{{Short description|British lawyer}} {{About|the English lawyer|the Australian composer|Peter Dodds McCormick}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}} {{Use British English|date= June 2021}} {{Cleanup reorganize|date=May 2025|section}} {{Infobox person | name = Peter McCormick | honorific_suffix = OBE | birth_name = Peter David Godfrey McCormick | birth_date = 27 June 1952 | occupation = Solicitor<br />Executive Vice Chairman of Leeds United FC (since 1 May 2025) | website = www.mccormicks-solicitors.com| }}
'''Peter David Godfrey McCormick''' OBE (born 27 June 1952) is an English lawyer. He is the Senior Partner of McCormicks Solicitors<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=Peter McCormick OBE - McCormicks Solicitors |url=https://www.mccormicks-solicitors.com/our-people/peter-mccormick-obe/ |accessdate=4 September 2015 |website=www.mccormicks-solicitors.co.uk}}</ref> of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England.
He was educated at Ashville College and King's College London (LLB, 1973).
He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for charitable services in the 2000 New Year Honours.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=55710 |date=30 December 1999 |pages=15 |supp=y}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/1999/12/99/new_years_honours/584147.stm|title=OBE civil (K - Z)|date=31 December 1999|work=BBC Online|accessdate=23 July 2012}}</ref> He was awarded the Order of Mercy, in July 2016, by the League of Mercy Foundation, for outstanding voluntary service.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/2566301|title=Other Notices | The Gazette|website=www.thegazette.co.uk}}</ref>
Ranked as one of the top sports lawyers in the country, he is best known as the Chairman of the Legal Advisory Group of the Premier League<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.harrogate-news.co.uk/2015/08/25/top-premier-league-and-f-a-appointment-for-harrogate-solicitor/|title=Top Premier League and F.A. appointment for Harrogate solicitor|date=25 August 2015}}</ref> and Chairman of the League's Football Board.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.insidermedia.com/news/yorkshire/145802-premier-league-role-yorkshire-solicitor|title=Premier League role for Yorkshire solicitor|first=Insider|last=Media|website=Insider Media Ltd|date=19 August 2015 }}</ref> In August 2015, he was unanimously elected by the 20 Premier League Clubs to be a Director of the Football Association (FA), a member of the FA Council, the FA Professional Game Board and the FA International Committee.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/news/business/harrogate-lawyer-appointed-to-fa-board-1-7429956| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150913071619/http://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/news/business/harrogate-lawyer-appointed-to-fa-board-1-7429956| archive-date = 2015-09-13| title = Harrogate lawyer appointed to FA Board - Harrogate Advertiser}}</ref> Prior to these appointments, he was Chairman of the Premier League from March 2014 to June 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/yorkshire/news/588439-yorkshire-lawyer-joins-premier-league-board|title=Yorkshire lawyer joins Premier League board | TheBusinessDesk.com|date=10 March 2014}}</ref>
In May 2016, he became a member of the Football Regulatory Authority (FRA) which is responsible for regulatory, disciplinary and rule-making for football played in England.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/sport/football/harrogate-lawyer-fill-five-new-fa-roles-874981|title=Harrogate lawyer to fill five new FA roles|website=www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk|date=2 June 2016 }}</ref> He was also appointed Chairman of the FA International Committee; and a member of the FA Group Remuneration Committee, the FA Council Membership and Appointments Committee.<ref name="auto"/>
In August 2016, he was appointed Chairman of the FA Group Remuneration Committee, serving a six year term, expiring in July 2022. In addition, he was made Chairman of the FA Premier League Medical Care Scheme Ltd, a company providing private health care to 95% of professionals in football in this country.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mccormicks-solicitors.com/latest-news/three-further-chairman-posts-for-yorkshire-lawyer/|title=Three Further Chairman Posts for Yorkshire Lawyer|date=22 November 2016}}</ref>
In July 2017, he was unanimously elected Vice Chairman of the FA, serving a five year term until July 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.harrogate-news.co.uk/2017/08/07/top-fa-post-harrogate-lawyer/|title=Top FA post for Harrogate Lawyer|date=7 August 2017}}</ref>
In November 2018, he was elected Chairman of the Professional Game Board of the FA.
