Director of International Law at Lockheed Martin

Rasoul is a Lawyer and his practice focuses on sports law, with extensive practice experience of dealing with sports matters, whether contentious or non-contentious, including in respect of all legal issues pertaining to football. Furthermore, He is legal advisor of Iranian baseball/softball association.

Rasoul has represented clients before dispute resolution and disciplinary bodies of Iranian Football Federation, FIFA and the CAS, and frequently advises top football players, coaches, agents, and clubs in Iran. Also, He is a lecturer in Football Law for lawyers, and football agents in Iran.

He regularly provides comments and analysis on legal issues in sport for Iranian news agencies and often national TV. He can be found at Linkedin here.

Partner, Bird & Bird LLP

Queen’s Counsel, 4 New Square

Barrister, Bar of Ireland

Rokaya is an Associate in the Sports Law department, bringing a solid background in arbitration and dispute resolution. This expertise has been cultivated through extensive participation in numerous national and international moot court competitions, including the prestigious Willem C. Vis Moot, FDI Moot, SAM, and ICC Moot, providing her with invaluable practical experience in simulated arbitration proceedings.

Rokaya has worked on a wide range of arbitration cases, gaining exposure to diverse legal issues and procedural aspects of both domestic and international arbitration.

Her experience extends to various areas within sports law, including disputes related to player contracts, sponsorship agreements, disciplinary matters, and regulatory compliance.

She has contributed to cases before arbitral tribunals and sport's governing bodies, developing a keen understanding of the specific rules and regulations governing sports disputes.

Barrister, 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square and King’s Chambers

Associate, Mills & Reeve LLP

Ryan is an attorney at Global Sports Advocates. brings his experience as a former federal prosecutor and legal counsel to the U.S. Center for SafeSport, and his work on landmark sports legislation. His background gives him unique insight into the struggles faced by professional, collegiate, and Olympic athletes, as well as coaches, teams, executives, and other sports stakeholders.

A graduate of Harvard Law School and Duke University, Ryan possesses a deep understanding of both criminal and civil litigation strategies.  He has tried cases to juries in state and federal courts around the country, including New York, Colorado, Minnesota, and the District of Columbia. Before joining Global Sports Advocates, Ryan served as a prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice, where he prosecuted international violent crimes and human rights offenses.  His legal career began at the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, where he led grand jury investigations and tried numerous cases.  These experiences taught him how to examine witness testimony critically—a crucial skill when challenging evidence in athlete eligibility or anti-doping hearings.

Ryan's time as Senior Legal Counsel for the U.S. Center for SafeSport placed him at the heart of athlete eligibility disputes when they mattered most. He secured the dismissal of a lawsuit by a suspended athlete seeking Olympic team placement just weeks before the Tokyo Games—preserving the integrity of team selection while demonstrating his ability to win high-stakes eligibility disputes.

During his tenure at SafeSport, Ryan provided strategic counsel to senior leadership and the board of directors while representing the organization in arbitration proceedings. This insider’s view gives him unmatched insight into how decisions are made in sports governing bodies, which he now brings to practice with Global Sports Advocates.

Ryan also played a key role in handling congressional investigations and drafting sections of the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic, and Amateur Athletes Act of 2020—legislation that fundamentally reshaped athlete rights in U.S Olympic sports. His contributions to this watershed law demonstrate his commitment to fair treatment for athletes at all levels.

He is admitted to practice law in New York, Colorado, and the District of Columbia. 

Lecturer & Teaching Fellow, University of Waikato

Partner, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP

I am an award winning Legal Practitioner, currently working as a Lecturer at the Faculty of Law at World University of Bangladesh. I possess 9 years of experience, of working in the corporate sector having previously worked in roles such as Chief Legal Officer, Legal Advisor, Legal Counsel and Legal Officer. I also work as a Panel Mediator and ADR Counsel for Centre for International Alternative Dispute Resolution (CIADR) and Bangladesh International Arbitration Centre (BIAC).

I am also a UK and Singapore accredited Mediator, having received accreditation in 2018 and a member (MCIArb) of Chartered Institute of Arbitrator (CIArb) since 2018 and a member of International Bar Association (IBA).

Simon Carroll is a partner and solicitor-advocate in the dispute resolution groupat BP Collins Solicitors.

Specialisms

An experienced litigator and solicitor-advocate, Simon specialises in cross-border commercial litigation & arbitration, insolvency & company disputes, sports law, and public law. He also has expertise in construction disputes; regulatory disputes, often acting for professionals & directors; and reputational risk.

With significant experience acting for a range of household names, Simon provides practical and commercially focused advice.

Experience

Simon has conducted litigation in most civil divisions of the English High Court; in the Court of Appeal & the Supreme Court; and has gained significant experience in domestic, international, and industry-specific arbitrations. He deals with disputes across all commercial sectors and has particular experience in environmental energy, construction/insurance, technology, pharmaceuticals, and commercial sports and media.

