Gary Mellor is the Managing Partner and owner at Beswicks Legal and the founder/director of Beswicks Sports – two prominent Stoke-on-Trent businesses that have international reach while maintaining strong ties to, and great pride in, the local area.
Gary began working at Beswicks as a Legal Executive 42 years ago on leaving Trentham High School. He completed a law degree at what is now Staffordshire University – attending night school over a period of four years. During his training contract he experienced many different types of law before qualifying as a Dispute Resolution Lawyer and going on to represent many high-profile businesses, including Sir Alan Sugar’s Amstrad. Following this, Gary spent a decade as a criminal law advocate.
In 1999 Gary decided to combine his legal expertise with his passion for sport, establishing Beswicks Sports – a now global sports management operation based in Stoke-on-Trent.
Gary represents top-flight footballers, sports people and clubs and had a significant role in assembling the squads which led Stoke City and Burnley to the Premier League.
He has specialist knowledge of sports law and is ranked among the elite sports lawyers nationwide by the Legal 500. He is also an FA registered intermediary and a member of the British Association for Sport and Law.
Not satisfied with advising and representing footballers in the UK, Gary had a vision to take his love of the game to the U.S. where he started a team from the very beginning, becoming a founder and director of Orlando City.
Together with fellow Stoke-on-Trent entrepreneur Phil Rawlins, Gary shaped Orlando City, tripling its fan base and winning the United Soccer League in front of over 20,000 fans in the club’s first season.
The journey took Orlando City to Major League Soccer and an opening game in front of 67,500 fans.
Now the team plays in one of the best regarded stadiums in North America and has some of the most passionate fans in the world. Soccer is, of course, now the fastest growing sport in the United States – something Gary has been at the forefront of.
Despite his globetrotting Gary has never forgotten his Stoke-on-Trent roots and continues to positively impact the lives of many local people in North Staffordshire through his charity work. He is a trustee of the Stoke City Community Trust, a Stoke City FC charity that uses football to engage with people of all ages, abilities and social backgrounds on inclusion, health and wellbeing and education projects that benefit people in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.
Gary has personally, and through Beswicks Legal and Beswicks Sports, raised a significant amount of money for charitable causes, including a six-figure sum for the Dougie Mac Hospice.
As Staffordshire University alumni he is a passionate supporter of the University’s graduates – ensuring talented law graduates receive work placements, jobs and training contracts at Beswicks Legal.
Locally, nationally and internationally Gary is well-known, well-liked and respected. This was recognised recently by the University Campus of Football Business (UCFB) which gave Gary an Honorary Fellowship.
The Award of Honorary Doctor of Laws honoris causa (Hon DLaws) is bestowed upon Gary in recognition of his hard work, enterprising spirit and boundless energy in nurturing two enormously successful Stoke-on-Trent businesses that are known for providing levels of expertise and service often only associated with big city firms, while looking after employees and clients in a typically warm and caring Potteries fashion.
The award also acknowledges the time Gary gives back as an alum – inspiring the next generation of students and supporting graduates as they embark on their careers in law.