Our leading industry and legal experts discuss the key legal challenges facing the esport industry worldwide, ranging from governance and player welfare concerns to regulatory issues.

Our speakers for the panel session are:

• Andrew Cooke, General Counsel, Fnatic
• William Deller, Senior Associate, Bird & Bird
• Daniel Kozelko, Barrister, 39 Essex Chambers
• Ian Smith, Commissioner, Esports Integrity Commission 
• Vyte Danileviciute, Principal Counsel, Riot Games 
• Anna Baumann, Executive Vice President Esports at ReKTGlobal and Managing Director and General Counsel, Rogue Sports 

(Plus Membership required)

Our panel of leading experts discuss what lies ahead for sports media and broadcasting, including: current trends in the market, free-to-air broadcasters, over-the-top (OTT) offerings, and the role of new technology and big data.

Speakers:

• Betul Ayranci, former Legal Counsel, Sports Rights & Acquisitions, Europe & Africa, Fox Sports
• Julian Moore, Head of Sport (London), Mills & Reeve LLP
• Andrew Ryan, Managing Director, FIBA Media
• David Murray, Consultant and Former Head Sports Rights at the BBC
• Ross Sylvester​, Partner, Wiggin

The in-house focused panel discuss what legal and governance lessons their organisations and clients have learnt from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Speakers:

• Mike​ Herbert, Associate, Northridge Law
• Stephen Taylor Heath, Partner and Head of Sport, JMW Solicitors
• Norman Wain, General Counsel, Chief of Business Affairs at USA Track & Field, Inc
• Ashley Ehlert, Legal Director, International Ice Hockey Federation

(Plus Membership required)

Our expert panel discuss dealing with expert witnesses and the use of hot tubbing in practice.

Speakers:

• Brent Nowicki, Head of Anti-Doping Division, Court of Arbitration for Sport
• Lord Dyson, Arbitrator, Sport Resolution and Court of Arbitration for Sport, Former Master of the Rolls & Justice of the Supreme Court, 39 Essex Chambers
• Hon. Dr Annabelle Bennett, AC, SC, FAA, Arbitrator, Court of Arbitration, Chancellor, Bond University, President, Anti-Discrimination Board and retired Judge of the Federal Court of Australia 
• Jim Bunting, Founding Partner, Tyr LLP and lawyer for Caster Semenya

(Plus Membership required)

Our expert panel discuss how to establish an effective and independent National Sports tribunal.

Speakers:

• Professor Jack Anderson, Director of Studies, Sports Law, Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne 
• Jonathan Bray, Deputy CEO and Registrar, National Sports Tribunal, Australian Government Department of Health
• Catherine Pitre, Head of Case Management, Sport Resolutions

(Plus Membership required)

Identifying and proving contamination sources in anti-doping cases has been something that attracted much discussion and debate. Our expert panel discuss and examine:

• the various possible contamination sources;
• the UFC’s approach to decision limits and decision concentration levels;
• ongoing research and discussions related to threshold and meat contamination; and
• the importance of investigations, qualified expert opinions and testimony.

Our speakers: 

• Jonathan Taylor QC, Head of Sports Group (London), Bird & Bird
• Paul Greene, Sports Lawyer & Founder, Global Sports Advocates
• Jeff Novitzky, Vice President of Athlete Health and Performance, UFC
• Janie Soublière, Principal, Soubliere Sport Law and Arbitrator, Court of Arbitration for Sport, Sport Dispute Resolution Center of Canada, Sport Resolutions and UFC Anti-Doping Panel

(Plus Membership required)

With the drive towards increased transparency and international cooperation to fight corruption in sport, our expert panel discuss:

• the work being undertaken through the International Partnership Against Corruption In Sport (IPACS)
• how athletes are and should be involved;
• how whistleblowers are or could be better protected; and
• how national laws currently assist, or fail to assist, law enforcement and sport organisations combat corruption.

Our speakers: 

• Louis Weston, Barrister, Outer Temple Chambers
• Wayne Barnes, Barrister, Fulcrum Chambers & International Rugby Union Referee
• Ronan O'Laoire, Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer at United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
• Donna Bartley, Senior Associate, Morgan Sports Law

(Plus Membership required)

Our expert panel discuss the different types of private equity (PE) investments, notable trends in the wider PE market; why sports organisations are becoming more attractive targets for investment than before; and the benefits and restrictions that come with taking PE investment:

• Nic Couchman, Partner, Head of Sport at Charles Russell Speechlys LLP 

• Peter Hanton, Associate, Clifford Chance LLP and former Secondee at CVC Capital Partners and at Blackstone

• Greg Scott, Senior Associate, Clifford Chance LLP and former Secondee at CVC Capital Partners and at Blackstone

(Plus Membership required)

Our expert panel discuss how the insurance industry is adjusting the demands of the sports sector.

Speakers:

• Joshua Charalambous, Senior Associate, RPC
• James Hands, Head of Sports & Entertainment, Miller Insurance
• Deborah Nicholson, Head of Crime and Regulatory, Markel Law

(Plus Membership required)

The expert panel discuss how tax authorities are changing their approach to sports organisations and athletes.

