Outer Temple Chambers

Outer Temple Chambers’ Sports Law team has an established team of internationally recognised barristers offering comprehensive coverage of all areas of sports law including safeguarding, litigation, governance and regulation, employment and commercial contracts.

From King’s Counsel to Juniors, the team provides advice, advocacy, analysis and answers in a commercial and client-focused approach to athletes, players’ associations and Sports Governing Bodies as well as national and international federations. With specialist Counsel based in Europe, the Middle East and Australia, members appear in Courts, Tribunals and Arbitrations around the world.

We provide a fast and reactive response to urgent applications and hearings and can draw on years of experience sitting as mediators and panellists to achieve outstanding results.

In acknowledgement of this expertise, our members have been invited to write and speak on topical sports law issues including teaching on the BASL De Montfort PGDip in Sports Law, writing for the Lissack and Horlick on Bribery and Corruption book on sports corruption, and speaking/chairing events related to Concussion, Safeguarding and Women in Sports Law, amongst others.

Legal 500 UK – “An experienced team of specialist sports law barristers… have a range and depth of expertise in a number of areas, including the protection and exploitation of commercial rights and disciplinary, regulatory, personal injury and governance issues.”

Panels/Memberships:

• The Court of Arbitration of Sport
• Sport Resolutions Arbitral Panel
• The FA Judicial Panel
• The BHA Judicial Panel
• Sport Dispute Resolutions Ireland Arbitral and Mediation Panel
• The National Safeguarding Panel
• British Equine Federation’s Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Hearing Body
• ICP Panel
• ICC Anti-Corruption Panel

Recent cases:

• Representing group of claimants in historical sexual abuse vicarious liability claim against various Premier Club football clubs;
• Match fixing investigation against world leading Chinese snooker players on behalf of WPBSA;
• Disciplinary proceedings relating to violation of rules on behalf of Gymnastics Ethics Federation
• Representing Motorsport UK in inquest into death of amateur endurance racer
• Advice to Her Majesty’s Treasury into sale of Chelsea FC as a result of Russian sanctions
• Representing an international Karate gold medal winner in a claim arising out of a sexual relationship by a national coach when she was under-age;
• Gambling irregularities at the British Horseracing Authority;
• Corruption investigation on behalf of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board;
• Anti-doping proceedings on behalf of British Horseracing Authority;
• Welfare case on violence in greyhound racing;
• Advising upon British investment re International Sports Gambling Syndicate.

Members of the team:

• James Counsell KC
• David Russell KC
• Matthew Phillips KC
• Sarah Crowther KC
• Jonathan Hand KC
• Louis Weston
• Matthew McDonagh
• David Haines
• Ben Bradley
• Tom Gibson
• Sophie O'Sullivan
• Imogen Egan
• Samuel Cuthbert
• Anthony Lo Surdo SC

For more details on any of our members contact Paul Barton, Practice Director, on +44 (0)207 427 4907 or via email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.