Sports Law
A world-leading sports law practice
Kellerhals Carrard is one of the most specialised sports law firms in the world. Its activities cover all areas of sports law, including disputes and commercial matters. The firm and its lawyers are consistently ranked as leaders in the field of sports law in international legal directories (Chambers and Partners, Legal 500, Leaders League, Lexology Index).
Disputes
The firm has unrivalled experience in resolving sports disputes, and is widely regarded as the preeminent and most active firm before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), particularly in football, regulatory and anti-doping matters.
The firm is uniquely qualified to act before the CAS, as it combines expertise in the procedural law applicable to the CAS (Swiss law) with experienced lawyers whose mother tongue is one of the CAS official languages (English, French, Spanish).
Commercial & Regulatory
Kellerhals Carrard has truly unique expertise in the field of sports administration, with decades of experience advising some of the world’s leading sports organisations and teams, as well as individuals, on their commercial programs (host city agreements, sponsorship, media, promotion and marketing, licensing, broadcasting, investment, image rights, etc.) and on their regulatory and governance issues.
Market Recognition
- ‘Kellerhals Carrard has superior analytical skills and efficiency. The lawyers are available, responsive, intelligent and friendly.’ Chambers Europe 2025
- ‘Kellerhals Carrard has a world-leading sports regulatory team. It has deep knowledge of the CAS and jurisprudence combined with tactical acumen and an outstanding work ethic across the team.’ Chambers Europe 2025
- ‘David Casserly's level of detail and ability to perform under pressure are outstanding. He is one of the best professionals I have met in any industry.’ Chambers Europe 2025
- ‘David Casserly is one of the world's leading lawyers in his field and a valued confidant for our organisation on strategic matters.’ Chambers Europe 2025
- ‘Jean-Pierre Morand is a pleasure to work with.’ Chambers Europe 2025
- ‘Nicolas Zbinden has a very cool head, and his judgement is excellent. He is also diligent and responsive.’ Chambers Europe 2025
- ‘Nicolas Zbinden is a reliable and highly skilled lawyer.’ Chambers Europe 2025
- ‘The Kellerhals Carrard sports law team has unmatched experience of representing institutional clients before CAS. They also have the rare combination of Swiss lawyers specialised in sports law together with multiple native English-speaking sports law advocates. Their anti-doping practice is led by Nicolas Zbinden who is a world class practitioner in this area.’ Legal500 2025
- ‘Nicolas Zbinden is our main external counsel for all anti-doping arbitration. In addition to all the things one takes for granted at this level (diligence, responsiveness etc.), he has unwavering judgement and integrity as well as unparalleled experience of the latest issues and case law in anti-doping.’ Legal500 2025
- ‘All lawyers have a deep knowledge. They have a proven track record in every issue related to sports, particularly football. They communicate clearly and succinctly, and their internal processes ensure the greatest efficiency and effectiveness for their clients.’ Legal500 2025
- ‘David Casserly's knowledge in football is outstanding. His strategic way of thinking makes him an extremely effective lawyer who, in addition, has a great power of persuasion.’ Legal500 2025
- ‘KC have some of the world's best anti-doping lawyers in particular. David Casserly, Nicolas Zbinden and Louise Reilly especially are leaders in the field and the go-to for top sports bodies in major cases.’ Legal500 2025
- ‘David is extremely intelligent and smart. The way he approaches complex legal matters is quite unique, and that makes him exceptional. In litigation and particularly in cross-examination he is feared.’ Chambers Europe 2024
- ‘David is a world-leading sports disputes lawyer with outstanding technical and strategic skills and attention to detail, and is a supreme orator and communicator.’ Chambers Europe 2024
- ‘Nicolas Zbinden has an outstanding ability to see the bigger picture and repeatedly delivers high-quality work.’ Chambers Europe 2024
- ‘A leading firm in sports law matters with a wide range of knowledge in sports regulations, in particular with regard to football matters. Always up to date and with a very important network in sports related entities.’ Legal500 2024