Speakers:

• Kelly Stricklin-Coutinho, Barrister, 39 Essex Chambers
• Michelle Sloane, Partner, RPC
• Rhys Linnell, Sport & Entertainment Tax Adviser at Saffery Champness LLP
• Mario Tenore, Fiscalista/Tax advisor, Maisto e Associati
• Carlos Carnero, Abogado, Senn Ferrero Asociados Sports & Entertainment

(Plus Membership required)

Our panel explore how financial regulation may evolve resulting in possible introduction of cost controls, such as salary caps, to ensure competitive balance both in a domestic and international context whilst enabling short, medium and long-term sustainable growth.

Speakers:

• Kwadjo Adjepong, Competition Law Expert & Arbitrator, Sport Resolutions
• Benoit Keane, Solicitor & Avocat at Keane Legal
• Noah Croom, Managing Partner, Beautiful Game Group LLC & former Major League Sports Executive
• James Eighteen, Partner, Northridge Law
• Christopher Stoner QC, Barrister, Serle Court

(Plus Membership required)

Our expert panel discuss how to protect against exploitation in women's sport drawing on the experience and lessons from the fight for justice following the abuse done by officials of the Afghanistan Football Federation against female athletes in Afghanistan.

Speakers:

• Khayran Noor, Advocate of the High Court of Kenya & Founder & CEO, Sports Legal (Moderator)
• Khalida Popal, Founder & Director, Girl Power Organisation
• Kat Craig, CEO, Athlead CIC
• Madalina Diaconu, Lawyer; Managing Partner @SPLC Avocats & Notaires, Associate Professor -University of Neuchatel, Member of UEFA Member of the Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body

(Plus Membership required)

Our panel explore the new approaches and lessons from recent developments in Safeguarding (including child protection)?

• James Counsell QC, Barrister, Outer Temple Chambers
• Jennie Smith, Barrister & Safeguarding Advisor
• Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Paralympian, Crossbench Peer in the House of Lords, Motivational Speaker and Broadcaster
• Anne Tiivas, Chair, SafeSport International
• John Mehrzad QC, Head of Sport, Littleton Chambers

(Plus Membership required)

What can we do to encourage and create diversity in sports governance & senior management? How can The FA's Leadership Diversity Code be a framework for other sports to follow? 

• Stephanie David, Barrister, 39 Essex Chambers
• Paul Elliott, Chair, The FA's Inclusion Advisory Board and former professional footballer
• Elaine Banton, Barrister, 7 Bedford Row & Co-Chair of the Bar Council's, Equality, Diversity and Social Mobility Committee
• Cassandra Heilbronn, Sport & Entertainment Regulation Legal Manager

(Plus Membership required)

Where is the future of athletes in the decision-making process in sport?

Speakers

• David West, Chief Operating Officer, PCL and 2 x NBA Champion with the Golden State Warriors
• Rob Koehler, Director General, Global Athlete
• Gigi Alford, Sport & Human Rights, World Players Association at UNI Global Union
• Sean Cottrell, CEO & Founder, LawInSport (moderator)

(Plus Membership required)

Our expert panel discuss what are the rights of players to control his/her data, what consent is required from agents, scouts, clubs, leagues, federations and third parties to process, store and monetise that data?

• Jonathan Bellamy, 39 Essex Chambers
• Timothy Pitt-Payne QC, 11KBW
• Nick White, Partner, Charles Russell Speechlys
• Jorge Oliveira e Carmo, CIPM, Head of Data Protection, FIFA

(Plus Membership required)

Our panel discuss their careers and how sports in-house legal teams are working with their executives, colleagues and stakeholders to grow their sports whilst adjusting to these challenging times.

Speakers:

• Sarah Crowther QC, Barrister, Outer Temple Chambers
• Jeff Gewirtz, Executive Vice President of Business Affairs and Chief Legal & Compliance Officer, BSE Global (Brooklyn Nets)
• James Stebbing, General Counsel at Six Nations Rugby / British & Irish Lions
• Cliodhna Guy, Head of Licensing, Legal & Compliance (Legal Counsel), The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board
• Alejandra Salmerón García, Senior Legal Counsel at Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)

(Plus Membership required)

The expert panel members discuss the use of artificial intelligence in sport, including how AI is being used, the relevant laws that apply, and the regulatory challenges it may present for governing bodies, leagues, clubs, agents and players. 

• Patrick Lucey, Chief Scientist, Stats Perform 
• Dr. Jan De Bruyne, Senior academic researcher Center Data & Society, Postdoctoral researcher legal aspects AI Lecturer E-Contracts Law, KU Leuven
• Michiel Fierens, Legal Counsel, KU Leuven Center for IT & IP Law 

(Plus Membership required)

Speakers:
-Stephen Ridgway, Vice President - Head of Legal and Business Affairs, BeIN Sports
-Alex Slade, Head of Legal, Eleven Sports
-Anish Dayal, Lawyer, Supreme Court of India
-Tom Bullock, General Counsel, ATP Media
-Sarah MacDonald, Partner, Wiggin
-Bobby Hacker, Attorney, Sports Media

Speakers:
-Louis Weston, Barrister, Outer Temple Chambers
-Jeffrey G. Benz, Esq., CEDS, JAMS Mediator and Arbitrator
-Michele Verroken, Sporting Integrity
-Lydia Banerjee, Barrister, Littleton Chambers

Speakers:
-Paul Greene, Founder, Global Sports Advocates
-Brett Clothier, Head, Athletics Integrity Unit, Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU)
-Danielle Sharkey, Associate, Charles Russell Speechlys
-Fenella Morris QC, Barrister, 39 Essex Chambers
-Ronan O'Laoire, Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer Implementation Support Section at United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime