It is surprisingly often that high profile professional athletes from various sporting backgrounds find themselves before Tribunals (with their career and reputation in the balance) represented and advised by only a team manager, colleague or friend. These sports professionals are often before an experienced Judicial panel consisting of experts and lawyers. That imbalance, in Daniel’s opinion, rarely ensures that every point which could be made in the athlete’s favour, is. That imbalance makes it less likely that a successful outcome will be achieved.

Whilst many legal professionals assert that they practise in this discreet and growing area of law, few regularly do. As someone who has spent the past nine years involved in advising, representing and deciding Sports Law cases, Daniel White is best placed to represent, advise and give an indication on potential outcomes, consequences and costs.

Each of the main sports in the United Kingdom, and abroad, have their own National Disciplinary Panels and International Regulatory Bodies. Those panels are composed of at least one legally qualified Chairperson and often two further individuals with relevant expertise in that sport. The panels are assigned to adjudicate upon breaches of their Regulations and thereafter to sanction those found to have committed breaches.

On occasion a Disciplinary Department will deal with a case “on the papers” meaning that the person accused never actually appears before a panel or Judicial Officer; instead their representations are made in writing and they are informed of the outcome of their case in the same way. This may be a positive way of resolving a case which could otherwise cause particular embarrassment or public attention.