The SLAM Grand Finals weekend is now underway (12-13 April 2024), LawInSport is hosting the 5th Edition of the International Sports Law Arbitration Moot (SLAM) at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The Grand Finals is a fantastic occasion to celebrate the contribution of the sport and legal community who have helped develop this world-class competition; and to give an opportunity for top law students from around the globe to showcase their legal and advocacy skills in the setting of international sports arbitration.
Across the two days, 8 teams from 6 different countries will battle it out in front of 14 CAS Arbitrators for the right to be crowned SLAM 2024 Winners and receive the £1,500 prize money.
Drinks Reception at World Aquatics
To mark the Grand Finals a drinks reception is being hosted by World Aquatics on the 12 April 2024 following the quarter finals and semi-finals which take place earlier in the day.
Sports Law Seminar
The Grand Finals is preceded by a Sports Law Seminar bringing together experts to discuss and debate important topics in sports disputes and career development in sports.
There a limited spaces left to attend but you can register here if you would like to attend and support the event.
Political Neutrality & Athletes' Freedom of expression
Our expert panel will discuss athlete rights to freedom of expression and how this influences and sports regulation and commercial interest in sport. Speakers:
Assessing Damages in Sport Disputes
Our expert panel will be exploring the financial tools that can be used to assess damages in commercial arbitration and its application and future influence on awarding damages in sports disputes.
From In-House Counsel to Sports Executive - How Build a Successful Career in Sport
In a fire-side chat, Ian Smith, Managing Director at Relevent Sports Group, will share his experience and lessons learned from his successful career across some of leading sports organisations, and sports agencies and media, and moving from legal director to sports executive.
Previously, Ian has held roles including Director, Commercial & Operational Legal, FIFA, Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Catalyst Media Group Ltd & Senior Business Affairs Counsel, TEAM Marketing AG and Director, Legal Affairs, Sportfive.
Winning in Advocacy: Keynote Speech
After the SLAM Grand Finals am award ceremony will following a keynote speech by the esteemed barrister, arbitrator and judge, Michael Beloff KC, where he will share his secrets on "Winning in Advocacy".
We would like to thank the arbitrators, advocates, the LawInSport team, volunteers, sponsors and supporters for making this possible, and of course the students who have participated which is the reasons for the SLAM being established.
Agenda
FRIDAY 12 April 2024
10:00 – 11:30: Quarter Finals Round 1 and 2 (Private)
12:00 – 13:30: Quarter Finals Round 3 and 4 (Private)
16:00 – 17:30: Semi Finals 1 and 2 (Private)
19:00 – 21:00: Drinks reception at World Aquatics
Day 2: 13 April 2024 (Saturday)
10:00 – 10:30: Welcome reception
10:30 – 10:40: Welcome address by Matthieu Reeb, Director General, Court of Arbitration for Sport
10:40 – 11:30 - Political neutrality in sport and athletes' freedom of expression
Our expert panel will discuss athlete rights to freedom of expression and how this influences and sports regulation and commercial interest in sport. Speakers:
- Dr. David Stadtfeld, Senior Associate, ASD Law
- Vincent Warnecke, Associate, ASD Law
- Lea Krüger, German National Athlete (Fencing)
- Stephen Townley, JAMS Mediator & Arbitrator & CAS Arbitrator
11:35 – 12:30 - Winning damages cases in sports arbitration: Our expert panel will be exploring the financial tools that can be used to assess damages in commercial arbitration and is application and future influence on awarding damages sports disputes. Speakers:
- Shalabh Gupta, Associate Director, Secretariat Advisors
- Amran Nawaz, Manager, Secretariat Advisors
- Mark Hovell, Partner, Mills & Reeve & CAS Arbitrator
- Andre Brantjes, Founder & Managing Partner, BrantjesAdvocaten & CAS Arbitrator
12:45 – 13:45 - Lunch
13:45 - 14:30 - From Lawyer to Sports Executive
A fireside chat with Ian Smith about his career from … and reflection on transitioning to a
- Ian Smith, Managing Director, International Business DevelopmentRelevent Sports Group & Former Director, Commercial & Operational Legal, FIFA
- Sean Cottrell, CEO, LawInSport
14:45 – 16:00: Grand Finals
16:00 - 17:15 - Refreshments & networking
17:15 - 18:30 - Awards & Keynote Speech by Michael Beloff KC - Winning in advocacy
Michael Beloff KC will provide a keynote speech will provide insights and advice on how to win in advocacy, drawying on his illustratus career as an advocate, arbitrator and judge.
