Liz is a commercial dispute resolution lawyer who specialises in sport. She provides cross-departmental advice on issues such as football club administrations and takeovers, structuring of football transfers, complex disputes and commercial agreements.

As a result of her in-depth understanding of the sports industry, Liz finds solutions for clients, whether they involve overcoming immigration restrictions, regulatory complications or conflict between the private life and public life of an athlete.

Liz has expert knowledge of the legislation surrounding the London 2012 Olympic Games, and advises brands, athletes and businesses on working within the restrictions of the anti-ambush marketing minefield. The Sports Group has been appointed to the London 2012 Pro Bono Legal Advice and Representation Service, and Liz will be part of the team on hand to provide free legal advice to athletes, coaches and others involved in the event.
 

She is the only female lawyer in the country who is also an FA Licensed Players Agent, and advises players (often in conjunction with their agents) on all aspects of their career, including transfers, disciplinary matters, media and commercial deals. Since 2007 she has served as an Agents Representative on The FA's Agents Panel.

Liz is a member of the British Association of Sport and Law (BASL).
 

Key Experience

• Acting for Leyton Orient Football Club on claims relating to the Olympic Stadium, including judicial review and arbitration proceedings.
• Conducting due diligence for the prospective takeover of a Premier League football club.
• Advising on the complicated administration of a football club, and dealing with the subsequent litigation arising from the administration.
• Overturning disciplinary action brought by a football club against an international player.
• Negotiating an England footballer’s sponsorship deal with Nike.
• Structuring a complicated cross-border transfer deal so as to protect a foreign player's immigration status.
• Intervening on behalf of a player in criminal proceedings so as to prevent the player being maliciously defamed in open court.
• Appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, challenging a Dispute Resolution Chamber ruling which prevented a player from being registered with his new club when complications arose relating to the Arab Spring.
• Challenging a ban imposed by the European Boxing Union on a British champion boxer, leaving him free to challenge for the European title.
• Advising a global brand on ambush marketing issues and the impact of the London Olympic Games & Paralympic Games Act 2006.

Career History

Associate, Mishcon de Reya
Solicitor, Mishcon de Reya
Post Graduate Certificate in Sports Law, Kings College, University of London
Legal Practice Course, The College of Law
Law LLB, School of Oriental
African Studies, University of London

Articles and Publications

Liz provides insight on sporting issues to the media. Some of her published work is available to download from the column on the right.

In 2011, Liz was runner-up in the prestigious Coubertain Olympic Awards Essay Competition, writing about ethics, business and sport in the context of the London 2012 Olympic legacy.