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 arbitration and mediation.

I have particular expertise in the sports sector including: 

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

Sports Business

I am deputy co-head of Lewis Silkin’s sports group and advise clients in the sports sector on a broad range of sports issues.  

My key clients include 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 numerous clients in arbitration tribunals such as the Court of Arbitration for Sport and in FA Rule K arbitrations, often with an international element. This 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 a contractual dispute arising out of an international transfer of a player, representing a leading football agency in the Court of Arbitration for Sport in connection with a contractual dispute with an international footballer and advising a leading Premier League footballer in connection with the termination of an endorsement contract;
  
  
• Advising Premier League clubs, players and intermediaries in relation to numerous domestic and international football transfers and player contracts;
  
  
• Advising clubs, managers, players and intermediaries in relation to regulatory compliance and disciplinary investigations for alleged regulatory breaches and on-field misconduct. This includes representing various football and rugby players before FA, RFU and European disciplinary panels and advising intermediaries regarding alleged breaches of the FA’s Working with Intermediary Regulations; and
  
  
• Regularly instructed in relation to high-profile football manager and coaching staff appointments and terminations. 

I am a member of Sport Resolutions’ panel of arbitrators for the period 2021-2024 and was recently selected by FIFA to act as pro bono counsel in FIFA proceedings. 

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