Prior to joining B P Collins LLP, Simon was in-house counsel for a global FTSE 30 ‘fast moving consumer goods’ company, focusing on commercial and regulatory disputes. Simon is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a Fellow of the Society for Advanced Legal Studies. He was appointed to the list of arbitrators for CIArb’s Business Arbitration Scheme (BAS) and the ICC UK Arbitrator directory in 2024 and has received several (confidential) appointments as sole arbitrator.

Tenured Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb

Barrister, Kings Chambers & 2 Temple Gardens

I am currently serving as an Assistant Professor at Jindal Global Law School and Assistant Director at the Centre for Sports Law, Business and Governance (CSLBG), O.P. Jindal Global University, India. In 2025, I became India’s first PhD holder in Comprehensive Sports Law, having successfully defended my thesis titled “Sports Regulation in India: A Critical Analysis”, the country’s first doctoral work to holistically examine the legal dimensions of Esports, Sports Betting, Anti-Doping, Broadcasting Rights, Sports Arbitration, and Regulatory Reform.

I recently represented India as an official delegate at the FICCI UK Sports Delegation 2025, engaging with premier institutions such as Manchester City FC’s Etihad Stadium, the Institute of Sport at Manchester Metropolitan University, and BBC MediaCityUK to explore global best practices in sports governance, innovation, and legal policy.

I am the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Global Sports Policy Review (ISSN: 2582-8886), the world’s first multidisciplinary sports education journal and Managing Editor of the Journal of Sports Law, Policy and Governance (ISSN: 2584-1122). I also serve as Faculty Coordinator of the Jindal Society for International Sports Law and Joint Faculty Coordinator of the Esports & Creation Society at JGU. In addition, I am the India Ambassador for ISDE Law Business School, Spain, Adjunct Faculty at IIM Rohtak, and Visiting Faculty at TransStadia University, Ahmedabad.

My academic journey includes an LL.M. in Sports Law from Nottingham Trent University, UK (awarded with international scholarship), an LL.M. in Energy Law from UPES, and a B.B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) in International Trade Law. I have completed 30+ global certifications from FIFA, IOC, UKAD, UEFA, and the Open University UK. With over 45 publications spanning journal articles, book chapters, and edited volumes, including my FICCI-launched book “Sports Law and Policy in the Present Global Scenario”, I continue to contribute to global legal discourse on sports.

Beyond academia, I have represented the Eastern Region for the Sports Authority of India in football and volunteered with the Laureus Sports for Good Foundation and UK Government sport-media initiatives. My work remains driven by the goal of building an athlete-centred, transparent, and globally aligned Sports Law ecosystem in India and across the Global South.

Suzanne is a partner at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner and represents sports national governing bodies and international federations in domestic and international arbitration and in internal grievance proceedings, including in the areas of athlete protection, “opportunity to compete” and selection challenges, compliance claims, doping cases, and a wide array of other disputes within the Olympic and Paralympic Movement and sports more broadly. Since she joined the firm, she has represented over twenty sports organizations in over ninety of these types of disputes.

Suzanne is well known for her work designing and implementing athlete protection policies on behalf of both professional and amateur sports organizations. In addition, she regularly advises sports clients on the development, implementation, and enforcement of bylaws, selection procedures, and other organizational rules, policies, and procedures. Suzanne has also played a key role in obtaining recognition and sanctioning for new and emerging sports, and maintaining the good standing of existing sports in the Olympic and Paralympic Movement.

As part of her sports practice, Suzanne regularly advises clients on nonprofit formation, governance, board disputes, and other issues unique to nonprofit organizations.

Prior to joining Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, Suzanne served as a judicial clerk for Judges Richard Gabriel and Russell Carparelli on the Colorado Court of Appeals. She is a former course record holder in the Pikes Peak Cycling Hill Climb Ascent (2015) and was the 2012 Professional Women’s New York State Road Race champion in cycling.

Swagath Chanila Ramachandra is an international sports lawyer, working at Parmars, a leading sports law and business practice. He brings a blend of legal expertise and a deep passion for sports to the table. Graduating from the School of Law, Christ University, with a Bachelor's in Law and Business Administration provided him with a strong foundation in both legal principles and business development. Swagath furthered his education at ISDE in Barcelona, Spain, earning a Master's in Sports Management and Legal Skills, delving into the intricacies of sports law and management, and developing his network within the sports industry.

At Parmars, Swagath has handled and assisted with a variety of sports disputes before bodies like FIFA (30+ cases), the CAS (15+ cases), the BAT, and several national tribunals, applying his legal skills and insights into sports governance and law. He has also contributed to drafting policies, mentoring students, delivering lectures, and has assisted in the organisation of various conferences and seminars. Beyond his legal work, Swagath is actively involved in sports as an avid cricketer and a former national-level table tennis player. His passion extends to writing, being a member of the editorial board for Cynisca, and having published multiple articles, research papers, and blog posts. Driven by an unwavering enthusiasm for the sports industry, Swagath is committed to making a positive impact and driving growth and development within it. With a unique blend of legal expertise, business acumen, and a genuine love for sports, he is poised to contribute meaningfully to the ever-evolving landscape of sports and sports law.