The 'Must-Attend' Event for Law and Sport Professionals

Sport Resolutions' 10th Annual Conference, marking a decade of insightful gatherings, will be held on Thursday, 1st May 2025, at the luxurious five-star Leonardo Royal London St Paul's Hotel in London.

As in previous years, the conference will feature a distinguished panel of sports professionals and industry experts, who will engage in discussions and debates on the latest developments and ideas surrounding anti-doping, athlete welfare, good governance, and integrity.

Event Presenter

The 2025 conference will be moderated by Jacqui Oatley MBE. Jacqui, a highly-respected broadcaster with extensive experience across television, radio, and digital platforms, is known for her pioneering role as the first female commentator on BBC’s Match of the Day in 2007. She currently anchors ITV’s PDC darts coverage and provides expert football commentary for major networks including Sky Sports, TNT Sports, CBS Sports, and FOX Sports.

2025 Session Topics

The conference will feature five sessions, including three in the morning, followed by a buffet lunch, and two more sessions in the afternoon. A provisional agenda can be found by clicking on the "Agenda" section at the top of this page.

CPD Members will earn 4.5 CPD points for attending our 2025 Annual Conference.

Announced topics

  • Session 1 - Safeguarding in Sport: Rethinking Legal Approaches and the Case for Global Standards - Find out more here.
  • Session 2 - Is there a link between contact sport and MND? - Find out more here.
  • Session 3 - Contamination: Unpacking Athlete Responsibility and Misconceptions - Find out more here
  • Session 4 - The Governance of Football – is it broken and does it need fixing? - Find out more here
  • Session 5 - The Supreme Court ruling and its impact on sport - Find out more here.  

Networking Opportunities

Every year, over 250 legal and sport professionals attend our event, providing ample opportunities to network. Breakfast (hot drinks and pastries) will be served during registration, offering attendees an early chance to meet others. Additional networking opportunities will arise during two coffee breaks and the open buffet lunch.

After the conference, a networking drinks reception will provide an opportunity to relax and socialise with like-minded individuals in our sector.

Tickets

Please scroll down to book your ticket or click on the "Tickets" button at the top of this page.

Early Bird tickets are available for purchase starting Friday, 3rd January. To receive a reminder about ticket availability and updates on topics and speakers, please sign up for our newsletter.

Early Bird tickets are priced at £330.00 (excl. VAT) and are available until 23:59 on Monday, 24th March 2025.

Standard tickets are priced at £395.00 (excl. VAT). For other ticket types, please visit the ticket section at the top of this page.

Related Documents

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Topics

Enquiries
Safeguarding in Sport: Rethinking Legal Approaches and the Case for Global Standards

It is good practice for safeguarding investigations to have a trauma informed approach and be victim-focussed. Difficulties can arise, however, when a matter reaches the hearing stage. Despite the ability of a panel to implement special measures, the adversarial nature of the legal system and a respondent’s right to cross-examine witnesses and complainants can have a re-traumatising effect. It is often said that safeguarding processes are too legalistic.

How should this be managed? Is the solution as simple as implementing an inquisitorial approach or would that impinge on the rights of those against whom complaints have been made?

Could a solution be for international federations to draft safeguarding policies, rules and procedures that must be applied globally on a mandated basis. Do different legal systems, cultural differences or cost present a barrier to such an approach? Is it simply too difficult or do we just need momentum and political will?

This session will explore whether the current safeguarding systems and processes are fit for purpose or whether there needs to be change, radical or otherwise. It will discuss whether international federations could or should do more and explore whether a global unified code is a potential solution to raise and harmonise standards.

Is there a link between contact sport and MND?

There is growing evidence to support the proposition that repeated head injuries in sport can cause Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).

What is less well-known, or understood, is the possible link between contact sport and the development of Motor Neurone Disease (MND), albeit that early studies seem to suggest a link between the two.

