Here we recognise 28 silks and seven juniors for their outstanding work representing sporting individuals, teams, clubs, and domestic and international sporting associations, as well as regulatory bodies.
Most highly regarded
Silks
• Nick De Marco QC - Blackstone Chambers, London
• Kate Gallafent QC - Blackstone Chambers, London
• Adam Lewis QC - Blackstone Chambers, London
• Ian Mill QC - Blackstone Chambers, London
Juniors
• Fiona Banks - Monckton Chambers, London
• Louis Weston - Outer Temple Chambers, London
Silks
Blackstone Chambers is a pre-eminent set for sports law, and sees 12 silks recognised this year for their leading advocacy.
Adam Lewis QC is “at the top of his game” say peers who commend his excellent track record in high-profile cases.
Ian Mill QC is an “exceptional advocate”, highly recommended for his deep expertise in sports arbitration.
Nick De Marco QC is an “excellent silk” with impressive understanding and experience of football disputes.
Kate Gallafent QC is a go-to advocate for sports disputes who stands out for her profound expertise in safeguarding issues.
Jane Mulcahy QC ranks highly among peers and is hailed as “very strong at the sport and employment overlap”.
Andrew Hunter QC impresses market sources with his first-class advocacy in sports-related disciplinary proceedings and commercial disputes.
2 Bedford Row’s Jim Sturman QC is highly distinguished for his top-tier handling of football and horse racing disputes.
Mark Milliken-Smith QC stands out for his “impressive advocacy skills” and first-rate “attention to detail and client care”.
David Phillips QC at Wilberforce Chambers is an “erudite and charming practitioner” who “always stays calm and sensible, no matter how high tensions get”.
Paul Harris QC at Monckton Chambers excels in a variety of sports matters, most notably high-value arbitration proceedings.
John Kelsey-Fry QC at Cloth Fair Chambers has “a great manner and a true passion for sport”, say sources who add: “You can tell in the way he conducts his trials.”
At Matrix Chambers, Nicholas Randall QC wins high praise for being “very knowledgeable about the football industry”.
Juniors
4 New Square Chambers
Jeffrey Benz is highly distinguished for his expertise in sports arbitrations, with an excellent track record in anti-doping cases.
Kendrah Potts impresses peers with an “unparalleled” knowledge of the sports sector.
Louis Weston at Outer Temple Chambers is an “excellent advocate” and “a real expert in horse and greyhound racing”.
Fiona Banks with Monckton Chambers “commands respect” as a top name for sports litigation with “ a lovely manner in hearings”.
Tom Richards at Blackstone Chambers is singled out for his invaluable experience in sports arbitrations.
Jonathan Crystal at Goldsmith Chambers comes highly recommended as a “down-to-earth practitioner who gets results”.
Martin Budworth at Kings Chambers is a “very strong advocate” who “plays the litigation game very well”, according to impressed sources.