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29/04/2026

PG Cert at Leeds Beckett University Latest In-Person Weekend

The final modules of the PG Cert at Carnegie School Of Sport, Leeds Beckett University, with BASL got underway on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th April, with Michele Verroken delivering the first part of Option 1 of the final Module, Integrity in Sport module, whilst Richard Barnes delivered the first part of the second option, Sports Participants and the Courts module. Course leader, BASL Vice-Chair Genevieve Gordon-Thomson, was there as the Course Leader.

Integrity in International Sport Module with Michele Verroken
Day 1 - International Systems of Sports Governance covered the Olympic Movement model, autonomy of Sport, the challenges to the traditional hierarchy/pyramid model of sports organisations, European Sports System and EU law influence, the North American sports model, international sports laws, legal and regulatory aspects of governance, international governance organisations, governance codes and standards and rounded of the day with international federations integrity units.
Day 2 - Major Integrity Threats in International Sport covered doping and anti-doping, The World Anti-Doping Agency and Program, WADA Code 2021 and 2027 WADA Code Standards, key provisions of the code and code changes for 2027 and rounding off the day with the Athletes' Anti-Doping Rights Act

Sports Participant and the Courts with Richard Barnes
Day 1 - Criminal Liability in Sport covered the application of criminal law to sports, public order offences, participant violence, and, to complete the day's teaching, defences.
Day 2 - Civil Liability in Sport covered trespass to the person, negligence and duty of care to sports participants, defences, and, to round off the day, vicarious liability.

The teaching team and students had a great couple of days, and the weekend concluded with the students coming together and, in two groups, competing in a moot-style exercise. Integrity Under Pressure: Anti Doping, Criminality & the Enhanced Games, with the brief “The Enhanced Games” is announced as a commercially backed international event where performance-enhancing substances are permitted under medical supervision. The event will be hosted across multiple jurisdictions. Sponsors, broadcasters, and athletes are expressing interest. Governments and anti doping bodies are alarmed.

To find out more about the course, please visit https://www.britishsportslaw.com/pg-cert

17/04/2026

BASL Members’ Benefits for 2026 to Enhance Advocacy and Best Practices

BASL strives to advocate for and promote best practices in sports law and governance.

Membership Benefits for 2026 include the opportunity for BASL to support in locating specialist sports practitioners through other national and regional sports law associations, should you need them

To explore membership options and further benefits, visit: https://www.britishsportslaw.com/post/new-for-2026-basl-membership-benefits

BASL Members’ Benefits for 2026 to Enhance Knowledge Sharing and EducationBASL aims to promote and facilitate the exchan...
01/04/2026

BASL Members’ Benefits for 2026 to Enhance Knowledge Sharing and Education

BASL aims to promote and facilitate the exchange of knowledge and expertise among its members in the field of sports law.

Membership Benefits for 2026 include access to events hosted in collaboration with other national and regional sports law associations.

To explore membership options and further benefits, visit: https://www.britishsportslaw.com/memberships

31st Annual BASL Conference - Thank You!A memorable day with an incredible lineup of speakers, and thank you to you all ...
27/02/2026

31st Annual BASL Conference - Thank You!

A memorable day with an incredible lineup of speakers, and thank you to you all and those who attended, we hope you enjoyed the debates, conversations and networking at the 31st Annual BASL Conference yesterday at The Royal Automobile Club.

We would really appreciate your feedback so that we can make the 2027 event even better. You can do so by using the following link: https://forms.office.com/e/sN6PksD2hy or the QR code to tell about your experience.

We look forward to welcoming all of our delegates and speakers tomorrow for the 31st BASL Annual Conference. Registratio...
25/02/2026

We look forward to welcoming all of our delegates and speakers tomorrow for the 31st BASL Annual Conference.

Registration starts at 9 am with the welcome address at 9.50 am. To view the full schedule and speaker list, please visit:https://www.britishsportslaw.com/basl-annual-conference-2026

Getting to the Royal Automobile Club:

BY TRAIN
Pall Mall is within walking distance of Charing Cross, Victoria and Waterloo stations, or taxis are readily available.
Nearest stations: Charing Cross, 0.5 miles (10-minute walk), Victoria, 1.0 miles (20-minute walk), Waterloo, 1.2 miles (25-minute walk).

BY TUBE
The nearest tube stations are Green Park, Piccadilly and Charing Cross – all of which are within 10 minutes’ walk.

For further directions to the venue, visit: https://www.royalautomobileclub.co.uk/about-the-club/directions-and-contacts/

23/02/2026

We are looking forward to welcoming delegates this Thursday to the 31st BASL Annual Conference

⏱️ This Thursday, 26th of February 2026, at the Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall, London
For directions: https://www.royalautomobileclub.co.uk/about-the-club/directions-and-contacts/
⏱️ Registration starts at 9 am with the first panel starting at 10 am.