The MND Association suggests that up to 5000 adults in the UK suffer at any one time and there is a 1 in 300 risk of getting the disease in a lifetime.

With these statistics in mind, it is noticeable how many former rugby and football players develop the disease – with Doddie Weir, Joost van der Westhuizen, Rob Burrow and Stephen Darby among those affected.

In this session, Dr Willie Stewart will consider and comment on the research exploring links between neurodegenerative disease and contact sport, with a particular focus on the more recent work linking sport to MND.

Contamination: Unpacking Athlete Responsibility and Misconceptions

Of all the Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) reported in the media, it is contamination cases that attract the most attention.

From Chinese swimmers to leading tennis players, there have been claims of inconsistency of approach, leniency and unfair treatment. 

Is the criticism simply a symptom of a lack of understanding or, as is claimed by some, does the outcome of a case depend on the fame or wealth of the player, or indeed the skill and quality of their lawyers?

Is it right, or even fair, for an athlete to be held responsible for the acts or omissions of their entourage, or for accidental contamination from external sources, no matter the care and diligence of the athlete? Do recent cases mean that “no fault” is effectively now not available to athletes? Is the strict liability principle even appropriate for contamination cases? 

In this session we will look at the relevant rules, their application by panels in recent cases, address the fairness of recent criticism and offer opinion on what, if any, changes may be required in the next WADA Code.

The Governance of Football – is it broken and does it need fixing?

Football is our national game and is rarely out of the headlines. Usually, reporting relates to results and performance but increasingly there is a focus on how the game is governed and regulated.

Currently, the football world is awaiting the outcome of the case brought by the Premier League against Manchester City, the club charged with breaking financial fair play rules and failing to co-operate with Premier League investigations. If charges are proved, the potential sanctions are serious and far reaching with every chance of an appeal by either the club or the League.

The game has also seen increased focus on club finances with several cases concerning clubs allegedly breaching league financial rules.  English men’s professional football is, on balance, a well-resourced sport but behind the headline revenue figures are there financial difficulties that need addressing??

An option favoured by many, including Government, is to establish a Regulator. Is this really the answer or would it create more issues than it is intended to solve?

Could certain clubs re-visit the prospect of a European Super League given the ECJ decision that determined that the actions of UEFA in blocking a breakaway league was contrary to EU law? And does that decision have wider implications than solely for the authorisation of new competitions?

If you seek answers to these questions, then this is the session to get them. 

The Supreme Court ruling and its impact on sport

The Gender Recognition Act of 2004 states that trans people should be treated according to their “acquired” gender for all purposes, creating the gender recognition certificate (GRC) to affirm that protection. However, the Supreme Court has recently, and unanimously, ruled that the term “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 refers to a “biological woman” and “biological sex”.

Before this ruling, sports had relatively settled varying rules around participation and selection – including prohibition, the use of open categories and assessment of testosterone levels. Do these now need to be reviewed?

What impact does this case now have on participation and more practical issues such as access to changing facilities or toilets? What needs to be done to ensure that sport remains welcoming and inclusive to trans athletes?

In this session we will review the Supreme Court decision and assess if and how it might impact the delivery and accessibility of sport.

Agenda

Programme/Agenda
Start End Description
08:00 09:00

WISLaw networking breakfast 

08:45 09:15

Registration/Breakfast

09:15 09:25

Welcome by Richard Harry, Chief Executive, Sport Resolutions

09:25 09:30

Welcome by Peter Crowther, International Managing Partner, Winston & Strawn LLP

09:30 10:30

1st session - Safeguarding in Sport: Rethinking Legal Approaches and the Case for Global Standards

10:30 11:15

2nd session - Is there a link between contact sport and MND?

11:15 11:45

Coffee break

11:45 13:00

3rd session - Contamination: Unpacking Athlete Responsibility and Misconceptions

13:00 14:30

Lunch & Networking 

14:30 15:30

4th session - The Governance of Football – is it broken and does it need fixing?

