Sports

Legal 500

“Sound and pragmatic in its approach.”

Legal 500

“Focuses entirely on sports dispute resolution.”

Legal 500

“Representation of athletes in relation to doping allegations and of individuals holding high-ranking positions in sports organisations.”

Legal 500

“Stand out for their swift approach to finding feasible solutions.”

Legal 500

“Enormous experience in arbitration and recommended for their competence, availability and international expertise.”

Practice Group

Schellenberg Wittmer's Sports Law Group is a leader in the sports law market and has been involved in some of the highest profile sports matters in recent years. We advise and represent international and national sports federations, sports officials, leading sports clubs, top athletes and other global players involved in sport-related matters.

Expertise

Experience

Our experts have extensive experience in advicing and representing of clients involved in sport for all their non-contentious and contentious matters. We have acted as lead counsel in hundreds of proceedings before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), state courts and/or the bodies of sports federations, including the IOC, FIFA, FIS, FIL, IAAF, IBSF, IBU, ISU and IIHF.

We have experience in unfair competition and dismissal claims, violation of the WADA code, doping matters, transfer rights, media rights, sponsorship agreements, corruption, employment, bans and suspensions, breaches of contract, and other commercial matters. We also advise clients on the planning and hosting of major sports events.

We also assist clients regularly in obtaining urgent interim relief. Our team further advises sports federations, sports officials, athletes and states on non-contentious sports matters, including sponsorship and marketing agreements, broadcasting rights, major events and infrastructure.

  • Successful representation of a state-owned entity in a very high stake commercial dispute governed by Swiss law over the hosting of one of the largest sports events in the world
  • Successful representation of sports officials before the FIFA Ethics Committee in several high-profile disputes
  • Successful representation of an athlete in a dispute with a sports federation over an imminent ban leading up to the Olympic Games. The athlete was ultimately permitted to participate in the Games and went on to become an Olympic champion
  • Representation of dozens of athletes before CAS ad hoc panel during the Olympics 
  • Successful representation of a Paralympic athlete concerning her admission to the Olympics
  • Successful representation before CAS of multiple athletes who were investigated amidst allegations of doping

Contact

Partners

Full Team

Awards & Recognitions

Our Sports Group has been involved in some of the highest profile sports matters in recent years. Leading practitioners are ranked across international legal directories, such as:

  • Chambers & Partners
  • Who's Who Legal
  • GAR
  • Expert Guides
  • Legal 500

 

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