Giles acts in sports disciplinary and regulatory proceedings and in the employment and contractual disputes that arise in professional sport. He sits on the Welsh Rugby Union's disciplinary panel and has advised in matters concerning the disciplinary proceedings of the RFU, the LTA, the Jockey Club and the ECB. His sports work draws on the same expertise as the rest of his practice: the conduct of disciplinary hearings, the fairness of regulatory procedures, the employment rights of players, coaches and officials, and the public law principles that govern governing bodies' decisions.
Typical instructions
- disciplinary proceedings before the judicial and disciplinary panels of the RFU, the LTA, the Jockey Club and the ECB, and appeals from them
- misconduct, safeguarding and integrity allegations against players, coaches, officials and administrators
- employment and contractual disputes for players, coaches and executives of clubs and governing bodies, including termination, restrictive covenants and discrimination
- selection, eligibility and registration disputes
- challenges to the decisions of governing bodies on public law and natural justice grounds
- advice to clubs and governing bodies on their regulations, disciplinary procedures and investigations
- independent investigations and reviews for sports organisations
Experience
- Member of the Welsh Rugby Union disciplinary panel.
- Disciplinary proceedings of the RFU, the LTA, the Jockey Club and the ECB. Acting for participants and for governing bodies.
- Employment and discrimination claims by sportspeople and by employees of clubs and governing bodies.
Sports disciplinary proceedings often run alongside employment consequences and, for some participants, professional regulation; Giles's practice across all three means a single adviser can see the whole picture.
