Chris Saad

Chris is a barrister at 2 Bedford Row.[1] He practises in criminal, regulatory and sports law. He is listed as a leading barrister in both Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500.[2] In sports law, he represents individuals and clubs across a wide variety of sports and sits as an arbitrator. He is an independent Board member of Manchester United Foundation.

1. Please can you tell us about your transition from working in private practice and in-house to working as a barrister? 

I worked at Ofcom, the communications regulator, after Bar School whilst hunting for a pupillage. I worked in the Fairness and Privacy team, adjudicating on complaints made by individuals involved in radio or television programmes who felt they had been unfairly treated or had their privacy infringed. I was lucky enough to work on some fascinating cases. Whilst I was working at Ofcom, I secured a pupillage at 2 Bedford Row (2BR). From working in the modern riverside offices at Ofcom into the Dickensian world of the Bar was a huge change, but I haven’t looked back. 

2. When did you first start working in sports law? 

I first started doing pro bono cases in Chambers from pupillage and was lucky enough to work on a few of them with Jim Sturman KC. In 2020, I was appointed to chair the Safeguarding and Protection Committee at the Lawn Tennis Association. From there, a number of appointments followed, including at the Football Association and Sport Resolutions, where I still sit as an arbitration and safeguarding member. 

3. Please can you tell us about particularly memorable sports cases that you have been involved in?  

There are a few in recent years that stand out. I defended a racing driver that had admitted to a misconduct charge. He was placed on an interim suspension, and if he missed any more races then my client’s team were in jeopardy, as sponsors were threatening to withdraw. I persuaded the panel to lift his suspension immediately, which meant he could race the following weekend and his team survived. 
 
The other is from a safeguarding case I defended in. My client, an elite level coach and former Olympian, was charged with a huge number of serious allegations. The NGB were seeking a lifetime ban and my client’s career would have been over. Through months of hard work, including pushing for disclosure and negotiation with the other side, our client was able to return to coaching within weeks of the final hearing. 
 
Finally, Fournier v KSI. I represented Fournier on his appeal of the referee’s decision to award KSI the victory. I was instructed by Angelique Richardson of Lawrence Stephens. We were successful and KSI’s victory was set aside, keeping Fournier’s unbeaten run intact – the amount of international attention on the specific point for the appeal was massive which made the case and its success memorable. 

4. What areas of sports law interest you the most? 

I specialise in disciplinary and safeguarding cases. My background in criminal and regulatory work lends itself well to those areas, as the advocacy and the subject matter can often be very similar to the cases I undertake in the criminal courts, or at disciplinary tribunals in other sectors. 

5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of working in sports law? 

The advantages are being involved in fascinating work with fascinating people. As a sports fan, I enjoy being around it and being in a position to advise and assist clubs or individuals who are invariably in the midst of a stressful and uncertain time. 
 
The disadvantages are the long and unpredictable hours. Things can happen very quickly and without notice, and so demanding deadlines and working under pressure are part and parcel of the job. 

6. What are some legal trends that you are noticing in sport at the moment?  

In the past few years, there has been a very clear increase in the number of safeguarding cases across all sports I’ve been involved with, and there has been a sharp increase in participants seeking advice on how to lift NGB suspension orders or navigate sports safeguarding proceedings.  

7. Please can you tell us more about your role at Manchester United Foundation? 

I’m an independent Trustee of the Foundation, and so I sit on the Board along with other independent and club-appointed Directors. The Foundation uses football to engage and inspire young people to build a better life for themselves and unite the communities in which they live. Last season, it had over 25,000 participants and generated over £45,000,000 in social value. It’s a remarkable charity. The Board of Trustees is the governing body of the Foundation, and has ultimate responsibility for directing the affairs of the charity, ensuring that it is solvent, well-run, and delivering on its charitable objectives. 

8. What advice would you give to aspiring sports lawyers? 

In the first instance, I’d suggest focussing on a specific area of law (e.g., IP, regulatory, corporate) and find a firm or chambers that has sports clients. Most barristers in sports law don’t do it 100% of the time, and more often than not have a core practice area that lends itself well to advising sports clients. 
 
But above all else: be nice, work hard and use your common sense - you can’t go far wrong if you do. 

9. Please can you describe a typical day in your life?  
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It’s difficult to describe a typical day as every day is different, but in general, I like working early before the emails and WhatsApps start pouring in! So, I start first thing and work on papers solidly until my hearing starts, which is usually at 09:30 or 10:00, or throughout the day if I’m not in court. I’ll spend the early evening with my family, and try to get my two young sons to bed, which is invariably the most difficult part of the day! 

[1]https://www.2bedfordrow.co.uk/barrister/christopher-saad/
[2]https://chambers.com/lawyer/christopher-saad-uk-bar-14:1423287; https://www.legal500.com/firms/9410-chambers-of-brian-altman-kc-jim-sturman-kc/9410-london-england/lawyers/482139-christopher-saad/