News & Events
News & Events
Outer Temple Chambers was delighted to join the LawInSport Annual Conference in November 2020, where James Counsell QC, Sarah Crowther QC and Louis Weston spoke at this leading sports event. The 6th Annual LawInSport Conference, ‘Understand The Rules of The Game 2020’, included over 50 speakers from more than ten countries, discussing and debating 18 topics, over two weeks. This “must attend” sports law conference was one not to be missed. As leading experts in their field, James Counsell QC, Sarah Crowther QC and Louis Weston were invited to join the list of speakers and panelists. The Talks Sarah Crowther QC was a panelist on the in-house counsel forum for work developments and effective practices; ‘What legal and governance lessons have…
News 30 Nov, 2020
Louis Weston co-authors Chapter 13 of Lissack and Horlick on Bribery and Corruption with specialists at Charles Russell Speechlys to set out the extent and forms of corruption in sport and the relevant legislative and common law powers, and civil and regulatory powers to tackle it. Louis Weston collaborated with Charles Russell Speechlys LLP’s Danielle Sharkey and Caroline Greenwell to focus on corruption in sport in Chapter 13. The commercialisation of sport and the massive influx of income and commercial opportunity that have grown alongside that commercialisation have led to a mirrored growth in corruption in sport in all forms and at all levels. The awards of games, tournaments and competitions are beset by corrupt payments and bribes with notorious examples in FIFA…
External Publications 11 Nov, 2020
We are delighted to announce that the Third edition of Lissack and Horlick on Bribery and Corruption has been published by LexisNexis Butterworths. The practitioner’s book was edited by Fiona Horlick QC and Richard Lissack QC, and was contributed to by a number of Outer Temple members. In 2010, the UK’s law on bribery changed from a collection of ancient statutes, distorted in some cases by contradictory authority, to a single statute often regarded as one of the most rigorous, and wide-ranging in application, in the world. Since coming into force in 2011, numerous prosecutions were brought on the basis of the Bribery Act as well as five of the eight deferred prosecution agreements reached in the UK to date. It…
External Publications 30 Sep, 2020
Louis Weston writes for LawInSport on why the World Anti-Doping Code’s new ‘Substances of Abuse’ 2021 regime needs urgent clarity. In January 2021, the WADA Code changes to allow substantially reduced suspensions for athletes who test positive for ‘Substances of Abuse’. This term is yet to be defined but it is expected to include recreational drugs like cocaine and cannabis. In his article, Louis identifies the Substances of Abuse changes and considers what National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADO) and Sports Governing Bodies (SGB) that have incorporated the WADA Code now need to do to prepare considering the new regime applies retroactively. Louis also explores the reasoning behind the changes and the potential procedural problems for SGBs, athletes and participants. The Article…
External Publications 14 Aug, 2020
Louis Weston authored the Sports Integrity (Betting and Financial Corruption) section of the LawInSport Year in Review series 2019/2020. Louis’s review identifies and reviews some of the notable cases and events in 2019/2020 and discusses what trends might be drawn from them. Louis reviews key events, disciplinary decisions and the impact of coronavirus on betting and financial corruption. Louis notes that whilst crime and corruption in sport has reduced during lockdown, this does not mean that the corrupters have gone away. Louis considers the legislative action in a number of countries to bring into effect laws that criminalise corruption in sport. Louis also considers the governmental action, international policy and monitoring bodies introduced in 2019 and 2020. Louis reviews the…
External Publications 17 Jun, 2020
Louis Weston and Sarah Crowther have co authored ‘How game theory can help us design more effective whistleblowing polices for sports’ for LawInSport. This two part article considers how sports bodies can design more effective whistleblowing polices. Part 1 (available here) examined three interesting scenarios from the behavioural field of game theory to help give us a better understanding of how decisions are made in difficult circumstances, analogous to those a potential Whistleblower may face. It then identified ways in which the ‘rules of the game’ might be changed to better incentivise a certain behavioural outcome. Part 2 (available here) builds on the theory from Part 1. It first examines the current state of Whistleblowing laws in England & Wales…
News 7 Oct, 2019
Louis Weston has acted for the Rugby Football Union (RFU) in resisting an appeal by the player Bryce Heem. Louis, who recently joined Outer Temple, acted for the RFU in successfully resisting Bryce Heem’s appeal against a four-week suspension, imposed by an RFU Disciplinary Panel following his citing for a tip a tackle. Read more about the interim decision here with further press coverage available here. To instruct Louis or find out more about his practice, please contact Graham Woods, Business Development Manager.
News 25 Apr, 2019
We are delighted to announce the successful recruitment of four new barristers to our ranks. As of Monday, 8th April 2019 we extend a warm welcome to: Louis Weston Louis Weston, top-ranked sports law specialist and regulatory law barrister joins us from 3 Paper Buildings as a full Member of Chambers. Louis was the recipient of the 2017 International Advisory Experts Award: Sports Law Lawyer of the Year in England and has a thriving Sports Law practice. He prosecutes before the British Horseracing Authority, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, the Turf Club, the World Professional Snooker and Billiards Association and before other arbitral bodies. He acts before both courts and regulators in disputes arising from sports contracts and doping…
News 5 Apr, 2019
