Morgan Sports Law stands alone as the world’s pre-eminent law firm of choice for athletes and defendants in anti-doping disputes. The firm provides advice across the whole spectrum of anti-doping issues, including:

• representing athletes and athlete support personnel in anti-doping proceedings and investigations;
• advising athletes with respect to alleged whereabouts failures (i.e. missed tests and filing failures);
• advising teams and clubs in respect of their anti-doping policies and procedures.

Anti-doping matters frequently involve complex scientific issues.  It is for that reason many of our lawyers have graduate and post-graduate qualifications in various disciplines of science (e.g. genetics, chemistry, biology, pharmaceutical chemistry). That experience, alongside our access to an extensive network of scientific experts, allows the firm to identify and advise on key scientific issues quickly and efficiently.

Clients describe this as "the best firm in the world when it comes to doping-related matters", Chambers & Partners 2021.

Morgan Sports Law has one of the pre-eminent sports arbitration practices globally. We are known internationally for our experience in representing individuals and organisations in sports-related arbitrations before bodies such as:

• the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS);
• the American Arbitration Association; 
• the dispute resolution arms of:
  • international sports federations (including the ITF Independent Tribunal, the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber, and the FEI Tribunal);
  • national anti-doping organisations (such as the UK’s National Anti-Doping Panel).

Few firms in the world have acted in as many arbitrations before the CAS as Morgan Sports Law. 

The subject matters of these arbitrations range from disciplinary disputes (such as anti-doping, corruption and eligibility disputes), to disputes relating to the payment of training compensation, to commercial contract disputes. 
 

Morgan Sports Law offers a wide range of services for its equestrian sports clients, led by Senior Associate Emma Waters.   We represent equestrian athletes, trainers, and horse owners in disputes arising under the Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication regulations from the FEI Tribunal through to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.  

“I would like to say once again, how helpful the entire team at MSL are.”
_{Equestrian stakeholder organisation who MSL is representing in an ongoing breach of contract dispute}
 

“The whole team were hugely professional and handled everything extremely sympathetically, and the fact the outcome was positive is testament to the quality of their work.” 
_{Level 3 Eventing Official who was represented by MSL in disciplinary proceedings under the FEI rules}

The firm also advises equestrian sports clients on best practices in stable management to avoid anti-doping and other potential rule violations.   Further, the firm provides guidance to equestrian events and businesses that are seeking counsel from lawyers with a deep knowledge of the industry and its related rules and regulations.

“MSL’s work was not only highly professional, but also incredibly personal. I received regular updates, and the matter was handled within the agreed timeframe, successfully achieving the desired outcome. It's no surprise to me that MSL is such a recognised and respected law firm for sports matters.”

_{FEI showjumper who MSL represented in an anti-doping atypical finding, resulting in no violation or sanction}
 

Morgan Sports Law, through its Football Disputes team, provides pre-eminent advice to clients in football, including players, agents and clubs.

Our team has substantial experience successfully resolving complex and high-value football disputes. The Football Disputes team possesses both technical expertise and unrivalled experience to successfully navigate all types of football disputes. The team includes lawyers with experience working at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and FIFA and they have combined involvement in managing and/or acting in over 1,000 football arbitrations (before the CAS, FIFA bodies and other tribunals) over the course of a decade.  

Headed by Partner, William Sternheimer, the Football Disputes team assists clients with:

• disciplinary issues (including financial fair play, match-fixing, and corruption matters);
• issues arising from the termination of employment contracts;
• breaches of contractual relationships (including transfer and loan agreements and agency contracts);
• solidarity contribution and training compensation disputes;
• issues arising from the transfer of minors, including advising parents and their children, as well as clubs, in dealing with international transfers of players younger than 18 within and outside the EU, in compliance with the FIFA regulations on the protection of minors;
• governance issues;
• regulatory updates.

The team focuses on delivering cutting-edge but practical advice and representation, in order to provide an unmatched service to clients’.

Our team of litigators specialise in resolving sports and commercial disputes. 

We advise our clients on a range of matters including: 

• contractual and commercial disputes;
• challenges against sports governing bodies;
• media and privacy disputes;
• negligence claims against anti-doping organisations;
• image rights disputes; and
• intellectual property disputes.

Our clients are sports professionals, sports executives and teams with unique commercial needs. We work closely with our clients to find the best commercial solution when a dispute arises. 

We have expertise in resolving disputes by settlement negotiations and mediation. Some disputes, however, require resolution by more formal methods – in such cases, we will bring or defend litigation proceedings as necessary, working with our clients to obtain the best possible result.

Our clients’ reputations are built on the foundations of their hard work, focus and sporting excellence.   

Our clients include players, athletes, agents and teams who – as a result of being in the public eye – may find themselves subject to unreasonable media intrusion. 

Our team has expertise in managing, protecting and restoring our clients’ reputations and protecting their privacy.

We provide discreet services to deal with reputational concerns or media attacks, allowing our clients to remain focused on their sport. 

Our experience includes preventing the publication of false news stories, obtaining take downs of defamatory and/or private information, bringing defamation actions and dealing with cyber issues including online harassment and threats.