Sport and Regulation
LK acts in high-stakes sporting and professional regulatory matters, spanning internal investigations, anti-doping proceedings, technical disputes, and tribunal advocacy. Our clients include community sporting organisations, elite athletes, and the professional and governing bodies that shape sport at its pinnacle. We work at the intersection of sport, governance, engineering, and public scrutiny, representing athletes, teams, governing bodies and regulated professionals. Members of our team sit on Disciplinary Tribunals and related Boards, bringing to our practice a depth of institutional knowledge that sets us apart.
Our experience includes appearances before the FIA International Court of Appeal. The FIA World Motorsport Council, the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the National Anti-Doping Panel, Sport Resolutions’ Disciplinary Tribunal, British Horseracing Authority Disciplinary Panel and the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association Disciplinary Tribunal. We are members of the Sport Resolutions Pro Bono Panel and have been appointed to its Panel of Arbitrators and Mediators.
Clients rely on LK when allegations threaten careers, championships, regulatory standing, or institutional credibility. We bring investigative depth, tribunal experience, technical regulatory understanding, and careful handling under media scrutiny.
Experience
Formula One and elite motorsport
Acted in commercial disputes with F1 suppliers including faulty team uniforms, Team trucks and a wind tunnel.
Acted in investigations and regulatory proceedings arising from major Formula One controversies and technical disputes, with appearances before the FIA International Court of Appeal. This includes advice on technical and sporting regulations, appearing before Stewards, the International Tribunal and the International Court of Appeal in Paris.
“Spygate”
Acted for Renault F1 in relation to allegations that the team had used confidential data belonging to a competitor. Following investigation and submissions before the FIA, the team received no sanction, in contrast to substantial penalties imposed against McLaren ($100m).
Greyhound Racing South Australia (GRSA)
Conducted an independent internal review of the governance and operations of GRSA having regard to rights and obligations under a complex legislative framework, internal rules, common law and equity, and ‘social license’
Equestrian SA
Advised Equestrian SA in relation to issues arising from non-compliance with member conduct policies.
“Crashgate”
Investigated allegations arising from the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, described at the time as one of the most serious scandals in sporting history. Our investigation and presentation of evidence before the FIA World Motor Sport Council resulted in the team avoiding significant sanction and being permitted to continue participation in the sport.
FIA protests and appeals
Acted in numerous FIA protests and appeals involving technical and sporting regulations. These included successful submissions before the FIA Stewarts and International Court of Appeal, including: Tuned Mass Damper appeal in 2006, Fernando Alonso’s ‘unsafe release’ disqualification in 2009, the 2009 Double Diffuser appeal, the Red Bull fuel-flow meter disqualification in 2014, Haas F1’s appeal over the interpretation of ‘corners’ on the front edge of the car’s floor (the tea-tray), protests concerning automated brake bias systems in 2019, the ‘Pink Mercedes’ protest against Racing Point in 2020.
National Sports Tribunal
Represented competition official in proceedings before the National Sports Tribunal against the sport’s peak regulatory body.
Anti-doping and integrity
Acted for athletes and governing bodies in proceedings under the World Athletics, and UK Anti-Doping frameworks. LK has represented many international national level athletes as well as athlete support personnel.
This includes acting for numerous international athletes charged with anti-doping rule violations pursuant to Articles 2.1. (presence of a prohibited substance) and 2.2 (use or attempted use by an athlete of a prohibited substance) of the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules and the UK Anti-Doping Rules. Illustrative examples:
LK acted for Carina Horn (an international level South African sprinter) in her appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport following the decision by World Athletics to implement a decision by a non-signatory to the WADA Code (the Basque authorities). LK had previously acted for Ms Horn in her successful appeal arising out of contamination of supplements.
LK represented Dr Richard Freeman (former Team Sky and British Cycling doctor) in proceedings brought by UKAD before the National Anti-Doping Panel.
LK also represented Artem Denmukhametov, successfully disputing the consequences of a charge of ‘prohibited association’ with a coach banned for life. At the time, this was believed to be the first reported ‘Prohibited Association’ decision issued by the Disciplinary Tribunal under the IAAF rules.
LK acted for a national governing body in relation to an investigation into an alleged refusal by a high profile athlete to provide a sample.
