Alasdair Muller

I am a Legal Director in our Sports Group in London, specialising in disputes and regulatory matters.

I have extensive experience in acting in relation to various aspects of sports rightsholders' anti-piracy programs (ranging from High Court actions against individuals to applications for dynamic blocking injunctions) and handling regulatory and compliance matters dealt with under sports governing bodies' own internal arbitration systems.

I have also previously assisted clients in relation to reviewing and updating their governance structures in order to make sure that they are aligned with current best-practice and standards.

I was previously seconded to a national sports governing body where I worked closely with the integrity, intelligence and disciplinary teams to prepare a number of anti-doping cases, ultimately presenting submissions to an independent disciplinary panel.

I am also a member of England Boxing's disciplinary panel.

• Advising sports bodies in sports regulatory investigations, including into the 'tapping up' of youth players, and breaches of COVID-19 'return to play' regulations.
• Acting for the owner of various sports data rights in High Court proceedings seeking to prevent unauthorised scouts from collecting and distributing live in-play betting data from within stadia, in breach of the terms and conditions of entry.
• Assisting a number of sports governing bodies in amending their governance structures and integrity functions to ensure adherence with current best practices and industry norms.
• Advising an international sports federation in relation to a dispute with another federation threatening to attempt a hostile take-over of the administration of the sport.
• Advising various sporting bodies and broadcasters in relation to their anti-piracy programmes, including acting in relation to successful applications for court orders requiring UK internet service providers to block customers' access to servers streaming infringing live content in real time.
• Advising a sports governing body in internal arbitration proceedings relating to a challenge to a disciplinary sanction imposed, which was alleged to be impermissible under the governing body's rules.
• Advising an international sportsperson in relation to potential causes of action in relation to an investigation launched by his governing body without proper grounds under the sport's rules.
• Advising a number of sports bodies in relation to a variety of contractual issues as a result of postponement or cancellation of events due to COVID-19.
• Advising a broadcaster in an international arbitration relating to the right to broadcast matches played as part of an African football league.
• Advising a Paralympic athlete in relation to a grievance dispute with their sports' governing body.