15:30 16:00

5th session - The Supreme Court ruling and its impact on sport

16:00 16:15

Closing remarks by Audley Sheppard, Chair, Sport Resolutions 

16:30 18:30

Post conference drinks sponsored by Winston & Strawn LLP 

Tickets

We are very pleased to be able to keep the ticket prices the same as last year, despite rising costs and high inflation rates that have been well documented.

Early Bird Tickets  are priced at £330.00 exc. of VAT and are available until 23:59 on Monday, 24th March 2025. 

Standard Tickets are priced at £395.00 exc. of VAT.

Students in full-time education have the opportunity to attend the conference for the discounted price of £99.00 exc. of VAT with our Academic Ticket (student ID or email address required).

Our Group Ticket permits three tickets to be purchased for the price of two standard price tickets (which works out as £263.33 exc. of VAT per ticket). Please note that this offer is only applicable to standard ticket prices and all three attendees must be from the same organisation. Further discounts are also available should an organisation wish to purchase more than 3 tickets. To find out more about our group bookings please email us at: resolve@sportresolutions.com 

We also provide a limited number of Athlete Tickets to those on the World Class Programme (WCP), which are available at the price of £145 + VAT. Should you wish to attend the conference please contact SR team at resolve@sportresolutions.com with a copy of your licence and/or document proving your athlete status in order to receive your promotional code for the discounted ticket.

Speakers

Jacqui Oatley MBE

Jacqui Oatley MBEPresenter

Jacqui Oatley MBE is an experienced broadcaster on UK television, radio and digital platforms. 19 years after changing career to retrain as a broadcast journalist, Jacqui now presents on ITV - as anchor of their PDC darts coverage - and covers football for Sky Sports, BBC and The Athletic. She became the first female commentator on Match of the Day in 2007.

As a former player and FA qualified coach, Jacqui has presented and commentated on the biggest football tournaments, including men’s and women’s World Cups and Euros, as well as the Olympic Games.

Jacqui is on the national committee of the Football Writers’ Association and is an ambassador for Women in Football - an organisation which champions the role of women in the game.

Stella RibertiWISLaw Networking Breakfast - Rule 40: Impact on Athletes for the 2026 Olympics

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Stella Riberti

Stella RibertiWISLaw Networking Breakfast - Rule 40: Impact on Athletes for the 2026 Olympics

As Counsel at Clifford Chance in Milan, Stella brings extensive expertise in Sports & Entertainment law.

She assists clients with both domestic and international sports-related regulatory matters, including eligibility and UEFA Financial Sustainability, as well as international transactions such as sponsorship contracts, sports investments in clubs and facilities, event organisation, and licensing of intellectual property rights (IPRs) and media rights. Stella is also involved in sports arbitration and disciplinary proceedings, including those before FIFA, FIBA, and Italian sports judicial bodies. Additionally, she serves as an arbitrator at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Annie DavisSession 1 - Safeguarding in Sport: Rethinking Legal Approaches and the Case for Global Standards

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Annie Davis

Annie DavisSession 1 - Safeguarding in Sport: Rethinking Legal Approaches and the Case for Global Standards

Annie Davis - Safeguarding Consultant for World Athletics

Annie qualified as a solicitor with Farrer & Co.  In 2007 she began working in safeguarding using her legal skills to support the safeguarding team at the Rugby Football Union which involved writing policies, procedures, guidance and supporting the case management and DBS officers. She was involved in drafting regulations and was Referral Management Group secretary. 

In 2017 she left to work as a sports safeguarding consultant initially with The FA on a project producing internal protocols and categorising all of their open  cases.  She now regularly sits on The FA Safeguarding Review Panel.

She began working with World Athletics in 2021 creating their safeguarding policy, procedures and rules alongside developing their safeguarding strategy. She worked with UNICEF to create a bespoke World Athletics safeguarding training program available in seven languages. She has been involved with delivering the residential module of the FIFA Guardians course - a great insight into the issues and challenges faced daily by safeguarding professionals around the world.  

