Sam Beer

I am a solicitor advocate in our Sports Group in London. I advise our sports clients — typically national and international governing bodies and federations — on a wide variety of contentious and regulatory issues.

While primarily acting for governing bodies and competition organisers, I also represent clubs and athletes and have assisted clients involved in many sports throughout the world, including rugby union, football, cricket, formula one, tennis and athletics.

I have represented clients in high stakes disputes before many of the world's leading arbitral institutions, both sporting (including the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber and Sport Resolutions) and commercial (including the LCIA, ICC, HKIAC, SCIA and JCAA), as well as before the English courts.

I have particularly extensive international experience, having previously worked in the UAE and then in the arbitration team of a leading international firm in Tokyo for four years, before returning to London in 2020.

My work encompasses a wide range of matters, such as: challenges to regulatory decisions, disciplinary disputes (including anti-doping and corruption cases), drafting/amending rules, regulatory investigations into various misconduct, and broader commercial issues.

In recent years, I have developed a particular expertise in financial regulation in sports. I have acted on several high-profile disputes in this area and co-authored the 'Regulating Financial Fair Play' chapter in the fourth edition of 'Sport: Law and Practice' (Bloomsbury Professional 2021).

I also co-authored the 'Football Arbitration' chapter in the second edition of 'Football and the Law' (Bloomsbury Professional 2022) and, since 2020, have been appointed by England Boxing to the National Disciplinary Panel.

• Acting for the Premier League in relation to various confidential arbitrations and disciplinary matters (both investigations and subsequent proceedings).
• Representing the Football League in appeal proceedings brought by Wigan Athletic FC against a points deduction imposed on the club after it entered administration.
• Advising European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) in relation to various regulatory and disciplinary proceedings.
• Acting for a Premier League footballer in a confidential FA Rule K arbitration brought by his agent.
• Representing the Football League in appeal and review applications brought against decisions to disqualify two individuals pursuant to the 'Owners' and Directors' Test'.
• Representing the EFL in an arbitration brought by the Professional Footballer's Association in relation to the introduction of salary cap measures.