LawAccord at SportAccord Conference 2024

We are excited to announce our participation and support in the upcoming LawAccord Conference, taking place at SportAccord on 9 April 2024, in Birmingham, UK. This conference marks a pivotal occasion where leading legal experts and international sports federations come together for a day dedicated to invaluable insights, engaging debates, and in-depth discussions.

With representatives from 40 key international sports federations, this conference will feature prominent speakers from the sports and legal industry, ensuring a varied and comprehensive range of perspectives. Don’t miss an interview with our CEO Sean Cottrell and Matthieu Reeb, Director General, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), focusing on annual updates from CAS.

With a variety of organisations and leading legal experts set to attend, this is an ideal networking and learning opportunity. Tickets are available for purchase here.

Speakers

On the day, we'll hear from notable speakers in the sports and legal industry, ensuring a diverse mix of viewpoints, valuable insights, lively debates, and thorough discussions.

Speakers include:

Emilio Garcia, Chief Legal & Compliance Officer, FIFA
Alexandra Gómez Bruinewoud, Senior Legal Counsel, FIFPRO
Matthew Graham, Interim Executive Director, World Players Association
Áine Power, Deputy Legal Director, FEI
David Casserly SC, Barrister, Head of Sports Law, Kellerhals Carrard
Michael B. Lenard OLY, ICAS Vice President
Simon Geinoz, Case Manager, Gymnastics Ethics Foundation (GEF)
Tanja Haug, Board Member, Biathlon Integrity Unit (BIU)
Julia Lowis, Legal Counsel, International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA)
Huw Roberts, Head of Case Management, Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU)
Jean-Pierre Morand, Partner, Kellerhals Carrard
Vincent Jäggi, Partner, Kellerhals Carrard
Christophe Rapin, Partner, Kellerhals Carrard
Sean Cottrell, Founder and CEO, LawInSport
Matthieu Reeb, Director General, CAS
Dr Leanne O’Leary, CAS Arbitrator
Ross Wenzel, General Counsel, WADA
James Drake KC, 7 King’s Bench Walk
Brent Nowicki, Executive Director, World Aquatics
Dr Seema Patel, Nottingham Law School; author of Inclusion and Exclusion in Competitive Sport, Socio-Legal and Regulatory Perspectives
Prof. Yannis Pitsiladis, Professor of Sport and Exercise Science, IOC Medical and Scientific Commission Member
Jonathan Taylor KC, Partner, Bird & Bird
Andreas Zagklis, Secretary General, FIBA
Louise Reilly BL, Barrister, Kellerhals Carrard

Agenda

09:30-16:20 Opening Remarks (5 min)

David Casserly SC, Barrister, Head of Sports Law, Kellerhals Carrard

09:35-10:25 ROUNDTABLE 1: Benefits and challenges of independent integrity units in international sport (50 min)

Moderator: Michael B. Lenard OLY, ICAS Vice President

Simon Geinoz, Case Manager, Gymnastics Ethics Foundation (GEF)
Tanja Haug, Board Member, Biathlon Integrity Unit (BIU)
Julia Lowis, Legal Counsel, International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA)
Huw Roberts, Head of Case Management, Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU)

10:25-11:05 Practical consequences for international sport of the recent decisions of the European Court of Justice: legal update from Kellerhals Carrard (40 min)

Moderator: Jean-Pierre Morand, Partner, Kellerhals Carrard

Vincent Jäggi, Partner, Kellerhals Carrard
Christophe Rapin, Partner, Kellerhals Carrard

11:05-11:30 - COFFEE

11:30-12:10 - Court of Arbitration for Sport – Annual Report (40 min)

Moderator: Sean Cottrell, Founder and CEO, LawInSport

Annual presentation and Q&A with Matthieu Reeb, Director General, CAS

12:10-13:10 - LUNCH – Exhibition Hall

13:10-13:50 - World Anti-Doping Agency – Annual Report (40 min)

Moderator: Dr Leanne O’Leary, CAS Arbitrator

Annual presentation and Q&A with Ross Wenzel, General Counsel, WADA

13:50-14:50 ROUNDTABLE 2: Examining the implementation and development of rules for transgender athletes in International Federations (60 min)

Moderator: James Drake KC, 7 King’s Bench Walk

Brent Nowicki, Executive Director, World Aquatics
Dr Seema Patel, Nottingham Law School; author of Inclusion and Exclusion in Competitive Sport, Socio-Legal and Regulatory Perspectives
Prof. Yannis Pitsiladis, Professor of Sport and Exercise Science, IOC Medical and Scientific Commission Member
Jonathan Taylor KC, Partner, Bird & Bird

14:50-15:15 - COFFEE

15:15-16:15 - ROUNDTABLE 3: Integrating the athlete’s voice in sports governance exploring internal and external models of athlete representation (60 min)

Moderator: Andreas Zagklis, Secretary General, FIBA

Emilio Garcia, Chief Legal & Compliance Officer, FIFA
Alexandra Gómez Bruinewoud, Senior Legal Counsel, FIFPRO
Matthew Graham, Interim Executive Director, World Players Association
Áine Power, Deputy Legal Director, FEI

16:15-16:20 - Closing Remarks (5 min)

Louise Reilly BL, Barrister, Kellerhals Carrard

Date, Time and Location

Date: 09 April 2024

Time: 9:00-16:30

Location: SportAccord, Birmingham, UK.

Tickets

The LawAccord Conference at SportAccord is fast approaching, on 9 April 2024, in Birmingham, UK. Therefore, the registration deadline is getting closer, so don't miss your chance to join us and many others at this unique learning and networking event.

Tickets and further information on LawAccord at SportAccord is available here.