Olswang has advised Grabyo, the clip sharing service, and its founder, Will Neale, on a $2m equity investment from an array of major sports stars. The investors and global ambassadors include Premier League Football stars Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie, New York Red Bulls star Thierry Henry and current NBA champion Tony Parker.

Grabyo's real-time video platform allows broadcasters and content rights holders to drive and monetise social media engagement around TV. Fully scalable and cloud-based, it enables them to instantly create and distribute real-time video clips, with integrated sponsorship and advertising assets, across the web, social mobile apps and third party video platforms. Grabyo has strong reach across the social and video ecosystem including partnerships with Facebook and Twitter, giving Grabyo's customers a digital audience of billions.

Since launching last year, the company has worked with over 30 major broadcasters and rights holders - bringing consumers near-live highlights from some of the world's biggest events in sport and music. These include FIFA World Cup, La Liga, Wimbledon, ATP World Tour, The Ryder Cup, UFC, UEFA Champions League and the BRIT Awards. Grabyo is also now building partnerships with a number of football clubs in addition to partnering with innovative global brands.

Grabyo's Chief Executive, Gareth Capon, commented: "Due to their expertise in the media and technology sectors and experience advising high growth businesses execute corporate transactions, Olswang were the best firm to approach to advise us through this transaction. By completing this transaction, our involvement with some of the world's best known football stars will further drive our growth across Europe and North America as well as enable our partners to capitalise on the changing dynamics within the global media industry.

Rob Willis, Corporate Partner at Olswang, commented: "Grabyo are an exciting business to work with, whose technology sits at the cutting edge of digital media.  It was a pleasure to help Will and Gareth to secure these funds from some of the world's best sport talent whose popularity and significant social media followings will be a key strategic benefit for Grabyo going forwards."

The Olswang team was led by Corporate Partner, Rob Willis, supported by Corporate Senior Associate, Ken Wilkinson, and Commercial Associate, Mike Llewellyn.