Global Summit 2023

London, 09-10 October 2023 - This year’s conference was be the 9th edition of what was formerly the ‘LawInSport Annual Conference’. The Global Summit built on the success of the previous conferences, bringing together members of our community, and the wider sports industry, participating in panel discussions, forums and networking. 

It was a privilege to connect with colleagues and other industry professionals, and learn from world leading experts as they shared their valuable knowledge and insights on important topics, key legal developments and industry trends.

Conference Overview

Conference Highlights

Interactive Panel Discussions

The conference provided attendees with two full days of interactive panel discussions, with 40+ world leading experts from 14 countries discussing the contemporary legal issues impacting global sport. 

Roundtables

Throughout the conference a number of forums for subject matter experts and stakeholders took place.  These forums provided attendees with opportunities to enter into more detailed topic specific discussions and develop relationships with colleagues with shared interest.  

Professional Development & Knowledge Sharing

Alongside cutting-edge panel discussions, attendees received a copy of the “Understand The Rules Of The Game” conference magazine. This equipped them with access to detailed reference materials that will further develop their understanding of the latest legal issues in sport.

Networking

LawInSport events are renowned for their unparalleled networking opportunities, and this this year’s Global Summit was no different. With over 6 hours of networking and two drinks receptions, attendees benefitted from dedicated time to meet with colleagues in the sector in a friendly and welcoming environment.

Panels & Speakers

The Summit featured 40+ expert speakers from 14 countries, who shared invaluable expertise and insight into each topic, panel discussion and roundtable. The speakers highlighted the current issues and trends in sports and law.

Panel 1 - What does the future of integrated approaches to sports integrity look like?  

• Norbert Rubicsek, Director, CSCF - Sport Integrity Group | Former Head of a Law Enforcement Mission, Europol
• Samuel Cuthbert, Barrister, Outer Temple Chambers
• Kevin Carpenter, Head of Integrity, International Table Tennis Federation
• Phil Suddick, Head of Sport, Clue Software
• Charli Curran, Senior Director - Risk, Forensics & Compliance, Ankura
• Emma Drake, Legal Director, Bird & Bird
• Karen Moorhouse, CEO of International Tennis Integrity Agency

Panel 2 - What is the best way to resolve disputes in sport? 

• Patrick Rode, Senior Legal Counsel, Deminor 
• Rustam Sethna, Senior Associate, Mills & Reeve
• Benoit Pasquier, Partner, Charles Russell Speechlys & CAS Arbitrator
• Sanjev Sharma, Case Counsel, Asian International Arbitration Centre
• Beatriz Chevis, Legal Counsel, FIFA

Panel 3 - Sports Betting - Key Updates and Developments

• Marcel Belfiore, Lawyer, Ambiel, Belfiore, Gomes, Hanna Advogados
• Aahna Mehrotra, Partner, TMT Law Practice & Founder, AM Sports Law & Management Co.
• Alasdair Lamb, Senior Associate, CMS
• Sarah MacDonald, Partner, Wiggin

Panel 4 - Sports Law From An Athletes Perspective

• Ben Purkiss, Lawyer, Clifford Chance, Former Professional Footballer and Former Chairman of The Professional Footballers Association
• Hubert Radke, Lawyer at Radke Sports Law, Basketball Players’ Agent, Former Professional Basketball Player 
• Evan Whitfield, VP of Equity, Alumni Relations, and Engagement, Chicago Fire FC, and former Professional Footballer
• Sophie Hosking, Head of Legal, Cazoo, former lawyer at the FA and Freshfields, and member of Olympic GB Rowing Team
• William Bowyer, Associate, Lawrence Stephens

Panel 5 - Future Commercial and Legal Developments

• Jeff Gewirtz, Executive Vice President - Business Affairs and Chief Legal Officer, BSE Global
• Xavier Cuch Grases, Director of Commercial Legal, TEAM Marketing
• Arthur McAfee, III, Senior Vice President Football Operations Policy, Education, Relationship Management, NFL
• Christopher R. Chase, Partner, Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC
• Steve Bainbridge, Shareholder, Sports & Entertainment Law, Greenberg Traurig
• Jamie Andrew, Senior Associate, Clifford Chance & Former Senior Legal Counsel (Secondee) Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team

Panel 6 - How Will AI and New Technology Help Sport, On and Off The Pitch

• Steven Flynn, Barrister, 2 Temple Gardens (moderator)
• Damian Smith, Chief Technology Officer, Podium Analytics
• Laura Jeffords Greenberg, AI and Legal Tech Consultant, formerly in-house at Unity, Red Bull, and the NFL
• Leo Davidson, Barrister, 11KBW

Panel 7 - Who Is Really Governing Sport?

• Prof. N. Jeremi Duru, Professor and Director of the Sport & Society Initiative, American University Washington College of Law
• Tsubasa Shinohara, Human Rights Officer, Swiss Esports Federation
• Jonathan Brown, Senior Managing Director - Risk, Forensics & Compliance, Ankura

Panel 8 - What Is The Future Of Sports Regulation? 

• Andrew Nixon, Partner & Head of Sport, Sheridans
• Nick De Marco KC, Barrister, Blackstone Chambers
• Héctor Navarro Real, Senior Legal Counsel, FIFA 
• Hannah Kent, Senior Associate, Onside Law

Panel 9 - What Are The Challenges Facing Stadia, Infrastructure & Major Events?

• Péter Rippel-Szabó, Attorney at Law, Bird & Bird
• Ewen Macgregor, Partner, TLT

Panel 10 - Global Trends and Developments In Investment In Sport

• Steve Argeris, Counsel, Hogan Lovells and former General Counsel, Carolina Panthers 
• Keir Gordon, Partner, Charles Russell Speechlys 
• Pedro Henrique Mendonça, Of Counsel, CSMV Advogados
• Eniola Aluko MBE, Football Executive, Author and Broadcast, Mercury 13, former Aston Villa and Angel City Sporting Director, and former International Footballer

Panel 11 - Developments and Best Practice Across Sport and How Is The Role Of Lawyers Working In Sport Evolving?

• Jeff Gewirtz, Executive Vice President - Business Affairs and Chief Legal Officer, BSE Global
• Sam Roby, Senior Manager - Legal Counsel, adidas
• Kim Vande Velde, Senior Legal Counsel, beIN MEDIA GROUP 
• Christopher Flanagan, Sole Regional Legal Counsel (UK) & Data Protection OfficerSole Regional Legal Counsel (UK) & Data Protection Officer, TEG Pty Ltd
• Mel Mallam, General Counsel, Football Australia

Panel 12 - What Are The Issues Facing Executives In Sport? 

• Sarah Lewis OBE OLY, Olympian, Strategic Advisor - Loughborough University London Institute for Sport Business Advisory Board - Vice President Sustainable Mountain Alliance (SMA) and Former Secretary General, International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS)
• Piara Powar, Social Entrepreneur, Executive Director, FARE Network and Former Director, Kick It Out
• Jules Karangwa, Acting General Secretary & Legal Officer, Fédération Rwandaise de Football Association (FERWAFA)
• Polly Handford, Director of Legal & Governance, The Football Association
• Karen Moorhouse, CEO of International Tennis Integrity Agency, and former Director Rugby Football League

Final Remarks

It was a monumental effort from the LawInSport team, and I would like to thank everyone who attended and supported the conference, making it a huge success.