We look forward to welcoming delegates from UK Sport, Charles Russell Speechlys, Shepherd and Wedderburn, Ankura, Abel & Iray, 4 New Square Chambers, BCL Solicitors LLP, Northridge, Addleshaw Goddard, Blackstone Chambers, TWR Law, British Horseracing Authority, The FA, Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP, Kinglsey Napley, University of Law, Sporting Integrity, Wiggin, beIN, Rainmore Law, Farrar's Building, Bird & Bird, UCFB, Fieldfisher, Clarke Willmott, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, plus an Olympian!

Panel 1 – Integrity in Sport: Experts and Complications moderated by Louis Weston, Outer Temple Chambers, with Tom Chignell, Betting Integrity Expert, Aja Hall, Co-Director of Integrity, Regulation and Safeguarding, British Horseracing Authority, Julia Lowis, Senior Legal Counsel, The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) and Kendrah Potts, 4 New Square Chambers.

Panel 2 –Social Media: Protection and Potential for Athletes moderated by Kate Hamer, Kate Hamer Ltd, with Matt Himsworth, Co-founder of B5 Consultancy, Tim Edwards, Global Athlete Partnerships Lead, TikTok and Helen Ward of Women’s Football, Watford FC Women.

Keynote Speech – Stacey Copeland

Panel 3 – Sporting Investigations moderated by Dr Katie Smith Squire Patton Boggs, with Wayne Barnes, Squire Patton Boggs, Christopher Quinlan KC, Farrar's Building and Alexandra Felix KC, QEB Hollis Whiteman.

Panel 4 – General Counsel moderated by Caroline McGrory, Cadillac Formula 1® Team, with Kate Beavan, New Quebec Advisory Ltd, Louise Savage, LIV Golf, Michael Crichton, General Counsel at Formula E, Angela McCracken, Head of Legal, Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026 and Nick Anderton, General Counsel at Castore Group.

👇Click on the link below to book a ticket to join the discussions and network with peers at this event👇

BOOK HERE:https://www.britishsportslaw.com/_files/ugd/d630cb_d782cea5204747c1ab4ebb047ac6882b.pdf

For more details: https://www.britishsportslaw.com/basl-annual-conference-2026

18/02/2026

🔈SPEAKER UPDATE 💬 ⏰ LAST CHANCE TO BOOK ⏰

We are looking forward to welcoming you to the 31st BASL Annual Conference at The Royal Automobile Club next week. We have a speaker update for Panel 3.
BASL are pleased to confirm that Alexandra Felix KC, QEB Hollis Whiteman Chambers, will be joining the panel alongside Christopher Quinlan KC, Waynes Barnes and moderator Dr Katie Smith. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Anne Whyte is regrettably no longer able to attend the BASL Conference next week as part of Panel 3 Sporting Investigations.

⚖️ About Alexandra Felix KC
Alexandra Felix KC is a leading advocate whose practice spans corporate and financial crime, general crime, regulatory law and inquest, inquiry & public law.
She was lead supporting counsel to the Dutton Report, an independent investigation led by Timothy Dutton QC into Sport England’s World Class Payments Bureau, examining the handling of £19.7 million of public funding and identifying serious governance and control failings. She was a senior member of the ICCSA CTI team, a role that advanced her experience in handling complex, high-profile investigations.
In the sports arena, she has advised in relation to doping. She has specific experience in acting for a company in an inquest arising out of a white collar boxing match and equestrian sport (she is the Chair of the BEF Judicial Panel). Before being called to the Bar, Alexandra was an academic with a special interest in sports law, and she has published widely in this field.

👇For a full list of all speakers for the day, or a last-minute ticket purchase, please click here to visit the BASL website: https://www.britishsportslaw.com/basl-annual-conference-2026

⏱️This event is on the 26th of February 2026, and will be held at the Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall, London

13/02/2026

📢 31st BASL Annual Conference Lineup Confirmed 📢

Panel 1 – Integrity in Sport: Experts and Complications moderated by Louis Weston, Outer Temple Chambers, with Tom Chignell, Betting Integrity Expert, Aja Hall, Co-Director of Integrity, Regulation and Safeguarding, British Horseracing Authority, Julia Lowis, Senior Legal Counsel, International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) and Kendrah Potts, 4 New Square.

Panel 2 –Social Media: Protection and Potential for Athletes moderated by Kate Hamer, Kate Hamer Ltd, with Matt Himsworth, Co-founder of B5 Consultancy, Tim Edwards, Global Athlete Partnerships Lead, TikTok and Helen Ward, Head of Women’s Football, Watford FC Women.

Keynote Speech – Stacey Copeland

Panel 3 – Sporting Investigations moderated by Dr Katie Smith, Squire Patton Boggs, with Wayne Barnes, Squire Patton Boggs, Christopher Quinlan KC, Farrars Building Chambers and Anne Whyte KC, QEB Hollis, Whiteman Chambers.