In addition to World Athletics, she is currently working with Premiership Rugby Limited developing their safeguarding strategy and with British Rowing’s safeguarding team to develop a new safeguarding policy and procedures.  

In addition, Annie is governor of two secondary schools, one an elite performance school. 

Mark GannonSession 1 - Safeguarding in Sport: Rethinking Legal Approaches and the Case for Global Standards

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Mark Gannon

Mark GannonSession 1 - Safeguarding in Sport: Rethinking Legal Approaches and the Case for Global Standards

Mark Gannon – Chief Executive Officer, UK Coaching

As the Chief Executive Officer of UK Coaching, Mark brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the realm of coaching.

With a robust background of senior roles spanning local communities, education and sport, Mark's passion lies in empowering individuals through great coaching.

He is a seasoned professional with qualifications in teaching, coaching and business administration and experience in the Physical Education and Sport sector spanning over three decades.

His own coaching endeavours include a variety of sports including rugby, gymnastics and basketball and he has coached participants and teams at a variety of levels.

Mark's core belief centres around the transformative power of coaching to change the lives of people and communities. He envisions a future where all practitioners in physical activity and sport are adept at delivering exceptional experiences and aiding individuals in reaching their objectives.

For Mark, coaching transcends mere skill development; at its core, he believes coaching is a profound connection with individuals, emphasising the pivotal role of human interaction in the coaching process.

Kacie WallaceSession 1 - Safeguarding in Sport: Rethinking Legal Approaches and the Case for Global Standards

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Kacie Wallace

Kacie WallaceSession 1 - Safeguarding in Sport: Rethinking Legal Approaches and the Case for Global Standards

Kacie Wallace - Team USA Athlete Ombuds

Kacie has served as the Team USA Athlete Ombuds since January 2015, supporting athletes and advocating for fair processes and sustainable conflict resolution in Olympic and Paralympic sport. An attorney with an advanced degree in dispute resolution, she has spent her career focused on preventing and mitigating disputes through proactive education, early intervention, and effective conflict management systems. Before joining Team USA as the Athlete Ombuds, she mediated disputes for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee for a decade and consulted with organizations to design systems that promote constructive conflict resolution. Most recently, she worked with the World Anti-Doping Agency to establish a global anti-doping ombuds program.

Beyond sport, Kacie has mediated employment and litigated matters; served as a police officer, hostage negotiator, and violence intervention counselor; explored the use of film in opening pathways for dialogue between conflicting cultures; and developed immersive training tools for humanitarian crisis response. She has taught law, leadership, and conflict resolution at institutions including Duke, UNC, and Pepperdine. With a passion for storytelling and creative problem-solving, she explores innovative ways to foster understanding and reconciliation.

When not working, Kacie appreciates time with her husband and family, painting, sketching, scouring shorelines for shark’s teeth, protecting oceans and working waterfronts, and paddleboard adventures.

Sir Gary HickinbottomSession 1 - Safeguarding in Sport: Rethinking Legal Approaches and the Case for Global Standards

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Sir Gary Hickinbottom

Sir Gary HickinbottomSession 1 - Safeguarding in Sport: Rethinking Legal Approaches and the Case for Global Standards

The Rt Hon Sir Gary Hickinbottom is a former High Court and Court of Appeal Judge, who retired from full-time work in the Court of Appeal in 2021 to conduct a Commission of Inquiry into corruption and governance in the British Virgin Islands, which reported in April 2022.  He is currently a Judge of the Court of Appeal of Bermuda and the President of Welsh Tribunals.   In 2024, he was appointed Chair of the independent panel charged with the assessment of the pecuniary losses of claimants whose convictions arising out of the Post Office Horizon scandal have been overturned. 

