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May 02 2024

Sport Resolutions Annual Conference 2024 in association with Winston & Strawn LLP

EVENT OF THE YEAR FOR LAW AND SPORT PROFESSIONALS

Sport Resolutions' 9th Annual Conference will take place on Thursday 2nd May 2024 at the five-star Leonardo Royal London St Paul's Hotel, in London.

As in previous years, the event will bring together an esteemed panel of sports professionals and industry experts to discuss and debate the latest news and ideas in the areas of anti-doping, athlete welfare, good governance and integrity. 

EVENT PRESENTER

This year's event will be moderated by TV presenter and reporter Eilidh Barbour

2024 SESSIONS

The conference will have five sessions, which includes three sessions in the morning followed by a buffet lunch and further two sessions in the afternoon. Session topics will be announced in due course on our website and via newsletter. Once announced, the details of each session will also be available in the 'Topics' section on this page.

This year we will be covering the following topics:

  • WISLaw Breakfast | A Legal Battle Against Gender Discrimination in Skeleton. For more information please click here
  • Session 1 | Sports' Overlooked Blind Spot: Addressing Abuse Against Match Officials. For more information please click here
  • Session 2 | Waving the REDs Flag. For more information please click here
  • Session 3 | International Investigations in Sport: Catching Wrongdoers. For more information please click here.
  • Session 4 | Rise, Fall, and Redemption: The Dwain Chambers Story. For more information please click here.
  • Session 5 | One Day in December: The Future Competitive Landscape in Sport. For more information please click here

CPD Members will collect 4.5 CPD Points for their attendance at our 2024 Annual Conference.

CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

The full agenda is now available here.

NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES

Every year we host over 200 legal and sport professionals at our event. These conferences provide many opportunities for our attendees to network. We serve breakfast (hot drinks and pastries) during the registration period where attendees get an early opportunity to meet other professionals as well as during the two coffee breaks and the open buffet lunch. 

We also host a separate breakfast between 8am and 9am in association with Women in Sports Law (WISLaw), to encourage female profesionals to meet and share views (please note that the WISLaw breakfast is also open to male professionals if they wish to join).

And finally after the conference we will host a networking drinks reception in the hotel's bar on the ground floor. 

TICKETS

Early Bird Tickets  are priced at £330.00 exc. of VAT and are available until 23:59 on Monday 18 March 2024.

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

Please click the on the 'Tickets' tab at top of this page to view other ticket types. 

Please read our event T&C's before registering.

FAQs

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?
No, there will be a registration desk on the day where you will need to sign in but this doesn't require your printed ticket.

What is the refund policy?
If cancellation is notified to Sport Resolutions more than 30 days before the date of an event or, seminar, a full refund will be given. If the booking is cancelled less than 30 days in advance no refunds will be made. Delegates can transfer their ticket to a colleague at no cost.

Will there be catering provided?
Yes. Arrival tea, coffee and pastries.Mid-morning tea, coffee, juice, cakes and biscuits. Hot buffet lunch. There will also be a drinks reception in the hotel's bar at the close of the conference which is a great opportunity for networking and for further discussion. For special dietary requirements please let us know at the time of booking.

Where can I contact the organiser with any questions?
Call the Sport Resolutions team on 020 7036 1966 or email us at resolve@sportresolutions.com

Topics

International Investigations in Sport: Catching Wrongdoers

During the UEFA European Football Championships, hundreds of specialised officers across 28 countries were targeting organised crime groups looking to earn millions from illegal gambling and related money laundering activities.

INTERPOL announced in 2021 that their Operation SOGA VIII (short for soccer gambling) led to thousands of raids and the arrest of some 1,400 suspects across Asia and Europe.  Authorities seized USD 7.9 million in cash, as well as computers and mobile phones connected to nearly USD 465 million in bets.

More recently from November 2022 to January 2023 in relation to the World Cup in Qatar, Operation SOGA IX resulted in 1,200 arrests and significant seizures, including USD 2 million in confiscated funds and USD 76 million in digital betting records.

International federations (IFs) have to be constantly vigilant about a broad range of threats, including match-fixing, doping and safeguarding concerns, and must work collaboratively with a variety of bodies and organisations to investigate and collate information about allegations of wrongdoing.

How do IFs go about this process and from where do they get their intelligence and information? How do they address data protection issues? How do they overcome geographical constraints and geo-political realities, particularly in the current climate with the war in Ukraine and instability in the Middle East.

