John SheaManaging Associate

I am deputy co-head of Lewis Silkin’s sports group and whilst my primary focus is on sport related dispute resolution, I advise clubs, leading agencies and international athletes on a broad range of legal issues.

My recent experience includes:

• Advising Premier League football clubs, players and agents in relation to numerous domestic and international football transfers. Recent high-profile transfers include Raphael Varane’s transfer from Real Madrid to Manchester United and Richarlison’s transfer from Everton FC to Tottenham Hotspur.
• Being regularly instructed in relation to high-profile football manager and coaching staff appointments including advising Frank Lampard in connection with his appointment at Everton FC and Steve Cooper in relation to his appointment at Nottingham Forest FC.
• Acting for numerous clients in connection with disputes in the civil courts as well as sport specific arbitration tribunals such as the Court of Arbitration for Sport. This includes successfully representing Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in connection with a dispute with Malaga FC over a sell on clause and a client in a multi-million contractual dispute with an elite European football club.
• Advising clubs, players, managers and agents in relation to regulatory compliance and disciplinary investigations for alleged regulatory breaches and on-field misconduct. This includes successfully representing Middlesbrough footballer Marc Bola in relation to an FA misconduct charge for an historical social media post, two agents in disciplinary proceedings brought by the FA for alleged breaches of the FA’s Intermediary Regulations and regularly representing rugby players in disciplinary cases before RFU and European panels.

I am ranked as a star associate in Sport by Chambers and Partners and by Legal 500 as a rising star in Sport. I have been described as “the driving force of the football practice, having great knowledge of contractual and regulatory matters, remarkable business acumen about the football industry and an extensive network with clubs, agents and peer lawyers”.

I am also 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 am also a Spanish speaker.