- ‘Strongly professional, always available, and able to address all types of problems irrespective of its dimension/complexity. Client driven and with a well-prepared team with deep knowledge in different fields of specialization. A firm that you can trust and rely on, and which delivers honest results.’ Legal500 2024
- ‘Their sports law team had worked together for many years which makes them a value to any club especially because they can address side issues in other fields of law with their colleagues within the firm. The client can be assured that its matters will be taken care in the same place and by and by professionals of similar quality.’ Legal500 2024
- ‘Mr. David Casserly SC is without a doubt one of the best, if not the best, lawyer in sports law. His career speaks for itself, representing the biggest clubs and federations in the world. His unique ability to organize and his systematically thinking means that clients can entrust him with the most diverse and complex cases. For some years now Mr. Casserly has been assisted by a younger but no less competent lawyer, Mr. Anton Sotir and nowadays he is also the one who deals with various club matters.’ Legal500 2024
- ‘A highly efficient team led by David Casserly SC. A thorough understanding of the workings of the sport courts. Advanced legal skills. Lethal accuracy. Great ability to call on the best professionals in other fields and abroad.’ Legal500 2024
- ‘David Casserly SC is a great professional. Sharp, competent, tenacious. Excellent intuitive skills. Outstanding litigator. A master. Adam Taylor and Anton Sotir, who work alongside David, are invaluable helpers, contributing to the team's great efficiency. Competent and responsive.’ Legal500 2024
- ‘Edgard Philippin is a tremendous expert in Swiss law.’ Legal500 2024
- ‘I worked primarily with Nicolas Zbinden and the team of lawyers working for him in the anti-doping space. Nicolas is one of the most experienced anti-doping lawyers in the world having acted, for many years, for WADA, World Athletics, IWF and many other international federations. His technical expertise in anti-doping matters is truly first class. I also trust his strategic judgement implicitly.’ Legal500 2024
- ‘What separates Kellerhals Carrard from other sports law practices is the industry experience of the various members of the team. Their lawyers have held and continue to hold senior positions within international sports bodies. In addition, the fact that Kellerhals Carrard, as a Swiss law firm, has various English-speaking barristers is a significant asset.’ Legal500 2024
- ‘Jean-Pierre Morand is noted as a "standout advocate" whose expertise in anti-doping matters is particularly highlighted.’ Lexology Index 2024
- ‘Nicolas Zbinden is variously highlighted as "patient, creative, professional and reliable" by impressed sources, who comment that he "represents his clients with full dedication".’ Lexology Index 2024
- ‘Top-tier sports practitioner David Casserly is widely known in the sports industry, especially for his football expertise, with sources nothing that "he's frequently seen in many sports proceedings" and is invariably "brilliant".’ Lexology Index 2024
- ‘Philippe Fresard is a well-established name in Swiss sports law thanks to his expertise across the spectrum of football-related matters.’ Lexology Index 2024
- ‘Nicolas is a very strong and experienced arbitrator.’ Chambers Europe 2023
- ‘David Casserly's technical expertise is only matched by his strategic insight.’ Chambers Europe 2023
- ‘Jean-Pierre Morand is a very strong and leading lawyer.’ Chambers Europe 2023
- ‘David Casserly maintains a highly eminent practice, with particular expertise acting for prominent football clubs before the CAS. A pleased source mentions that he has "knowledge and expertise in the subject matter," further praising "his profound understanding of the CAS system".’ Chambers Europe 2022
- ‘The sports law team at Kellerhals Carrard is very versatile and resourceful and that is what make them unique. Adding it to their availability for the client along with their capability of making up different strategies, this firm is a true problem solver. The level of their knowledge in sports law related matters is high and their experience in litigation is superior.’ Legal500 2022
- ‘The Kellerhals Carrard sports team is unique in terms of its expertise acting on behalf of international sports organisations. It has depth and extensive experience in sports law.’ Legal500 2022
- ‘David Casserly is by far the best lawyer I have worked with. He is very well organised, thinks quickly and is very thoughtful and balanced. Further, when it comes to arbitration, he is a true counsel that you can always count on.’ Legal500 2022
