Manchester, UK – March 5, 2026 – AO Manchester Thunder is delighted to announce Slater Heelis as the Club’s new Official Legal Partner, marking the start of a partnership rooted in shared values around performance, inclusion and community impact.
Slater Heelis is a respected, full-service law firm with deep roots in the Northwest and a strong commitment to supporting organisations that make a positive difference. Through this partnership, which includes firm branding on all squad dresses, Slater Heelis will play an important role in supporting the continued professionalisation of AO Manchester Thunder and the wider development of women’s sport.
As part of the collaboration, Slater Heelis will provide dedicated legal support to the Club and will also make legal services available to AO Manchester Thunder squad members. This forms part of the Club’s ongoing commitment to creating a fully professional environment for its athletes, ensuring players are supported both on and off the court as the sport continues to evolve.
The partnership also reflects a shared ambition to drive meaningful social impact beyond the court. AO Manchester Thunder and Slater Heelis will work collaboratively to identify and deliver initiatives that support the promotion and development of women’s sport, alongside wider community programmes aligned to inclusion, education and wellbeing. This commitment forms an important part of the partnership’s long-term vision and will evolve over time as opportunities are jointly developed.
Gary Young, Commercial Director of AO Manchester Thunder, said:
“We are proud to welcome Slater Heelis as our Official Legal Partner. This partnership goes beyond traditional sponsorship and speaks directly to the professionalisation of netball. Providing access to expert legal support for our players is another important step in ensuring they are supported as elite athletes, while our shared commitment to community impact makes this a natural fit.”
Rachel Fletcher, Managing Partner at Slater Heelis, added:
“We are delighted to partner with AO Manchester Thunder and to support an organisation that is leading the way in women’s sport. This partnership reflects our business ethos and belief in creating opportunities, supporting talent and contributing positively to the communities we serve. We look forward to working closely with the Club, its players and its wider network.”
With its head office in Sale, Greater Manchester, a second office in Manchester City Centre and its new office in Chester, the firm offers a range of legal services to both private and business clients including: Family Law, Wills & Probate, Court of Protection, Personal Injury, Corporate Law, Crime (including Business Crime & Regulatory), Dispute Resolution, Employment & HR, Property Law and Construction & Engineering.
For more information about Slater Heelis and its new Chester office, visit their website.
About AO Manchester Thunder
AO Manchester Thunder is the Netball Super League franchise for North West England. Once founded in 2001, Manchester Thunder were originally named “Northern Thunder” up until 2012.
Thunder quickly became the Super Cup winners of 2002 and Netball Super League Champions of 2012. After rebranding their name to “Manchester Thunder”, the club has since relocated from Bury to Manchester, and have become four-time champions of the Netball Super League cup (2012, 2014, 2019 and 2022). In 2026, the club was renamed to AO Manchester Thunder in partnership with electricals retailer, AO.
In the 2022 season they went undefeated and won all 22 games. In 2024, Manchester Thunder came top of the Netball Super League after 18 rounds being six points clear of second place Loughborough Lightning, however then then lost to Lightning in the Grand Final. In 2025, despite having a number of injuries, Thunder finished in third place.
AO Manchester Thunder Netball Super League match day squads are made up of 10 players. Karen Greig is the current AO Manchester Thunder Head Coach and Franchise Director, and is accompanied by ex-England Roses international Laura Malcolm as Assistant Coach.
Website – www.thundernetball.co.uk
Facebook – /ManchesterThunderNetball
Instagram – @thundernetball
X – @thundernetball