The confirmed judging line up for the semi-finals and finals of the competition are:
- Michael Beloff KC, Barrister, Blackstone Chambers
- Raphaëlle Favre Schnyder, Attorney at law, Partner - Barandun & Alternate Judge at Appellate Court of Valais/Wallis
- Mark Hovell, Partner, Mills & Reeve
- Martina Spreitzer-Kropiunik, Vice President, Criminal Court Vienna
- Frans de Weger, Chairman, FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber & Partner/Founder, BMDW Advocaten
- Stephen Townley, JAMS Mediator and Arbitrator
- André Brantjes, Founder & Managing Partner, BrantjesAdvocaten
- Despina Mavromati, Of Counsel, BianchiSchwald LLP
- Marianne Saroli, Senior Legal Counsel, Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)
- Prof Luigi Fumagalli, Professor, Università degli Studi
- Bernhard Welten, Founder, KanzleiWelten
- Kwadjo Adjepong, CAS Arbitrator
- Jeffrey Benz, Mediator Arbitrator Referee Special Master, JAMS & Door Tenant, 4 New Square
The teams in the finals rounds are:
- University of Ghent (Belgium)
- 2 teams from University of Chicago (USA)
- O.P Jindal Global University (India)
- UCLA School of Law (USA) & University of Essex (UK)
- University of Ljubljana (Slovenia)
- Australian National University (Australia)
- University of Law (UK)
Sponsors
We would like to thank our Sponsors for their support:
- Secretariat Advisors (Gold Sponsors)
- JAMS (Gold Sponsors)
- Arnecke Sibeth Dabelstein (ASD Law) (Silver Sponsors)
- 39 Essex Chambers (Silver Sponsors)
- BianchiSchwald (Supporting Sponsor)
- Blackstone Chambers (Supporting Sponsor)
- Brantjes Advocaten (Supporting Sponsor)
- Global Sports Advocates (Supporting Sponsor)
- The Law Offices of Howard Jacobs (Supporting Sponsor)
- Lombardi Associates (Supporting Sponsor)
- Mills & Reeve (Supporting Sponsor)
About SLAM
The international Sports Law Arbitration Moot ("SLAM") is a world class competition, with the aim to promote greater knowledge of the values and rules of international sports arbitration, the go to dispute resolution mechanism in the sector.
SLAM provides students from around the world, no matter their background, the opportunity to:
- Develop and showcase their legal and advocacy skills before the world’s leading arbitrators and practitioners virtually and in-person;
- Gain real world experience of international sports arbitration under the leading procedural rules;
- Receive training on writing submissions and advocacy from some of the world’s leading advocates and arbitrators in world sport.
Ahead of the Grand Finals, we are delighted to announce 39 Essex Chambers as a Silver Sponsor for the 5th edition of the global Sports Law Arbitration Moot (SLAM) competition. The SLAM Grand Finals of the competition will take place on 12-13 April 2024 at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (“CAS”) in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The SLAM is a student moot competition, organised to promote greater knowledge of the values and rules of international sports arbitration, the go to dispute resolution mechanism in the sector.
SLAM provides students from around the world the opportunity to:
- Develop and showcase their legal and advocacy skills before the world’s leading arbitrators and practitioners virtually and in-person;
- Gain real world experience of international sports arbitration under the leading procedural rules;
- Receive complimentary training on drafting written submissions and advocacy from some of the world’s leading advocates and arbitrators in world sport.
Students compete for the chance to win:
- £1500 for the winners of the competition
- £1000 for the runners-up of the competition
Peter Campbell, Director of Clerking, at 39 Essex Chambers said “It is always a pleasure to be part of SLAM. Not only does the event offer the opportunity for sports lawyers to meet and discuss the sector, watching the burgeoning talent on the horizon makes it all the more special.”
Sean Cottrell, CEO at LawInSport added “We are delighted to have 39 Essex Chambers on board as sponsors for SLAM. Their support allows us to remove financial barriers for deserving students, ensuring a truly diverse and talented pool of participants. By investing in this competition, we're investing in the future of sports law, and we're thrilled to have 39 Essex Chambers join us on this journey."
About SLAM
SLAM welcomes legal students from all over the world and strives to be diverse in its student and judging base. Deserving students are provided with financial assistance for both the registration fee and the costs of appearing in the in-person rounds of the competition (if they advance), where there is demonstrated financial need, to ensure that financial barriers do not prevent students from receiving the exposure to sports law through the competition.
SLAM is a non-for-profit initiative that brings together people from around the world to support and provide opportunities for students to connect, gain valuable experience that will help them in their career in law and sport. SLAM has seen:
- 120 teams from 20+ countries entering the competition
- 80+ teams have benefited from receiving written submission and oral advocacy training from leading advocates and arbitrators.
- 80+ CAS Arbitrators & 100+ advocates, from 20 countries, have volunteered their time and expertise to help judged the written submissions. 23 CAS arbitrators judged the oral rounds (which were all judged solely by CAS arbitrators
For more information on the competition, please visit here or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
For more information on sponsoring SLAM, please reach out to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
About 39 Essex Chambers
In the sports law sector members of 39 Essex Chambers offer a full service, multi-disciplinary approach, with expertise in commercial contracts, service agreements, image rights, intellectual property, competition law, state aid, insurance coverage, governance, disciplinary, licensing, gaming, tax, VAT, planning, stadium construction and safety, immigration, anti-doping, selection and eligibility, judicial review and safeguarding. When required, members are able to call on their commercial experience in dealing with fraud and corruption issues.
