Sports Law

We don’t see Sports Law as just another business. Sport is special.

Our Sports Law team brings together award-winning expertise in commercial, medical, insurance, property and regulatory areas across the full range of sports-related disputes. Whether the case concerns a disciplinary hearing, a contractual issue or a career-threatening injury, the team will be able to help. We act for sports people, their clubs and their governing bodies in every area from internal arbitrations to the highest courts. We are a dedicated team and are confident in our service and our ability to deliver. Should you decide to send us your case, you can benefit from the option of an upfront charge-free initial review: our team will discuss your case to provide an initial advice, before you decide to make any commitment to us.

Why are we different?

Because we get it. The team are passionate about sport. Most have played sport to a high level, including at professional standard, and we understand what drives someone to commit to sport as a vocation. No less importantly, we understand the monetisation of sport and the practicalities underpinning its commercial exploitation.

Because we are adaptable. We offer innovative non-traditional solutions specifically developed for the sports market. As well as fixed-fee structures, we offer individual and group instruction. In this new approach the client obtains, if they so wish, the services of the whole team, with the case conducted by junior barristers and supervised by a KC if requested.

Because we are unique. We believe that few, if any, Chambers combine the quality and breadth of experience we can provide, combined with our modern approach to client service. We know sport doesn’t take holidays, so someone will be able to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Examples of recent cases undertaken by the Crown Office Chambers sports team:

• Maurice Holmes: Representing Aljaž Bedene and the Lawn Tennis Association in arbitral proceedings (led by Thomas de la Mare KC) before Charles Hollander KC, in which the sole arbitrator was appointed to determine the lawfulness of the ITF’s recently introduced eligibility rules for Davis Cup tennis  1) Aljaž Bedene and (2) The Lawn Tennis Association v The International Tennis Federation.
• Edward Broome: Appointed Chairman on the British Weight Lifting Association Doping Disciplinary Tribunals, sitting in judgment on individual cases of contested positive doping offences.
• Daniel Shapiro KC: Represented the distributor via insurers in a £2million product liability claim regarding a fall from a horse suffered by a rider while completing a jumping circuit wearing an inflatable vest designed to protect riders from injury.
• Maurice Holmes: Represented a sports production company in a multi-million euro arbitration proceeding concerning a claim for monies due pursuant to (and a counterclaim pursuing alleged repudiatory breaches of) an agreement for the title sponsorship of a major sports event.
• Katherine Sage: Instructed in respect of the defence of a claim which raises issues of the recoverability of damages for loss of an amateur international sporting career consequent on personal injury.
• Richard Lynagh KC: Acted in an insurance dispute, Southampton Leisure Holdings PLC v Avon Insurance, relating to career-ending footballing injuries.
• Katherine Sage: Successfully defended an amateur youth sports club against a claim for the refund of subscription fees paid by a parent where the parent’s main complaint was that his child was not given enough game time.
• Maurice Holmes: Acting for an agent in disciplinary proceedings before the FA Judicial Panel in relation to contracts with minors.
• Harry Lambert: Acting on behalf of an international footballer regarding doping claims and product liability issues following the player consuming a sports supplement and subsequently failing a drugs test and receiving a ban.