Schellenberg Wittmer

Practice Group

Schellenberg Wittmer's Sports Law Group is a leader in the sports law market and has been involved in some of the highest profile sports matters in recent years. We advise and represent international and national sports federations, sports officials, leading sports clubs, top athletes and other global players involved in sport-related matters.

Expertise

Experience

Our experts have extensive experience in advice and representation of clients involved in sport for all their non-contentious and contentious matters. We have acted as lead counsel in hundreds of proceedings before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), state courts and/or the bodies of sports federations, including the IOC, FIFA, FIS, FIL, IAAF, IBSF, IBU, ISU and IIHF.

We have experience in doping matters, unfair competition and dismissal claims, violation of the WADA code, transfer rights, media rights, sponsorship agreements, corruption, employment, bans and suspensions, breaches of contract, and other commercial matters. We also advise clients on the planning and hosting of major sporting events.

We also assist clients regularly in obtaining urgent interim relief. Our team further advises sports federations, sports officials, athletes and states on non-contentious sports matters, including sponsorship and marketing agreements, broadcasting rights, major events and infrastructure.

Successful representation of a state-owned entity in a very high stake commercial dispute governed by Swiss law over the hosting of one of the largest sports events in the world
Successful representation before CAS of multiple Russian athletes who were investigated amidst allegations of a systematic doping scheme around the Sochi Winter Olympic Games. This was the most high-profile sports case in recent history, in which 28 of the 39 athletes we represented were cleared of any wrongdoing; we also successfully obtained the annulment of lifelong bans for the other 11 athletes

Successful representation of sports officials before the FIFA Ethics Committee in several high-profile disputes
Successful representation of an Asian athlete in a dispute with a sports federation over an imminent ban leading up to the Rio Olympic Games 2016. The athlete was ultimately permitted to participate in the Games and went on to become an Olympic champion

Representation of dozens of athletes before CAS’ ad hoc panel in PyeongChang during the Winter Olympics 2018
Successful representation of a world-class Paralympic athlete concerning her admission to the Winter Olympics 2018

Highlights

Handelsblatt Recognizes Schellenberg Wittmer as a Leading Swiss Firm 2019

10.07.2019

With over 70 recognitions in the "Best Lawyers in Switzerland" and "Recommended in Switzerland" list, Schellenberg Wittmer has been recognized by leading German-language business newspaper "Handelsblatt" in their ...