In November 2020, he was sworn in as interim chairman of the FA replacing Greg Clarke, until a new chairman could be appointed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/news/2020/nov/10/fa-statement-101120/|title=Clarke resigns|first=The Football|last=Association|website=www.thefa.com}}</ref> He held the post until January 2022 when the new independent Chair took office and he continued as an FA Board Member.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thefa.com/about-football-association/who-we-are/structure | title=The FA Board }}</ref> He stood down from the FA Board at the end of his term, in July 2023.
In January 2022, he was unanimously appointed by the 20 Premier League Clubs as interim Chairman of the Premier League.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/2446663|title=McCormick appointed League's Interim Chair}}</ref> He served until January 2023, when the new independent Chair took office.
He has been Chairman of Premier League Stadium Fund<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.fsif.co.uk/about-fsif/board/| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130313200536/http://www.fsif.co.uk/about-fsif/board/| archive-date = 2013-03-13| title = Board / The Football Stadia Improvement Fund}}</ref> and a Trustee of the Football Foundation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://footballfoundation.org.uk/our-trustees|title=Our trustees | Football Foundation|website=footballfoundation.org.uk}}</ref>
In July 2023, he was elected Chairman of the FA Challenge Cup Committee.
In March 2025, it was announced that he would be leaving the Premier League and FA to take up an unsolicited offer to be the Executive Vice Chairman of Leeds United FC.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2025-03-07 |title=Who is Peter McCormick? Ex-Premier League chief confirmed as new Leeds director |url=https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/who-peter-mccormick-ex-premier-31153638 |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=Leeds Live |language=en}}</ref>
He was the inaugural Yorkshire Lawyer of the Year and Niche Practice Lawyer of the Year 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Double delight for football solicitor as he finds the target in regional legal contest |url=https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/double-delight-for-football-solicitor-as-he-finds-the-target-in-regional-legal-contest/30834.article |accessdate=3 September 2015 |website=Law Society Gazette}}</ref> In 2008, he received the Lifetime Achievement in Business Award at the Ackrill Media Group Business Awards.
He was the inaugural Chairman of Visit Harrogate, the Destination Management Organisation for business and leisure tourism in the Harrogate district. In April 2017, he was appointed a Harrogate Conference Ambassador for the Harrogate Convention Centre.
He has been Chairman of War Memorials Trust,<ref>{{Cite web|title = War Memorials Trust|url = http://www.warmemorials.org/trustees/|website = www.warmemorials.org|accessdate = 4 September 2015}}</ref> and is Chairman of the Yorkshire Young Achievers Foundation<ref>{{Cite web |title=Yorkshire Young Achievers Foundation |url=https://www.yorkshireyoungachievers.co.uk/trustees/ |website=Yorkshire Young Achievers Foundation}}</ref> and a Trustee of the Helen Feather Memorial Trust.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=Helen Feather Memorial Trust - The Trustees |url=https://www.helenfeathertrust.co.uk/the-trustees |accessdate=4 September 2015 |website=www.helenfeathertrust.co.uk}}</ref>