Members act for domestic and international sport governing bodies, clubs, owners, agents, sportspersons, employees, other participants, sponsors, corporates, commercial contracting parties, insurers, policyholders and educational institutions.
Recently members of chambers have been involved in some of the most high-profile sports arbitrations. Their recent feat of having 20 (re) appointments to the Sports Resolutions Panel demonstrates the breadth and size of our sports team.
For more information on 39 Essex Chambers, please visit here.
About LawInSport
LawInSport is the world leading sports law knowledge hub and global community that provides practically focused expert analysis and commentary on the latest legal developments in sport. LawInSport collaborates with our community of over 30,000 lawyers, sports executives, sports administrators, athletes, coaches, academics and students and their organisations helping them to “understand the rules of the game”™
We are delighted to announce Arnecke Sibeth Dabelstein (“ASD Law”) as a Silver Sponsor for the 5th edition of the global Sports Law Arbitration Moot (SLAM) competition. The SLAM Grand Finals of the competition will take place on 12-13 April 2024 at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (“CAS”) in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The SLAM is a student moot competition, organised to promote greater knowledge of the values and rules of international sports arbitration, the go to dispute resolution mechanism in the sector.
SLAM provides students from around the world the opportunity to:
- Develop and showcase their legal and advocacy skills before the world’s leading arbitrators and practitioners virtually and in-person;
- Gain real world experience of international sports arbitration under the leading procedural rules;
- Receive complimentary training on drafting written submissions and advocacy from some of the world’s leading advocates and arbitrators in world sport.
Students compete for the chance to win:
- £1500 for the winners of the competition
- £1000 for the runners-up of the competition
Alexander Engelhard, Counsel at ASD Law, said “SLAM is the leading sports arbitration moot competition in the world and we are delighted to support it once again. ASD’s sports dispute resolution practice is a main pillar of our work and we are committed to help develop tomorrow’s leaders in the sector”. Dr. David Stadtfeld, Senior Associate at ASD Law added “as a former (Vis) moot court participant, I had some great experiences around developing my advocacy skills and community building during my studies, which highly benefited my professional career. I am now beyond excited to be involved with another prestigious and truly international moot competition, and to share my knowledge and experiences with ambitious students.”
Sean Cottrell, CEO at LawInSport added "We are thrilled to welcome ASD Law as a Silver Sponsor again for the 5th Edition of SLAM. Their support will be instrumental in building upon our relationship from the last edition in providing our participants with the opportunity to hone their skills in a world-class setting. Arbitration plays a crucial role in sports law in ensuring fairness and upholding the integrity of the game. This competition fosters the next generation of legal minds who will champion these values, and ASD Law’s continued partnership underscores their commitment to the future of sports law."
About SLAM
SLAM welcomes legal students from all over the world and strives to be diverse in its student and judging base. Deserving students are provided with financial assistance for both the registration fee and the costs of appearing in the in-person rounds of the competition (if they advance), where there is demonstrated financial need, to ensure that financial barriers do not prevent students from receiving the exposure to sports law through the competition.
SLAM is a non-for-profit initiative that brings together people from around the world to support and provide opportunities for students to connect, gain valuable experience that will help them in their career in law and sport. SLAM has seen:
- 120 teams from 20+ countries entering the competition
- 80+ teams have benefited from receiving written submission and oral advocacy training from leading advocates and arbitrators.
- 80+ CAS Arbitrators & 100+ advocates, from 20 countries, have volunteered their time and expertise to help judged the written submissions. 23 CAS arbitrators judged the oral rounds (which were all judged solely by CAS arbitrators
Please note that registrations close on 1 December 2023.
To register a team, please click here.
For more information on the competition, please visit here or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
For more information on sponsoring SLAM, please reach out to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
About Arnecke SIbeth Dabelstein
Arnecke SIbeth Dabelstein is one of the leading full-service commercial law firms in Germany with five offices and more than 100 lawyers, notaries and tax consultants.
“Our sports practice group ASD Sports is one of the very few legal practices in the market that can claim to offer full-service legal advice to the entire sports industry. Due to the broad range of legal services provided by our lawyers, all of whom are leading advisors in their respective fields, we cover not only typical legal practice areas relevant to sport such as labour, IP, media, antitrust, association law and dispute resolution, but also more specialised areas such as real estate, M&A, tax and public law.”
For more information on ASD Sports, please visit here.
About LawInSport
LawInSport is the world leading sports law knowledge hub and global community that provides practically focused expert analysis and commentary on the latest legal developments in sport. LawInSport collaborates with our community of over 30,000 lawyers, sports executives, sports administrators, athletes, coaches, academics and students and their organisations helping them to “understand the rules of the game”™