The 35th America’s Cup is just two months away and as the Official Law Firm of the event Appleby is preparing to celebrate around the world.

Leading offshore law firm Appleby were announced as the Official Law Firm of the 2017 America’s Cup, the oldest trophy in international sport, in 2014 and have been providing the America’s Cup Event Authority, the organisers of the 35th America’s Cup, with a range of legal services ahead of the events due to take place in Bermuda this year.

To celebrate the global partnership, Appleby is finalising its plans to bring the America’s Cup experience to its clients and communities in each of its ten jurisdictions.  The plan includes aligning each office’s local corporate social responsibility strategy to their America’s Cup sponsorship by building on existing relationships and establishing new relationships with local community partners.  Clients of Appleby can also look forward to experiencing the America’s Cup in their home locations at a series of exciting America’s Cup themed events over the next few months.

Appleby’s Isle of Man office which employs more than 70 people including lawyers and other professional specialists, will celebrate the prestigious sporting event by hosting client receptions to provide an informal introduction to the America's Cup ahead of the first race setting sail at the end of May. Through Appleby’s community investment programme, the Appleby Charitable Foundation, it has also agreed to sponsor the Manx Youth Sailing Squad which trains junior sailors, aged between eight and 13 years old, to compete in the UK and internationally.

Racing begins 26 May 2017, with the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Qualifiers, followed by the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Challenger Playoffs from 4 June 2017. Finally, one team will be left as the official Challenger, taking on ORACLE TEAM USA in the America’s Cup Match presented by Louis Vuitton, starting on 17 June 2017.

For the 35th America’s Cup each team will be racing in America’s Cup Class (ACC) hydrofoiling boats which are 15-metres long (nearly 50-feet) and are built to a design rule, but that rule allows designers and engineers to express their creativity in their designs. The month-long races are due to end 27 June 2017.

Appleby Bermuda Managing Partner Tim Faries commented: “It is an incredible honour for Appleby to be partnering with the America’s Cup in delivering this seminal event to Bermuda.  I am also delighted that we will be able to share the America’s Cup atmosphere and excitement with our clients and communities in all of our locations around the world.”

Faye Moffett, Appleby Isle of Man Managing Partner, added: “The Isle of Man has a strong maritime history and a successful marine sector today, so Appleby’s association with this world famous event is particularly fitting for our Island office. We are pleased to celebrate our sponsorship through our support of the Manx Youth Sailing Squad. We are enthusiastic about our involvement in The America’s Cup and we are looking forward to joining our colleagues and clients from around the world to enjoy this fantastic event.”