This session will focus on the challenges faced by international federations when conducting their inquiries and the steps they take to overcome difficulties to gather evidence and conclude investigations.

Nigel Mawer (WPBSA Vice Chairman and Head of Integrity) will give a presentation on how WPBSA approaches investigations in Snooker, followed by a panel discussion with Karen Moorhouse (CEO of International Tennis Integrity Agency) and Brett Clothier (CEO of the Athletics Integrity Unit).

Rise, Fall, and Redemption: The Dwain Chambers Story

In 1997, Dwain Chambers broke the world junior record, becoming the fastest junior globally. He gained sponsorships and celebrity status but faced disappointment with a 4th place at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Seeking answers, he joined an elite sprint group in the US, led by Remi Korchemny and supported by Victor Conte, inadvertently involving himself in the 'BALCO Scandal' and serving a doping suspension in 2003.

Despite backlash and exclusion from lucrative events, Chambers returned, achieving remarkable feats: 3rd fastest time in history for 60m, World Champion in 2010, and multiple British titles. A CAS decision overturned his exclusion from the 2012 Olympics.

Dwain is the only athlete to break 10 seconds for 100m in three decades, compete nationally for four decades, break the over 45’s 60m world record, and now aims to break the over 45’s 100m world record.

In this session, we delve into Chambers' journey in athletics, his involvement with BALCO, the 2005 interview, and the consequential battle he has had to continue to compete in athletics.

Waving the REDs Flag

In this session, we will delve into Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs), explaining and detailing the short and long-term health and performance implications associated with this condition. We will explore the prevalence of REDs across various sports and suggest that this physiological imbalance arises from a combination of bio-psycho-social factors.

Dr. Emma Ross will present data on the prevalence of REDs within sports, emphasising the significant risk it poses to our duty of care towards athletes. She will also provide insights into the current status of screening and diagnosis for REDs.

Emma will be joined by Maddie Dunn (Sports Director at the IFSC) who will share her experiences in dealing with REDs in practice at the International Federation of Sport Climbing which has become the first International Federation to introduce comprehensive regulations related to REDs. Additionally Bobby Clay, a former international athlete whose career in athletics was cut short- after she was diagnosed with osteoporosis at the age of 19 will also be part of the panel. 

Sports' Overlooked Blind Spot: Addressing Abuse Against Match Officials

Allegations of serious offences and abuse against referees is on the rise in both professional and grassroots football, and reportedly in some other sports such as rugby and tennis. Whilst the culture of abuse may stem from societal behaviours, referees are expected to simply accept this as part of their job.

Some may believe that referees operating at the elite level have a degree of protection from aggression and intimidation because of the proliferation of cameras and media coverage. Even if that is the case, referees at grassroots level do not have those same protections.

New FA data shows that allegations of serious offences against referees are on the rise in the grassroots game. Does the problem originate from the lower age groups where children witness aggression from their parents towards referees? Or could it be that the younger age groups mimic what they see professionals do at the elite level?

This behaviour is of course not limited to players but also extends to managers and sometimes even club owners.  

Without referees and match officials there would be no sport. If that is so, what are governing bodies doing to protect officials and punish those who behave badly? Recently Steven Reid was fined £5000 and given a touchline ban for abusing a match referee in a Premier League game. The club was also fined £75,000. Is this enough given the riches of that league. Should the punishment be greater, or different?

In this session we will hear from leading referees and officials to hear their experiences on the field of play and learn of the vitriol and abuse they receive through social media and other channels. We will review steps taken to address this issue and explore what further measures should be implemented to improve what appears to many to be a deteriorating situation.  

One Day in December: The Future Competitive Landscape in Sport

On 21 December 2023, the Court of Justice of the European Union delivered on the same day preliminary rulings on pivotal cases involving the European Super League, the International Skating Union, and the 'Home-Grown Players' rule.

Across multiple legal principles including competition law, freedom of movement, anti-discrimination, and arbitration, these rulings have profound implications for the regulation of supranational sporting competitions, disciplinary actions, and dispute resolution.

Domestically in the UK, last year also saw competition law and restraint of trade principles considered in the PGA European Tour and the FIFA agents regulations challenge, the latter following the Court of Arbitration for Sport considering the same challenge but finding the other way.

