Tom Barnard

Q: How is your expertise recognised within the industry?

I am recognised for my legal and sports expertise in the Legal 500, where a client stated: “Tom…is excellent. He is a top litigator and the all round package in terms of technical skills and excellent strategy.” I am also recognised as a “Recommended Lawyer” in Spear’s Dispute Resolution Index .

Partner

Commercial Dispute Resolution

London & Brighton

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Tom Barnard is excellent and would not be out of place at any top sports practice. He is unflappable and provides a top service on both simple and complicated cases."

Legal 500

I act for a range of clients in high-value, complex and cross-border commercial disputes. I offer my clients a practical and strategic approach to resolving challenging issues. I qualified as a solicitor in 2012, and since then I have developed a strong track record of successfully advising clients during demanding situations.

I have particular expertise in contractual disputes, company and shareholder matters, professional negligence claims, insurance disputes, and international arbitration. I am known for my ability to analyse complicated information quickly, identify the core issues, and guide clients through disputes strategically towards a successful conclusion.

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Expertise in

Tom's accreditations & awards

Tom is based in the following location(s).

Brighton

Runway East, York & Elder Works, 50 New England St.

01273 310740(Telephone)

Opening Hours

Mon - Fri: 8:30am–5pm

Sat - Sun - Bank Holidays: Closed

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Gatwick

Second Floor, The Portland Building, 25 High Street

01293 737 984(Telephone)

Opening Hours

Mon - Fri: 8:30am–5:30pm

Sat - Sun - Bank Holidays: Closed

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London

The Northcliffe, 28 Tudor Street, Temple, London, EC4Y 0AY

0203 582 6232(Telephone)

Opening Hours

Mon - Fri: 8:00am–6:00pm

Sat - Sun - Bank Holidays: Closed

View office details

Brighton
Runway East, York & Elder Works, 50 New England St.
01273 310740(Telephone)
Opening Hours
Mon - Fri: 8:30am–5pm

Sat - Sun - Bank Holidays: Closed
View office details
Gatwick
Second Floor, The Portland Building, 25 High Street
01293 737 984(Telephone)
Opening Hours
Mon - Fri: 8:30am–5:30pm
Sat - Sun - Bank Holidays: Closed
View office details
London
The Northcliffe, 28 Tudor Street, Temple, London, EC4Y 0AY
0203 582 6232(Telephone)
Opening Hours
Mon - Fri: 8:00am–6:00pm

Sat - Sun - Bank Holidays: Closed
View office details

More about Tom

What are your core areas of expertise and which clients do you typically advise?

My core expertise lies in commercial dispute resolution and sports law, with a particular focus on:

Complex commercial contract disputes
Professional negligence and liability claims of all types
Sport disciplinary and regulatory work
Cross-border and multi-jurisdictional matters.

I typically advise:

Corporate and international businesses
Sports governing bodies, including national and international federations
Sports teams including football and rugby clubs as well as motorsport teams, for example
High-profile athletes and high-net-worth individuals
General Counsel and in-house legal teams.

What recent successes have you achieved for your clients?

Recent successful cases I have worked on include:

Advising on complex disciplinary, integrity and safeguarding investigations, including multiple athlete and coach investigations, safeguarding reviews and disciplinary proceedings of all types and at all stages of the arbitral or court process
Advising on significant commercial partnerships and sponsorship arrangements
Running complex High Court litigation and arbitral proceedings in high-value disputes of all kinds, including in relation to domestic and EU/EC law /anti-trust type claims
Providing strategic governance advice to boards, including on corporate matters, member elections, sanctioning guidelines and integrity-related issues, for example
Supporting national governing bodies with governance and policy development
Advising on sensitive selection and athlete-related disputes both at the time of the selection process, and in relation to any challenges that may follow.
Assisting on regulatory and inclusion matters, including advice relating transgender policies in sport.
Advising on contractual disputes and terminations, including matters involving commercial suppliers and service providers
Advising on major event delivery and hosting arrangements, including in relation to standalone events and international championships.

What were the most significant matters or deals you have led on?

A career highlight was representing the successful appellant in a Supreme Court case, Routier v HMRC UKSC/2017/0190, which concerned the status of Jersey in international law, and the EU restrictions on the free movement of capital between Member States.

In the sports sector, I recently represented a team in high-value arbitral proceedings before a distinguished panel of arbitrators (including a former Justice of the Supreme Court). The matter concerned domestic and international law issues, breach of contract and bias, amongst other issues.

How is your expertise recognised within the industry?

Call Tom on 0129 374 2777 Email Tom

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