He is ranked as a leading expert by the Legal 500<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Legal 500 > McCormicks > Harrogate, ENGLAND > Lawyer profiles > Peter D G Mccormick Obe |url=https://my.legal500.com/firms/2282-mccormicks/6594-harrogate-england/lawyers/289644-peter-mccormick-obe/?time=1747045691 |accessdate=4 September 2015 |website=www.legal500.com}}</ref> and Chambers UK<ref name="Peter McCormick">{{Cite web |title=Peter McCormick |url=https://chambers.com/lawyer/peter-mccormick-uk-1:624273 |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=chambers.com |language=en}}</ref> in Sport,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sport in Yorkshire And The Humber | Law firm and lawyer rankings from The Legal 500 United Kingdom - Solicitors guide |url=https://www.legal500.com/rankings/ranking/c-yorkshire-and-the-humber/tmt-technology-media-and-telecoms/sport/2282-mccormicks |website=www.legal500.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sport in London | Law firm and lawyer rankings from The Legal 500 United Kingdom - Solicitors guide |url=https://www.legal500.com/rankings/ranking/c-london/tmt-technology-media-and-telecoms/sport/2282-mccormicks |website=www.legal500.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sport, UK-wide, UK | Chambers Rankings |url=https://chambers.com/department/mccormicks-solicitors-sport-uk-1:648:11805:1:853 |website=chambers.com}}</ref> Media and Entertainment,<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.legal500.com/c/yorkshire-and-the-humber/tmt-technology-media-and-telecoms/media-and-entertainment#paragraph_30708| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091210005419/http://www.legal500.com/c/yorkshire-and-the-humber/tmt-technology-media-and-telecoms/media-and-entertainment| archive-date = 2009-12-10| title = The Legal 500 UK 2009 > Yorkshire and the Humber > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media and entertainment recommended Law firms, Lawyers}}</ref> Commercial Litigation,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Commercial litigation: Leeds and West Yorkshire; North Yorkshire in Yorkshire And The Humber | Law firm and lawyer rankings from The Legal 500 United Kingdom - Solicitors guide |url=https://www.legal500.com/rankings/ranking/c-yorkshire-and-the-humber/dispute-resolution/commercial-litigation-leeds-and-west-yorkshire-north-yorkshire/2282-mccormicks |website=www.legal500.com}}</ref> Agriculture and Estates,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Agriculture and estates in Yorkshire And The Humber | Law firm and lawyer rankings from The Legal 500 United Kingdom - Solicitors guide |url=https://www.legal500.com/rankings/ranking/c-yorkshire-and-the-humber/private-client/agriculture-and-estates/2282-mccormicks |website=www.legal500.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Agriculture & Rural Affairs, York, Hull and surrounds, UK | Chambers Rankings |url=https://chambers.com/department/mccormicks-solicitors-agriculture-rural-affairs-uk-1:3:17146:1:853 |website=chambers.com}}</ref> Charities and Not-for-Profit,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Charities and not-for-profit in Yorkshire And The Humber | Law firm and lawyer rankings from The Legal 500 United Kingdom - Solicitors guide |url=https://www.legal500.com/rankings/ranking/c-yorkshire-and-the-humber/private-client/charities-and-not-for-profit/2282-mccormicks |website=www.legal500.com}}</ref> Contentious Trusts and Probate,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Contentious trusts and probate in Yorkshire And The Humber | Law firm and lawyer rankings from The Legal 500 United Kingdom - Solicitors guide |url=https://www.legal500.com/rankings/ranking/c-yorkshire-and-the-humber/private-client/contentious-trusts-and-probate/2282-mccormicks |website=www.legal500.com}}</ref> Mediators,<ref>{{Cite web |title=L500 {{!}} McCormicks > Mediators > England {{!}} Legal 500 law firm profiles |url=https://www.legal500.com/rankings/ranking/c-london/dispute-resolution/mediators/2282-mccormicks?lawyer=241572-peter-mccormick |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=www.legal500.com}}</ref> Professional Discipline,<ref>{{Cite web |title=L500 {{!}} McCormicks > Professional discipline > England {{!}} Legal 500 law firm profiles |url=https://www.legal500.com/rankings/ranking/c-london/dispute-resolution/professional-discipline/2282-mccormicks |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=www.legal500.com}}</ref> EU and Competition Law,<ref>{{Cite web |title=L500 {{!}} McCormicks > EU and competition > England {{!