A significant amount of Gary’s work as a judge was sport-orientated with a wide range of subjects, including football club funding, the development of football and other sports grounds, and liability for injuries suffered whilst playing sport.  He is particularly experienced in sports safeguarding and disciplinary, regularly chairing hearings as well as managing the work of safeguarding and disciplinary panels.  He is currently the President of the National Safeguarding Panel and the Chair of the International Tennis Federation Safeguarding Panel, as well as being Chair of the Judicial Panels for the Premier League, the Lawn Tennis Association and British Wrestling, a Chair of the Appeal Board of the British Horseracing Association Judicial Panel, and a member of the National Anti-Doping Panel, the FA Safeguarding Review Panel, and the Sport Resolutions Arbitrators’ Panel.

Gary is a Trustee of the Mercian Multi-Academy Trust, where he is the Lead Trustee for Disadvantaged Pupils. 

Alexandra RichardsSession 1 - Safeguarding in Sport: Rethinking Legal Approaches and the Case for Global Standards

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Alexandra Richards

Alexandra RichardsSession 1 - Safeguarding in Sport: Rethinking Legal Approaches and the Case for Global Standards

Alex Richards - Head of Safeguarding, EFL

Alex Richards is the Head of Safeguarding for the English Football League and Independent Board Director for Safeguarding at Northumberland Cricket. With her appointment in 2018 the oversight of the League in respect of safeguarding was significantly accelerated after the non-recent child sexual abuse disclosures. Alex creates the League safeguarding standards and oversees the independent assessment of the EFL Safeguarding standards in all 72 Member Clubs.

Her aim is to create a culture of constant vigilance with an embedded preventative approach that brings policies and procedures to life. Alex and her team work with their Clubs to reduce risk, learn from case reviews and investigations, and drive change at the highest level.

Prior to working with the EFL Alex worked in further education for 15 years as an Assistant Principal with responsibility for welfare and safeguarding. During her time with South Tyneside College, they received an Outstanding grade from Ofsted with reference made to the work done in welfare and safeguarding.

William StewartSession 2 - Is there a link between contact sport and MND?

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William Stewart

William StewartSession 2 - Is there a link between contact sport and MND?

Prof Stewart is Consultant Neuropathologist at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, and holds honorary Professor status at the University of Glasgow (School of Psychology and Neuroscience) and the University of Pennsylvania (Department of Neurosurgery). He leads an internationally regarded research laboratory engaged in multiple programs investigating the pathologies of acute and long-term survival from traumatic brain injury (TBI). Working with the unique and comprehensive Glasgow TBI Archive, Prof Stewart’s research describes the complex neuropathology of brain injury across a range of exposures and survivals, with particular reference to the link between TBI and neurodegenerative disease.

He also directs the FIELD studies, which aim to describe lifelong health and dementia risk in former soccer players and is Co-PI on the multi-centre collaborative research programs TBI-REPORTER and TRANSFORM-TBI. 

Anna ThorstensonSession 3 - Contamination: Unpacking Athlete Responsibility and Misconceptions

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Anna Thorstenson

Anna ThorstensonSession 3 - Contamination: Unpacking Athlete Responsibility and Misconceptions

Anna has over 15 years of experience in international sports law, particularly in anti-doping. She has worked both within sports organizations and at a top-ranked Swiss law firm. Since 2016, Anna has been employed at the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) as a legal advisor. Working in an international environment has provided her with extensive experience in the global legal landscape, including knowledge of various jurisdictions, national and international relations related to sport globally, and a profound understanding of the sports law system.

She has worked with a wide range of organizations (including international and national governing sports bodies, public authorities, sports organizers, clubs, sponsors, agents, and individual athletes) on a variety of sports-related issues, including disciplinary processes and disputes, anti-doping, rules and regulations, arbitration proceedings, as well as contractual and regulatory disputes. Anna has appeared as counsel before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and other sports tribunals. Additionally, she has served as a member of the Swedish Equestrian Federation's disciplinary committee and as a member of the Norwegian anti-doping panel for whereabouts reporting. In March 2023, Anna took on a new part-time role when WADA appointed her as an anti-doping ombudsman (a newly established function to support athletes in doping matters).