Panel 4 – General Counsel moderated by Caroline McGrory, Cadillac Formula 1 ® Team, with Kate Beavan, New Quebec Advisory Ltd, Louise Savage, LIV Golf Ltd, Michael Crichton, General Counsel at Formula E, Angela McCracken, Head of Legal, Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026 and Nick Anderton, General Counsel at Castore Group.

We look forward to welcoming delegates from UK Sport, Charles Russell Speachley, Linklaters, Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP, Ankura, Abel & Iray, 4 New Square, BCL Solicitors LLP, Northridge, University of Westminster, Addleshaw Goddard LLP, Blackstone Chambers, TYR Law, BHA, The FA, Penningtons, Kinglsey Napley, University of Law, Sporting Integrity, Wiggin LLP, beIN, Rainmore Law, Farrar’s Building, Bird & Bird, UCFB, Fieldfisher LLP, Clarke Willmott, Morgan Lewis & Bockius, plus an Olympian!

👇Click on the link below to book a ticket to come and enjoy the day, be involved in the discussions and network with peers 👇

BOOK HERE:https://www.britishsportslaw.com/_files/ugd/d630cb_d782cea5204747c1ab4ebb047ac6882b.pdf

⏱️This event is on the 26th of February 2026, and will be held at the Royal Automobile Club
For more details: https://www.britishsportslaw.com/basl-annual-conference-2026

11/02/2026

📢 BASL Annual Conference – FINAL Speaker Announcement – General Counsel📢

We are delighted to announce that Nick Anderton, General Counsel at Castore Group is our final speaker announcement for the event. Nick will join Michael Crichton, General Counsel at Formula E and Angela McCracken, Head of Legal at Glasgow 2026, Kate Beavan, Louise Savage and panel moderator Caroline McGrory for Panel 4 - General Counsel at the 31st BASL Annual Conference, which is just a few weeks away.

Nick Anderton, General Counsel at the Castore Group and a member of the Executive/Senior Leadership Team, has built Castore’s legal function from the ground up and has been closely involved in the business’s rapid growth, international expansion and the development of significant new partnerships across the global sports industry.

Before joining Castore, Nick spent many years at adidas, gaining deep experience within one of the world’s leading sports brands. He is passionate about the sports industry and brings a partnership-led, commercially focused, practical legal perspective shaped by operating at scale in high-growth environments.

👇Click on the link below to book a ticket to come and hear what this panel has to discuss. 👇

BOOK HERE:https://www.britishsportslaw.com/_files/ugd/d630cb_d782cea5204747c1ab4ebb047ac6882b.pdf

⏱️This event is on the 26th of February 2026, and will be held at the Royal Automobile Club
Check out the lineup of speakers: https://www.britishsportslaw.com/basl-annual-conference-2026

10/02/2026

📢 BASL Annual Conference - Speaker Announcement – General Counsel📢

We are delighted to announce that Michael Crichton, General Counsel at Formula E and Angela McCracken, Head of Legal at Glasgow 2026 will be joining us as speakers for Panel 4 - General Counsel, with Kate Beavan, Louise Savage and panel moderator Caroline McGrory, at the 31st BASL Annual Conference, which is just a few weeks away. One final speaker for this panel will be announced later this week.

About Michael
Michael Crichton joined Formula E as Legal Director (Commercial) in 2020. He was promoted to General Counsel in 2025 with overall responsibility for the legal function, including legal and contractual matters around sponsorship, media, licensing, team participation, the FIA, global procurement and host cities. Prior to joining Formula E he spent several years as Legal Director of NIO UK, the UK subsidiary of the Chinese electric car manufacturer, which at the time also owned and operated a team competing in the FIA Formula E World Championship. Michael moved to London in 2007 from Melbourne, where he joined the corporate department of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. During his time at Freshfields, he was seconded to the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, where he supported the commercial team on sponsorship and licensing matters.

About Angela
Angela McCracken is Head of Legal at Glasgow 2026 (the Organising Company of the 2026 Commonwealth Games), with responsibility for setting and leading the legal strategy for the delivery of a major international sporting event. She joined Glasgow 2026 following a senior legal career in sport, having spent over nine years at Scottish Rugby, where she held senior leadership roles advising at board and executive level on sports governance, commercial delivery and brand protection. Across her career, Angela has overseen the strategic management of intellectual property, including the development, protection and commercial exploitation of sporting and event brands, sponsorship rights and content, working in close partnership with marketing and commercial teams to enable growth while managing legal and reputational risk.

👇 Click on the link below to book a ticket to come and hear Michael and Angela speak. 👇

BOOK HERE:https://www.britishsportslaw.com/_files/ugd/d630cb_d782cea5204747c1ab4ebb047ac6882b.pdf

⏱️This event is on the 26th of February 2026, and will be held at the Royal Automobile Club
Check out the lineup of speakers: https://www.britishsportslaw.com/basl-annual-conference-2026

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