For the existing sporting regulatory framework, these rulings provide invaluable guidance for maintaining the status quo. Conversely, for emerging rival sporting competitions and their investors, the legal battleground is set to challenge protectionist practices.

This session aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of recent landmark decisions in sports law. We will examine these rulings in detail, distill their outcomes, and pinpoint the critical factors shaping the future competitive landscape of both domestic and international sport.     

Programme/Agenda
StartEndDescriptionSponsor
08:0009:00

Networking breakfast in association with WISLaw - A Legal Battle Against Gender Discrimination in Skeleton

09:0009:30

Registration/Breakfast

09:3009:45

Welcome by Richard Harry (Chief Executive, SR)

09:4510:45

1st session - Sports' Overlooked Blind Spot: Addressing Abuse Against Match Officials 

10:4511:30

2nd session - Waving the REDs Flag 

11:3012:00

Coffee break 

12:0013:00

3rd session - International Investigations in Sport: Catching Wrongdoers

13:0014:30

Lunch & Networking 

14:3015:30

4th session - Rise, Fall, and Redemption: The Dwain Chambers Story     

15:3016:15

5th session -  One Day in December: The Future Competitive Landscape in Sport

16:1516:30

Closing remarks by Audley Sheppard (Chair, SR Board)

16:3018:30

Drinks reception

Eilidh Barbour

Eilidh BarbourPresenter

Eilidh Barbour is an experienced and versatile sports presenter and reporter. As a reporter, Eilidh is a familiar face across Premier League and FA Cup matches for BBC Final Score and is also the Sky Sports SPL Anchor. As a presenter, Eilidh regularly fronts Football Focus, Final Score, FA Cup draws and highlights, as well as The Women’s Football Show for BBC. 

Alongside football, she is also the face of BBC's Golf coverage and presents the BBC Women’s Six Nations highlights show.

Since 2015 Eilidh has worked at major sporting events, such as FIFA Women's World Cups, the EUROS, the Winter Olympics, as well as The Open, The Masters, PGA Championship and The Ryder Cup over the years.

Eilidh was also part of a historic milestone in 2022, presenting the first Scottish Women’s domestic game to be broadcast on Sky Sports.

Eilidh is also a regular event host for corporate events and awards ceremonies, and most recently hosting with Sodexo.

Away from the day job, Eilidh can often be found on the golf course or hiking in the Scottish mountains.

Mathilde Lefranc-Barthe

Speaker - WISLaw Networking Breakfast

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Mathilde Lefranc-Barthe

Mathilde Lefranc-BartheSpeaker - WISLaw Networking Breakfast

Mathilde's focus lies in international litigation and arbitration, where she serves as the head of the Litigation Practice at the firm's Paris office.  She has twenty years of experience, representing major corporate entities, evolving mostly in regulated sectors (Health Care, Finance), in high stakes commercial disputes before arbitral tribunals as well as before States courts and authorities. She regularly assists French entities and their affiliates in the context of international investigations and proceedings pending abroad, including for discovery purposes as well as for the application of blocking statutes. Mathilde, who is accredited as mediator, has developed a strong experience in amicable dispute resolution. Additionally, she manages a diverse portfolio of sports-related matters and has represented athletes in the context of disputes against federations and the IOC before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Nigel Mawer QPM

Speaker - International Investigations in Sport: Catching Wrongdoers

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Nigel Mawer QPM

Nigel Mawer QPMSpeaker - International Investigations in Sport: Catching Wrongdoers

Nigel Mawer QPM is the Vice Chairman and Head of Integrity for the WPBSA and deals with all disciplinary and anti-corruption issues in snooker.

He is the Chair of the Darts Regulation Authority and is the independent regulator of Darts. He has recently set up the Pool Regulation Authority and is its inaugural Chairman. He also works as a freelance specialist advisor in the areas of sport regulation, integrity in sport and anti-corruption. He has considerable experience in investigating and prosecuting match fixing cases. He has worked with most of the main sports on sports integrity and sits on the Sports Betting Integrity Forum and Sports Betting Group in the UK. He is a Sport Resolutions Panel of Arbitrators Special Member.

