Yannick Hefti

I am a counsel in our Dispute Resolution and Sports teams, and represent clients in high-value arbitration, litigation and investigations matters throughout the EMEA region, across a wide range of industries and sectors, including technology, aviation, hospitality, sports, media and entertainment.

I am an experienced advocate, and have acted as first chair in successful DIFC-LCIA claims worth $100m (relating to a local shareholder's seizure of a smart technology company), DIAC claims worth $30m+ (relating to the grounding and recovery of a leased aircraft), and various LCIA claims worth up to $15m (relating to shareholder disputes and breach of contract). My advocacy has been praised by arbitral tribunals and clients as "very impressive", "well presented during the hearing leaving no doubt to the outcome" and worthy of the "highest satisfaction rating: he was super." In addition, I have led high-stakes investigations in matters including fraud, misrepresentation, theft of confidential data, and cybercrime.

In recent years, my practice has expanded into an additional specialism in sports regulatory and contentious matters. I routinely advise leading federations, governing bodies, clubs, leagues and athletes across most major sports, including football, motorsport, cricket, rugby, horse racing and esports. Notably, I have drafted and enforced rules and regulations governing player safety, wage caps, owner & director tests, anti-doping and corruption measures, ethics violations and concussion liability, advised clients in relation to commercial arrangements with rights holders, sponsors, and event organisers, and on setting up new leagues and tournaments. I have also represented sports stakeholders in commercial disputes, challenges to rules and regulations, and claims by third parties for admission to existing championships and integrity bodies

Prior to Bird & Bird, I worked in London in US and Magic Circle firms. Whilst there, my experience included defending a major international supermarket retailer against multi-billion-pound equal pay claims in the Employment Tribunal and High Court, acting for a leading art broker in English High Court proceedings concerning the authenticity of a 16th Century painting, assisting a US-based genetic research company obtain regulatory approval for its cancer detection tests in the European Union and conducting fraud, bribery and sanctions investigations for major financial and insurance firms.

I am passionate about pro bono work and worked closely for several years with a charitable foundation to procure the release of a high-profile Briton detained abroad for six years, including in interactions with British politicians, cabinet members, civil servants, and journalists. I have also advised clients in domestic violence and housing clinics across London.

In addition to being a qualified solicitor in England and Wales, I am also admitted to practice in Dubai. I speak native French, and conversational Spanish and German.

• Working closely with major sport governing body on all of its regulatory matters, including in relation to safety, costs caps, sporting fairness, new championships and commercial contracts.
• Spearheaded detailed liability assessment of fatal and serious in-competition accidents for global sporting authority
• Prepared detailed assessment of potential liability arising from traumatic brain injury claims
• Advising on implementation of novel legislative and regulatory sports framework in the Middle East
• Advised esports team in relation to sponsor's default
• Lead advocate in DIFC-LCIA shareholder dispute, successfully obtaining damages and account of profits award of USD 100m
• Co-advocate in defence of multimillion dollar DIFC-LCIA debt claim, involving complex fraud claims
• Defended ultra-high-net-worth individual in DIFC Court fraud case, relating to alleged misappropriation of private bonds
• Steered multinational restaurant chain's commercial negotiations and defences in respect of multiple tenancy disputes before both DIFC and ADGM courts
• Acted for major supermarket chain in the UK's largest ever equal pay dispute heard by UK Supreme Court
• Defended leading property developer in GBP 10m High Court and Employment Tribunal proceedings relating to unfair and wrongful dismissal and whistleblowing
• Represented premier art broker in its defence of GBP 10m negligence claim arising out of alleged misattribution of Old Master painting
• Acted for ultra-high-net-worth individuals seeking to recover personal loans valued in excess of USD 300m in advance of debtor's high-profile insolvency
• Led several sensitive employment investigations for Fortune 500 client, including relating to bribery and corruption, workplace harassment and theft of company data
• Directed a comprehensive review of major insurance broker's global compliance framework, with a focus on sanctions and anti-bribery and corruption