- ‘As strong on strategy as he is on the law, David Casserly is our go-to for disputes in particular.’ Legal500 2022
- ‘Nicolas Zbinden is an emerging star in regulatory disputes, in particular anti-doping.’ Legal500 2022
- ‘David Casserly represents football clubs and players in contentious and non-contentious sports mandates, including player transfers and disciplinary proceedings. Sources applaud his expertise in this field, with one client remarking: "He is the lawyer to hire if you want to give yourself the best possible chance to win a case."’ Chambers Europe 2021
- ‘Sources are full of praise for Jean-Pierre Morand , with one interviewee referring to him as "one of the top lawyers" in Switzerland. He is best recognised for his expertise in anti-doping cases, most notably acting for governing bodies and federations.’ Chambers Europe 2021
Experience
The firm's Sports Law Group comprises several partners and lawyers whose activities focus exclusively or mainly on sports law. Much of its expertise and experience has been gained through the various positions its members have held, including:
- General Secretary of the CAS
- Five CAS arbitrators
- Two CAS mediators
- Legal counsel to the CAS
- Advisor in charge of mediation at the CAS
- Chairman of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Disciplinary Commission
- UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector
- Legal advisor to a national football association,
- Two legal advisors to the FIFA Players' Status Department
- Disciplinary Judge at the Swiss Football League
- Vice-Chairman of the Swiss Olympic Association's Disciplinary Commission for doping cases
- Vice-Chairman of the Irish Anti-Doping Disciplinary Committee
- Legal Officer and Assistant Director at a sports marketing agency involved in skiing, tennis, golf, and cycling
- General Secretary of an association of sports equipment manufacturers
- Vice-Chairman of the Swiss Ski Federation
- Legal advisor for a luxury brand that sponsors events and athletes involved in golf, tennis, and horse riding
- General Counsel and member of the Executive Board of Ferrari SpA
- Legal advisor to the Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 team
- Chairman of the America's Cup Arbitration Panel
- Member of the Euroleague Basketball Appeal Panel
- Member of the Ethics Committee of the International Automobile Federation (FIA)
- Head of Legal Affairs for a major international sports marketing agency
- Chairman of a professional ice hockey club
The firm has a wide range of clients, including multi-sport institutions (such as the International Olympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency), international federations, national anti-doping organizations, national olympic committees, racing teams, and drivers, as well as a large number of clients in football, including federations, clubs, players, agents, and investment funds.
Contacts
Lausanne
Adam TaylorAdrian VeserCharles MicheliChristopher NsekaDavid BakerDavid Casserly SCDavid GinolinDr. Vincent JäggiFrançois KaiserJean-Philippe RochatJean-Pierre MorandLoïc TheilkaesLouise Reilly SCMario Flores ChemorNicolas ZbindenRiccardo CoppaRobert Kerslake
Lugano
Alberto GalliAndrea FioravantiEmanuela MediciFranco GaglianoGiulio SannitzLorenza FerroMassimiliano MaestrettiPriscilla ZanettiProf. Dr. Henry PeterRomolo PawlowskiStefano Perucchi
Zurich
Gstaad
Further publications
News
Scientific publications
2022
"Arbitration in the 36th America's Cup", Wolters Kluwer Law, 2022, 820 pages
Prof. Dr. Henry Peter2019
"Le TF redéfinit les limites de l'autonomie des règles de jeu, Examen critique de l'ATF 145 IV 154" Commentaire de l'arrêt du Tribunal fédéral du 5 mars 2019 rendu dans la cause 6B_52/2019, septembre 2019. Co-Author: Vincent Jäggi
Prof. Dr. Henry Peter2017
"Gouvernance sportive: le système du fair-play financier de l'UEFA est-il correctement conceptualisé", in Mélanges en l'honneur de la Professeure Margareta Baddeley, (éds. Audrey Leuba, Marie-Laure Papaux von Delden, Bénédict Foëx), Schulthess 2017, pp. 429 à 457. Co-Author: Jeanne Arn
Prof. Dr. Henry Peter2015
"Dispute Resolution in the 34th America’s Cup", The Hague/London/New York (Wolters Kluwer Law & Business), 2015, 833 pages
Prof. Dr. Henry Peter2015
"Dispute Resolution in the 34th America’s Cup", The Hague/London/New York (Wolters Kluwer Law & Business), 2015, 833 pages. PETER Henry (éd). Co-Authors: David Tillett, John Doer, Josje Hofland, Graham McKenzie, Hamish Ross, Bryan Willis
Prof. Dr. Henry PeterRankings & Awards
Conferences
2018
« International Investment Treaty and Sports Arbitration » (panel)
Prof. Dr. Edgar Philippin2002