Thought Leaders

Nilo specilises in international sports disputes and contractual matters. With more than 15 years of experience in this field, Nilo has advised clubs, athletes, agents, intermediaries and international sports federations and has successfully represented his clients in disciplinary, regulatory, contractual and doping disputes in proceedings mainly before the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Nilo is also an arbitrator at the International Panel of Sports Resolutions UK.

What do you enjoy most about practising sports law?

It is the fact that it is still a new area, with many opportunities still to explore. Decisions change all the time as new interpretations and ideas arise. It is just a very interesting area.

What has been the most interesting case you have worked on?

A doping case involving a horse, his owner/rider. That one was very different from the daily football cases. 

What has been the most significant development in sports law you have noticed since you started practising?

Particularly in football, probably the biggest sport where disputes take place, its rules and regulations have been updated recently to make sure debtors comply with financial decisions of the sports tribunal or sports arbitration tribunal. In the past, even with a final decision, it was a long route until a party recovered the money either from clubs or players. Now, the consequences of failing to respect a decision of the tribunal are harsher and also applied faster.

What are the significant challenges that covid-19 has brought to your practice and how have you faced them?

Uncertainty regarding the respect of contracts definitely was the most challenging situation. Imagine contracts being terminated and when you try to recover via a tribunal, the decision also reflects the fragile covid-19 situation. One international sports federation discretionary decided not to enforce a final decision until the period normalised. But when would that be? 

How do you see your practice developing over the next five years?

We still need some improvements and certainty over disputes. We need the inter­national sports federations to hire more people so they can deliver a fast outcome, and the rights of the parties are protected. 

What advice would you give to someone looking to start their own firm?

Be prepared to work 24/7, including holidays. But it is not the amount you work, but how you work effectively.

You have enjoyed a distinguished career so far. What more would you still like to achieve?

I want to collaborate for a better world in sport. I have suggestions to help the international sports federations to improve their practices. More importantly, I would like to address the need to protect the athletes and clubs that do not have the same resources as the big ones, but still suffer from the lack of information in their area.

Nilo is the founding partner of Effori Sports Law a boutique firm based in London specialising entirely in all manner of international sports disputes and contractual matters.  
With more than 15 years of experience in this field, Nilo has advised Clubs, athletes, agents, intermediaries and international sports federations and has successfully represented his clients in disciplinary, regulatory, contractual and doping disputes in mainly proceedings before the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Basketball Arbitral Tribunal, FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber, FIFA Players' Status Committee, FEI Tribunal,  and other International Sports Federations decision-making bodies. 

Nilo has also advised on international transfers of athletes as well as handling contractual matters for clubs and athletes, including formula one drivers and UEFA Champions and Europa League football clubs.

He has been advising clients particularly in Qatar, assisting the Qatar Sports for all Federation to improve the legal structure for the country’s Clubs and Federations.