charities, students and parliamentarians at events celebrating voluntary legal work
A polished legal defence may owe more to artificial intelligence than legal merit—and creditors risk paying the price in delay and expense
Witness evidence can be compromised by AI before a solicitor sees the draft, leaving safeguards focused on authorship incomplete
Should a conviction stand when a later ruling reveals that the law underpinning it was wrong? The answer exposes a clash between finality and justice
The Environment Agency can prosecute offences beyond environmental legislation where proceedings support its statutory functions, the Divisional Court has confirmed
back-to-top-scroll