Karen Moorhouse

Speaker - International Investigations in Sport: Catching Wrongdoers

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Karen Moorhouse

Karen MoorhouseSpeaker - International Investigations in Sport: Catching Wrongdoers

Karen joined the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) as CEO in February 2023. Prior to that she was at the Rugby Football League where she was Chief Regulatory Officer and an Executive Director.  Karen also served as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of the Rugby League World Cup hosted in England in 2022.  She continues to be a Trustee of Rugby League Cares – the charity responsible for delivering Rugby League’s welfare programme.

Brett Clothier

Speaker - International Investigations in Sport: Catching Wrongdoers

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Brett Clothier

Brett ClothierSpeaker - International Investigations in Sport: Catching Wrongdoers

Brett Clothier is the Head of the Athletics Integrity Unit, the independent body that manages all integrity related issues for the sport of athletics. The AIU became operational in 2017 following changes to the World Athletics Constitution. These changes enshrined the operational independence of the AIU from World Athletics and put in place an independent Board to oversee its functions.

Mr Clothier has worked in sport integrity for 20 years. Prior to becoming the inaugural Head of the AIU, Mr Clothier worked in Australia as Head of Competition Integrity for the Australian Football League (AFL) and Legal Counsel to the Integrity Services Department of Racing Victoria.

Dwain Chambers

Speaker - Rise, Fall, and Redemption: The Dwain Chambers Story

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Dwain Chambers

Dwain ChambersSpeaker - Rise, Fall, and Redemption: The Dwain Chambers Story

Dwain Chambers is among the fastest European sprinters in the history of athletics, boasting international medals at both World and European levels. He ran a 100 m world junior record of 10.06 s in 1997 and became the youngest ever world medallist in the event at the 1999 World Championships, taking the bronze.

On his Olympic début at the 2000 Sydney Olympics he was the best European performer in fourth place. He broke the 10-second barrier twice at the 2001 World Championships. However, his career was marred by a two-year ban in 2003 after testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing drug. Consequently, he was stripped of the 100m European title and record he achieved in 2002.

He explored other sports, including American football and rugby before he secured silver at the 2008 World Athletics Indoor Championships, followed by gold at the 2009 European Indoors and he became world champion at the 2010 World Indoor Championships.

Dwain is the only athlete to have broken the 10-second mark for the 100m in three separate decades. He has competed at the top national level in four decades, recently broke the over 45’s world record for the 60m event. Currently, he is training to break the over 45’s world record for the 100m.

Dr Emma Ross

Speaker - Waving the REDs Flag

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Dr Emma Ross

Dr Emma RossSpeaker - Waving the REDs Flag

Scientist, researcher and practitioner Dr Emma Ross is the former Head of Physiology at the English Institute of Sport. She led the UK High Performance System’s first ever strategic approach to Female Athlete Health with the SmartHER programme.

Emma is behind several breakthrough initiatives that ensure active women - and their support teams - understand and support the female part of the female athlete. In 2021 she received the Sunday Times Sports Women of the Year Changemaker Award in recognition of her work to improve sport for women.

Maddie Dunn

Speaker - Waving the REDs Flag

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Maddie Dunn

Maddie DunnSpeaker - Waving the REDs Flag

A long-term advocate of the far reaching benefits of sport for personal and social development with over 15 years experience within the sports industry, Maddie’s professional experience of sporting environments have included national and international stages with National and International bodies as well as other sport non-profits.

Maddie currently works with the International Federation of Sport Climbing in Torino, Italy as Sport Director, with previous roles in Sailing and Rowing and sits on the International Board of ‘The True Athlete Project’ a charitable organization that promotes the transformative power of sport through holistic and sustainable approaches that enhance the performance, welfare, and impact of athletes, sport, and society.

Bobby Clay

Speaker - Waving the REDs Flag

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Bobby Clay

Bobby ClaySpeaker - Waving the REDs Flag

Bobby is a former international athlete specialising in the 1500m and cross country. At the age of 15, she was competing for Great Britain at the World Championships and was considered a rising star of athletics. In 2015, she won the European U20 1500m title, had a professional contract, and was determined to pursue her Olympic dream. However, due to under-fueling and over-training, she was diagnosed with osteoporosis at just 19 years old, which ultimately ended her career in athletics. Since then, she has made it her mission to shine a light on RED-S and give a voice to the person behind the performance.

