Sports Law

Church Court Chambers have been involved in matters over a wide range of sports including, football, cricket, athletics, boxing, rugby union, cycling, horse racing, snooker, tennis, various combat sports. We have been involved in notable high profile cases and representation at all levels of Criminal and Civil Courts, Disciplinary Panels, arbitration and Mediation matters and disputes being resolved at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

We are also partnered with sport specialists Slam.Global (headed by Yasin Patel) which have represented high profile athletes before various legal tribunals, providing contractual advice to athletes and resolving media industry disputes.

A few notable high profile and recent cases we have/are instructed on:

1. Acted for International England cricketer in a spot fixing case and subsequent appeal in a case brought by the ECB which involved hearings before CAS and the High Court in London;
2. Acted for Pakistan Cricket Players in a spot fixing case under the ICC rules in Doha;
3. Representation of an International cyclist who is to appear before the CAS in proceedings brought by the UCI;
4. Acted for English domestic and international cricketers, Bangladeshi cricketers and Bangladeshi cricket club owners in relation to corruption and anti-bribery charges brought against them under the ICC rules;
5. Represented Indian Cricket players who were banned from participating in the Indian Cricket League. This involved ICC and BCCI rules and the Indian National Law in conjunction with the advice given by lawyers in India;
6. Instructed for a young tennis player and his family on a case before CAS brought against the LTA for discrimination and racism;
7. Acted for an Iranian wrestler who was accused of using performance enhancing drugs and was subsequently banned from competing in all international tournaments.
8. Advised sporting bodies such as the Dutch Football Association on writing their Anti-Racism Rules, policies, initiatives and laws;
9. Advised the Northern Irish Football Association on their Anti-Racism rules, policies and initiatives
10. Represented the England International Sportsmen in Defamation matters involving Al Jazeera
11. Contractual Advice and Representation of Players in Franchise Tournaments and Competitions all over the world
12. Tribunal Chair Member in International Snooker Fixing Cases against World Snooker Players and in the MCC Disciplinary Hearings

Together with SLAM.Global we have experience and expertise in:

1. Sports Governance
2. Disciplinary and Anti-Doping proceedings
3. Anti-Corruption Hearings and Cases
4. Drafting of Rules and Regulations
5. Contract Matters (Commercial and Individual Athletes and Players)
6. Commercial, Marketing, Image and New Media Rights
7. Image Rights
8. Libel and Defamation
9. Governing Body actions and challenges to decisions
10. Arbitration and Mediation Panels and Dispute Resolution
11. Governmental Advice
12. Sports Accidents and Inquests