Challenging Sports Governing Bodies

Adam Lewis KC is a barrister specialising in public law, EC law and sports law at Blackstone Chambers, London. He regularly advises national and international sports governing bodies, clubs, individual players and commercial partners, and appears on their behalf before the courts and regulatory authorities. Jonathan Taylor, a partner and head of the Sport Group at Bird & Bird, has practised exclusively in the sports sector for 20 years, advising a broad range of clients nationally and internationally on commercial matters, contentious matters, and regulatory and disciplinary issues across all major sports. Nick De Marco, barrister at Blackstone Chambers, is recognised as a leading junior across all areas of sports law. He has advised and acted for sports governing bodies, clubs and athletes in commercial claims, disciplinary, doping and anti-corruption cases, claims concerning footballers' and agents' contracts, sports' sponsorship cases, and employment claims. He acted for the ECB against cricketer Danish Kaneria in the spot fixing cases. James Segan, barrister at Blackstone Chambers, is recognised as a leading junior in a total of seven practice areas, including sports law. He has acted in a number of leading disciplinary, doping and commercial cases in the sporting sector, including the RFU v Viagogo litigation which was decided by the UK Supreme Court.

1 Introduction
2 The Actions of Sports Governing Bodies
3 Identification of Cause of Action and Respondent
4 Choice of Forum for the Challenge
5 Public or Private?
6 The Varying Degrees of Review
7 Grounds for Review Arising Out Of Control Of The Sport
8 Contract
9 Tort
10 Common Law Restraint of Trade
11 EU And Domestic Competition Law
12 The EU Free Movement Rules
13 Remedies
14 Procedural Aspects