Wayne Barnes

Speaker - Sports' Overlooked Blind Spot: Addressing Abuse Against Match Officials

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Wayne Barnes

Wayne BarnesSpeaker - Sports' Overlooked Blind Spot: Addressing Abuse Against Match Officials

Wayne Barnes joined Squire Patton Boggs (SPB) in January 2022, after ten years at a boutique white collar crime law firm, where he conducted detailed investigations into Government public tender contracts. Since joining SPB, he has undertaken complex internal investigations for SPB's global network of clients across multiple jurisdictions, and has expanded the firm’s sport investigation offering. Relevant recent reviews include: an internal investigation into bullying within an Olympic sport, which included recommendations on improved governance; a sensitive investigation into a boardroom leak, again, centering on governance issues; and a review and reconciliation instruction leading to wide-ranging recommendations including the overall of the national governing body’s disciplinary structure. Wayne is regularly instructed by national governing bodies, professional sports organisations, commercial sponsors, and rights holders on all aspects of sports law, governance, ethics, and safeguarding.

Mike Riley

Speaker - Sports' Overlooked Blind Spot: Addressing Abuse Against Match Officials

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Mike Riley

Mike RileySpeaker - Sports' Overlooked Blind Spot: Addressing Abuse Against Match Officials

In 13 years as a Premier League referee, Mike took charge of over 300 top flight matches, including the 2002 FA Cup Final, 2004 League Cup Final and the 2005 Championship play-off final. In 1999 he was appointed to the FIFA International Referees List and over the next 10 years he refereed almost 100 matches across the world, including the Hong Kong Cup Final in 2007. Mike was selected to referee at the 2004 UEFA European Championships in Portugal. His final match on the 27th June 2009 saw him referee the final of the Shell Under 10 tournament in the Westman Islands.

After that game Mike became the Managing Director of PGMOL, the organisation responsible for the 700 elite match officials in England. He continued in this role for 14 years, before stepping down last summer. In that time Mike served on the FIFA Referees’ Committee and the UEFA Referee Development Committee.

Mike is now Head of Refereeing for the Irish Football Association, coaches referees from under-represented groups in England and advises a number of businesses and sporting organisations.

Andrew Nicholas-Wynne

Speaker - Sports' Overlooked Blind Spot: Addressing Abuse Against Match Officials

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Andrew Nicholas-Wynne

Andrew Nicholas-WynneSpeaker - Sports' Overlooked Blind Spot: Addressing Abuse Against Match Officials

After 7 years as a police officer, Andrew qualified as a Barrister specialising in Family and Court of Protection Law, and was based at St John’s Buildings in Manchester and Sheffield from 2000 until late 2023 when he retired.

He began officiating tennis matches at the age of 18, following a very unsuccessful career as a player in North Wales. He first attended Wimbledon in 1982 and officiated there for 20 years. During that time, he umpired 3 Main Draw Finals as well as numerous Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup ties.

In 2002 his career at the Bar allowed his progression from officiating on court to off-court.  He has been the Chief Umpire at Queen’s Club in London for 12 years and is also the Chief Umpire at Wimbledon, in charge of over 450 officials.

Prior to retirement from the Bar, he took up a post at the International Tennis Federation with responsibility for all major assignments including Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup, Olympics and Paralympics as well as being responsible for administering the Code of Conduct for over 3,100 officials worldwide.

Away from tennis, he is an increasingly visible fan at Wrexham FC!

John Mehrzad KC

Speaker - One Day in December: The Future Competitive Landscape in Sport

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John Mehrzad KC

John Mehrzad KCSpeaker - One Day in December: The Future Competitive Landscape in Sport

John Mehrzad KC is a highly accomplished barrister specialising in sports law, employment, and commercial disputes. He was appointed as a silk after only 12 full years’ practice – the fastest barrister appointee of the 2019 competition. He has earned recognition for his exceptional skills, including being listed in The Lawyer's "Hot 100 2023" and receiving nominations for 'Sports Law Silk of the Year'.

Known for his expertise in injunction applications, trials, and appeals, he handles a wide range of cases involving employment and commercial disputes, often related to restrictive covenants and confidential information. He is also recognised for conducting independent reviews and investigations, such as those for British Cycling and the British Equestrian Federation.

John also frequently acts in sports regulatory disputes, including disciplinaries, equalities and discrimination, safeguarding, selection, classification and doping charges.

As a Governing Bencher of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, he continues to make significant contributions to the legal field.

Ticket Information

Early Bird Tickets  are priced at £330.00 exc. of VAT and are available until 23:59 on Monday 18 March 2024.

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 £90.00 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.