Travis TygartSession 3 - Contamination: Unpacking Athlete Responsibility and Misconceptions

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Travis Tygart

Travis TygartSession 3 - Contamination: Unpacking Athlete Responsibility and Misconceptions

Travis T. Tygart has served as the Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) since 2007, having joined the organization in 2002. With a legal background, Tygart has been instrumental in shaping USADA’s mission to protect the integrity of sport and safeguard the rights of clean athletes. Throughout his career, he has led high-profile investigations into doping scandals, including the U.S. Postal Service pro-cycling team and the BALCO laboratory, and advocated for global anti-doping reform, notably contributing to the passage of the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Fraud Act.

Tygart has testified before various U.S. Congressional Committees and international bodies, sharing his expertise on doping issues and anti-doping policies. He has also published works on topics like Title IX and doping in sport. Beyond USADA, Tygart serves on multiple boards, including the Sports Lawyers Association and the Partnership for Clean Competition, and has received recognition for his contributions to clean sport, including the USA Swimming Award in 2016 and the Athlete’s Appreciation Award in 2019.

Nicole Sapstead OBESession 3 - Contamination: Unpacking Athlete Responsibility and Misconceptions

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Nicole Sapstead OBE

Nicole Sapstead OBESession 3 - Contamination: Unpacking Athlete Responsibility and Misconceptions

Nicole leads the ITIA’s anti-doping team and the worldwide Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP) for players under the ATP, WTA and International Tennis Federation, which includes all Grand Slam events. Nicole joined the ITIA in September 2021, after more than a decade at UK Anti-Doping (UKAD), including six years as the organisation’s Chief Executive Officer.

Nicole, who was awarded an OBE for services to sport in 2023, has been an influential figure in the anti-doping industry for over 20 years across a variety of roles, and has had a significant impact in its governance and development; notably she was part of the working group that created an independent National Anti-Doping Organisation (UKAD) in 2009 and played an influential role in the drafting and implementation of the UK National Anti-Doping Policy and associated UK Anti-Doping Rules.

Mark HovellSession 3 - Contamination: Unpacking Athlete Responsibility and Misconceptions

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Mark Hovell

Mark HovellSession 3 - Contamination: Unpacking Athlete Responsibility and Misconceptions

Mark is a leading international sports lawyer with over three decades of experience. He is a Partner in the sports, media and entertainment sector at Mills & Reeve, working from its Manchester and London offices. Since 2002, Mark has focused on presiding over disputes at sports tribunals, primarily at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland. He is on the General and Football Lists of Arbitrators at CAS and has overseen 400+ cases, often as President or Sole Arbitrator. Mark has also worked at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi and Glasgow, and the Olympics in Rio. Additionally, he serves on the National Anti-Doping Panel and the Premier Legal Judicial Panel in the UK and has sat on the Independent Tribunal of the ITIA.

Jane PurdonSession 4 - The Governance of Football – is it broken and does it need fixing?

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Jane Purdon

Jane PurdonSession 4 - The Governance of Football – is it broken and does it need fixing?

Jane Purdon has been a pioneering figure in football for nearly twenty-five years. After falling in love with the game as a child, she went on to work in football at the highest levels, including at Sunderland AFC, the Premier League, and UK Sport.

A qualified lawyer, Jane has held prominent roles in governance and leadership within sport. As Head of Governance and Leadership at UK Sport, she co-authored the Code for Sports Governance. Prior to this, she worked at the Premier League as Director of Governance and began her career in football as Club Secretary at Sunderland FC.

Jane led Women in Football (WIF) from 2018 to 2021, overseeing a period of significant growth for the organisation in both membership and income. Since stepping down as CEO, she authored The Homecoming: The Lionesses and Beyond, a critically acclaimed memoir that explores her journey as a fan and the stunning rise of women’s football.