}} Legal 500 law firm profiles |url=https://www.legal500.com/rankings/ranking/c-yorkshire-and-the-humber/corporate-and-commercial/eu-and-competition/2282-mccormicks |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=www.legal500.com}}</ref> Employment,<ref>{{Cite web |title=L500 {{!}} McCormicks > Employment: Leeds and West Yorkshire; North Yorkshire > England {{!}} Legal 500 law firm profiles |url=https://www.legal500.com/rankings/ranking/c-yorkshire-and-the-humber/employment/employment-leeds-and-west-yorkshire-north-yorkshire/2282-mccormicks |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=www.legal500.com}}</ref> Insolvency and Corporate Recovery,<ref>{{Cite web |title=L500 {{!}} McCormicks > Insolvency and corporate recovery > England {{!}} Legal 500 law firm profiles |url=https://www.legal500.com/rankings/ranking/c-yorkshire-and-the-humber/finance/insolvency-and-corporate-recovery/2282-mccormicks |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=www.legal500.com}}</ref> Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate,<ref>{{Cite web |title=L500 {{!}} McCormicks > Personal tax, trusts and probate > England {{!}} Legal 500 law firm profiles |url=https://www.legal500.com/rankings/ranking/c-yorkshire-and-the-humber/private-client/personal-tax-trusts-and-probate/2282-mccormicks |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=www.legal500.com}}</ref> Property Litigation,<ref>{{Cite web |title=L500 {{!}} McCormicks > Property litigation > England {{!}} Legal 500 law firm profiles |url=https://www.legal500.com/rankings/ranking/c-yorkshire-and-the-humber/real-estate/property-litigation/2282-mccormicks |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=www.legal500.com}}</ref> Commercial Property,<ref>{{Cite web |title=L500 {{!}} McCormicks > Commercial property: Leeds and West Yorkshire; North Yorkshire > England {{!}} Legal 500 law firm profiles |url=https://www.legal500.com/rankings/ranking/c-yorkshire-and-the-humber/real-estate/commercial-property-leeds-and-west-yorkshire-north-yorkshire/2282-mccormicks |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=www.legal500.com}}</ref> Corporate and Commercial<ref>{{Cite web |title=L500 {{!}} McCormicks > Corporate and commercial: Leeds, West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire > England {{!}} Legal 500 law firm profiles |url=https://www.legal500.com/rankings/ranking/c-yorkshire-and-the-humber/corporate-and-commercial/corporate-and-commercial-leeds-west-yorkshire-north-yorkshire/2282-mccormicks |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=www.legal500.com}}</ref> and Reputation Management.<ref>{{Cite web |title=L500 {{!}} McCormicks > Reputation management > England {{!}} Legal 500 law firm profiles |url=https://www.legal500.com/rankings/ranking/c-london/tmt-technology-media-and-telecoms/reputation-management/2282-mccormicks |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=www.legal500.com}}</ref> The Legal 500 ranks him in the Hall of Fame as the leading Sports Lawyer in the UK.<ref>{{Cite web |title=L500 {{!}} McCormicks > Sport > England {{!}} Legal 500 law firm profiles |url=https://www.legal500.com/rankings/ranking/c-london/tmt-technology-media-and-telecoms/sport/2282-mccormicks |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=www.legal500.com}}</ref> Chambers UK ranks him as an Eminent Practitioner for both Agricultural and Rural Affairs and Sport.<ref name="Peter McCormick"/>
He is a Future 50 Campaign Vice President of Harrogate International Festivals.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-09-24 |title=BOARD OF TRUSTEES - Harrogate International Festivals |url=https://harrogateinternationalfestivals.com/board-of-trustees/ |access-date=2023-07-11 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:McCormick, Peter}} Category:1952 births Category:Living people Category:People educated at Ashville College Category:Alumni of King's College London Category:English lawyers Category:Chairmen of the Football Association Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire