John SheaSenior Associate

I joined Lewis Silkin in 2018 as a Senior Associate from Shoosmiths LLP where I specialised in commercial litigation and sports law.

I was awarded a Bachelor of Laws degree from Oxford Brookes University in 2007 and I qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales in 2011 after completing the Legal Practice Course at the Oxford Institute of Legal Practice. 

Dispute Resolution

As a dispute resolution lawyer, I have considerable experience of dealing with high value and complex commercial litigation in court proceedings as well as all forms of alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration.

I have particular expertise in breach of contract claims, shareholder disputes, insolvency issues and negligence claims.

Sports Business

I am a member of Lewis Silkin’s core sports group and work exclusively in the sports sector advising clients on a broad range of sports matters which includes:

• Disputes in the civil courts as well as sport specific arbitration tribunals such as the Court of Arbitration for Sport and FIFA’s Player’s Status Committee and Dispute Resolution Chamber;
• Regulatory compliance at both a national and international level; and
• Disciplinary proceedings for sanctions such as regulation breaches and misconduct.

My key clients include Premier League football clubs, leading agencies and international athletes. The matters which I work on are often with an international element and being a Spanish speaker is particularly valuable to many clients.

My recent experience includes:

• Acting for a client in a multi-million pound contractual dispute with a top flight European football club;

• Advising a Premier League football club in connection with an international transfer of a player and subsequent dispute;

• Representing a leading football agency in the Court of Arbitration for Sport in connection with a contractual dispute with an international footballer;

• Acting for an international footballer in relation to a contractual claim in the Court of Arbitration for Sport;

• Advising a leading Premier League footballer in connection with the termination of an endorsement contract;

• Advising a high profile football manager and six members of coaching staff on their appointments at a top flight European football club;

• Acting for a client in the motorsport sector in relation to injunction and damages proceedings in the High Court worth in excess £20 million; and

• Advising a renowned sports club in relation to a high profile dispute against the sport’s governing body;

I was recently selected by FIFA to act as pro bono counsel in FIFA proceedings and also sit on the appeals committee for the International Powerlifting Federation and Sport Resolutions’ Pro Bono Legal Panel.

I write regular articles on sports law and provide updates on Twitter (@fc_legal).