In the spring of 2024, Jane stepped down from her director role at WIF but continues her association with the organisation as an ambassador.

She is also a member of Sport Resolutions' Panel, chairs the Professional Game Academy Audit Company, and lectures on sports governance with various universities.

Nick CraigSession 4 - The Governance of Football – is it broken and does it need fixing?

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Nick Craig

Nick CraigSession 4 - The Governance of Football – is it broken and does it need fixing?

Nick Craig manages a broad array of operational and regulatory issues for the EFL. Nick is an English-qualified solicitor and has worked at the EFL for over 23 years, serving as Director of Legal Affairs before being appointed COO in 2022.

Among other things, Nick oversees the development and implementation of the EFL’s Owners and Directors Test, and its related Acquisition of Control Rules.

Kieran MaguireSession 4 - The Governance of Football – is it broken and does it need fixing?

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Kieran Maguire

Kieran MaguireSession 4 - The Governance of Football – is it broken and does it need fixing?

Kieran Maguire is an academic at the University of Liverpool specialising in sports finance. He was a contributor to the Fan Led Review into football governance led by Dame Tracey Crouch and has written two research papers commissioned by the Department of Digital, Culture, Media & Sport into the state of football finances in England and Wales. 

Kieran is also the co-host of the award-winning podcast The Price of Football, and authored the book of the same name. He is regularly appearing in the media commenting upon matters involving sport finance and has written for publications as diverse as The Financial Times, Guardian, The Times and Daily Mail, as well as contributing to BBC Sport, TalkSport and Sky Sports. 

Away from football finance Kieran’s main interests are Brighton and Hove Albion, cricket and music that was last in fashion in the late 1970s. 

Nick De MarcoSession 4 - The Governance of Football – is it broken and does it need fixing?

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Nick De Marco

Nick De MarcoSession 4 - The Governance of Football – is it broken and does it need fixing?

Nick De Marco KC is a leading sports law barrister, with particular expertise in commercial, employment, regulatory and media law. He is recognised as one of the leading sports lawyers in the UK, was named UK ‘Sports Silk of the Year’ in 2022 by Legal 500 and featured on ‘The Lawyer’s Hot 100’ list 2021.

As well as acting for international and national federations, premier league and international football clubs, players, athletes and their unions, Nick sits as an arbitrator across a number of sports.

He is a member of the Editorial Board of Law In Sport and writes and lectures regularly on sports law issues. He is the author and General Editor of "Football and the Law" (Bloomsbury, 2018), a director of the British Association for Sport and the Law (BASL) and a Bencher of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple.

Amina GrahamSession 5 - The Supreme Court ruling and its impact on sport

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Amina Graham

Amina GrahamSession 5 - The Supreme Court ruling and its impact on sport

Amina is ranked as a Leading barrister in Sports Law in both Chambers and Partners, and The Legal 500.

She worked as an in-house barrister at The Football Association (The FA) as Head of the Regulatory Legal department for over a decade. In this role she was responsible for providing legal advice and representation on behalf of The FA in all football disciplinary matters throughout the football pyramid, up to and including, the Premier League. She has been involved in some of the most high-profile cases in football regulation over the last decade.

Amina has substantial experience of advising on and appearing in cases involving anti-doping, on-field misconduct, betting and anti-corruption, financial regulation, agents’ regulation, discrimination and safeguarding. She represents both regulators and individuals and is regularly instructed to act for various parties in respect of sports regulatory and disciplinary matters.

Amina is a member of the League Managers Association’s legal panel and provides advice and assistance to professional football managers. Amina also sits as a disciplinary and safeguarding panel member for various sports governing bodies. She is a Specialist Member of the Sport Resolutions Panel and sits on the National Safeguarding Panel and the National Panel. She is also a pro bono lawyer for Sport Resolutions and a Mentor for LawInSport.

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