Bringing vast experience in professional regulation to the sporting stage, QEB Hollis Whiteman has built an accomplished sports regulation team.
Overview
QEB Hollis Whiteman has extended its established expertise in the regulatory and disciplinary field, to secure a strong foothold in the sporting world. A team of experienced members of Chambers offers advice and advocacy in connection with a wide range of sports and sporting issues (including professional discipline), to regulators, sporting bodies, clubs and individual sportsmen and women.
Our Experience
Chambers has forged strong links both with the specialist solicitors in this practice area, and with the relevant sporting regulatory bodies and organisations. We have particular knowledge and skill in relation to horse racing, rugby union, tennis, cricket, athletics and equestrianism, our members having appeared regularly before various tribunals in connection with each of these sports.
As a team we draw on our collective knowledge and experience to provide the best possible service to those who require our assistance. The depth of that experience has been enhanced by junior members assisting in-house with the legal departments of sports regulators such as the British Horse racing Authority, and regulators with cross-over jurisdiction like the GB Gambling Commission.
Various members of Chambers hold significant roles within the field of Sports Regulation. These include: Nicholas Corsellis, who is frequently instructed by the Tennis Integrity Unit in connection with corruption cases; ex member of Chambers Tim Naylor, who has been appointed by the British Horseracing Association as its Head of Regulation; Philip Evans KC who, in 2017, was appointed by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) as its second independent Head of Rugby Judiciary (read story here); Rebecca Harris, who sits as a Member of the RFU Judicial Panel and the specialist RFU Safeguarding Panel; David Jeremy KC and Alexandra Felix, who have been approved by the British Equestrian Federation to sit as Legally Qualified Chairs; Selva Ramasamy KC is appointed to the LTA judicary panel; and Nicholas Griffin KC is a Board Member (and Audit and Risk Committee Chair) for UK Anti-Doping, appointed in 2017 by the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
We provide advice and representation in respect of proceedings before Sports Resolution and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) along with similar organisations. We are also regularly involved in criminal cases which arise from sporting events, including cases that have been prosecuted under the Gambling Act. Chambers’ private prosecutions team acts for The Premier League protecting its IP rights against illegal broadcasting of matches.
Members of the team also operate in associated parallel proceedings. We have experience of the criminal, regulatory and inquisitorial proceedings, including inquests and public inquiries, that can arise from this field. We have also been instructed to conduct internal reviews for bodies, associations and companies within the field; drawing from our expertise, we work to equip organisations with measures to prevent internal crises and to assist to resolve issues, when they arise. Our barristers have knowledge of the mechanics of the profession and have experience of acting on behalf of bodies, associations and companies when they encounter internal crises which have the potential to turn into civil, criminal, regulatory and/or inquisitorial proceedings. Members not only have vast experience of the allegations organisations may face but they have a detailed understanding of the operation and dynamics of internal investigations, having represented both the organisers and subjects of such inquiries. Our barristers provide preventative advice and assistance with compliance issues; we advise on setting up new policies and risk assessments of existing policies. We have advised national service providers and professional governing bodies within this field, our work has dealt with regulatory procedure as well as criminal issues such as theft, fraud, harassment and sexual assault. Anne Whyte KC headed The Whyte Review into British Gymnastics' response to allegations of mistreatment within the sport. Her Report was published in 2022.
