Ian is an associate at Lombardi Associates. He is a solicitor, qualified in Scotland, and in 2022 received his commission as a Writer to His Majesty’s Signet. Ian was the first Trainee Solicitor in the 500 plus years history of the Society of Writers to His Majesty’s Signet (The WS Society) with his traineeship providing a secondment to Lombardi Association, where he has remained since.

Ian works on a variety of matters for clients across the globe, ranging from transfer contracts, transfer negotiations and employment contracts to disciplinary matters before CAS, FIFA, UEFA, UK Anti-Doping and other regulatory and disciplinary bodies.  In addition to this, recent work has involved advising both clubs and investors on investment into football clubs and advising start ups looking to enter the football space. 

In 2023 Ian was appointed to the WS Society’s Council and his involvement with the WS Society extends to Lombardi Associates partnering with the WS Society on an annual Sports Law conference, forming part of the WS Society’s market leading legal education programme.  He chairs the conference. Ian is also a member of the Board of Director at Scottish football club Dunfermline Athletic and a Trustee of the charity Trefoil House(SC013744)

He lectures on, and contributes to, sports law modules at a number of universities and retains strong links with his alma mater, returning to lecture on the Sports Law module annually since 2016 and providing support to students through sponsoring places at the WS Society Sports Law Conference.  Additionally, since 2022, Ian has been a mentor on the Law in Sport Mentoring Scheme, having benefitted from being part of the first cohort of mentees when the scheme launched in 2018.