Nick Williams

Barrister

Email
nick.williams@morgansl.com
Telephone
+44 207 061 6264
Mobile
+44 7538 973490
Location
London

Nick joined Morgan Sports Law in January 2020, prior to which he practised from a leading set of chambers in London.

Nick’s practice focuses on commercial, regulatory, disciplinary, and employment disputes that arise in the context of professional sports and esports. Many of his cases involve disputes which take place at the intersection of those practice areas – for example employment disputes that follow on from professional disciplinary proceedings.

Although, in line with MSL’s focus on protecting athlete rights, Nick predominantly acts for individuals, he has assisted a diverse array of clients with resolving their legal disputes, including sports agents, teams, and governing bodies.

Nick has appeared extensively before the courts and tribunals of England and Wales, as well as sports arbitral bodies such as the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Player contract & employment-related disputes

Nick brings his extensive experience as a claimant-focused employment lawyer to supporting athletes in their contractual disputes with their teams. Recent cases include:

  • In re a footballer (2025): Acting for a footballer in a dispute before the FIFA DRC as to whether his (Saudi Arabian) club is liable for a EUR 2.4 million tax liability due by him in the country in which he is resident for tax purposes. Ongoing.
  • Saado Abdelsalam Fouflias v Ismaily SC CAS 2024/A/10816: Acting for a football player in an employment-related dispute on appeal to the CAS from the FIFA DRC. Ongoing.
  • In re a rugby union player (2024): Advising and acting for a rugby player in internal disciplinary proceedings, and subsequent claims for wrongful and unfair dismissal. Ongoing.
  • Cleall and Others v Wasps Holdings Ltd (In administration) 2201388/2023: Acting for 3 women’s premiership rugby players for damages for wrongful dismissal and a protective award pursuant to s188 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act arising from the insolvency of Wasps RFC.
  • In re a professional cyclist (2021): Providing advice to a professional cyclist on the use of equipment during the Olympics that risked breaching her obligations to sponsors of her professional trade team under her rider contract.

General contractual disputes

Nick has considerable expertise dealing with contractual disagreements that arise within the framework of professional sports. His combination of legal acumen and commercial pragmatism helps him provide clear advice to clients on how to navigate complex commercial disputes. Recent cases include:

  • International Eventing Officials Committee v Fédération Equestre Internationale CAS 2024/A/10833: Representing a stakeholder group who represents the interests of eventing officials in a contractual dispute (alongside Swiss co-counsel) arising from alleged breaches of a memorandum of understanding between the two entities. Ongoing.
  • In re a premier league sponsorship (2024): Advising a sponsorship agent on a dispute between himself and a sponsor of a premier-league team, where the agent alleges he was 'cut out' of a lucrative deal causing him loss in excess of £1.5 million. Ongoing.
  • In re an asset purchase agreement (2024): Providing advice to a Norwegian esports team which had purchased a spot in a European regional franchise league from a British esports team. The British esports team subsequently defaulted on various payment obligations.

Discipline & professional regulation

Nick enjoys grappling with the numerous regulatory regimes that govern professional sport, and channels his penchant for black-letter law through his personal blog ‘Cycle Counsel’. Recent cases include:

  • International Table Tennis Federation v National Federation (2023): Acting a National Table Tennis Federation in relation to integrity proceedings arising out of various actions taken by that federation following the inception of World Table Tennis.
  • Ma’ama Vaipulu v European Professional Club Rugby (2022): Acting for a professional rugby player in disciplinary proceedings brought by European Professional Club Rugby relating to a dangerous tackle.
  • In re proceedings before Euroleague Finance Panel (2020): Acting for a Basketball Club in proceedings before the Euroleague Finance Panel in relation to an erroneous declaration of sound financial position, a large number of overdue payables, and alleged breaches of various settlement agreements with former players.

Selection disputes

Selections disputes are nearly always urgent and highly stressful affairs for clients affected by the decisions of selection panels ahead of major sporting events. Nick is a cool head and safe pair of hands in such situations, helping clients meet tight deadlines and secure favourable outcomes. Recent cases include:

  • In re two intervening Olympic dressage athletes (2024): Representing two intervening equestrian athletes in a selection appeal. The athletes were intervening in proceedings on the grounds that the appeal was capable of affecting the selection order for the team as a whole, and therefore potentially changed whether they would represent their country at the Olympic Games.
  • In re a rower (2022): Advising a rower who was deselected from his national squad primarily on grounds of his personal behaviour and integration with the rest of the team, rather than his performance as an athlete.
  • In re a sprinter (2021): Representing an Olympic sprinter in relation to a decision by his national Olympic federation not to select him for the Olympics notwithstanding that he had been nominated by his national sports federation.

Non-contentious work

In addition to litigation work Nick brings his experience of employment and commercial law to bear when advising clients on commercial agreements, playing contracts, and promotional contracts between professional athletes and brands.

 

PUBLICATIONS

Morgan Sports Law uses cookies to run this site and improve its usability. By using our site you agree to the use of cookies.

Accept Learn More