Sam Beer

I am an associate 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 event 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 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 (UK)) 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 practice encompasses a wide range of issues such as challenges to regulatory decisions, disciplinary disputes (including anti-doping and corruption cases), drafting rules, regulatory investigations into various misconduct, and broader commercial issues.

In recent years, I have developed an expertise in financial fair regulation and have acted on several disputes in this area. I will also be a contributing author to a chapter on the subject in the upcoming fourth edition of 'Sport: Law and Practice' (Bloombsbury Professional) ('Regulating Financial Fair Play').

In 2020, I was appointed by England Boxing to the National Disciplinary Panel.

• Representing the Football League in appeal proceedings brought by Wigan Athletic FC against a points deduction imposed on the club after it entered administration.
• Representing the Football League in appeal and review applications brought against decisions to disqualify two individuals pursuant to the 'Owners' and Directors' Test'.