Oliver Harland

Litigation and Arbitration, Regulation and Governance

Oliver specialises in litigation and contentious regulatory matters, in particular for sports governing bodies.  Oliver’s experience includes acting for the governing bodies of tennis (ITF, ATP, WTA and Grand Slams) in relation to an independent review of integrity in tennis and The FA in relation to an independent review of alleged non-recent child sexual abuse in football and concurrent civil claims.

Oliver also has experience of working in house, having been on secondment at the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) as a Regulatory Legal Adviser where he was responsible for preparing and presenting the BHA’s case in respect of alleged breaches of the Rules of Racing.  Oliver previously advised the BHA on a major re-write of the Rules of Racing (effective September 2019).

His recent work highlights include acting for the BHA on its most high-profile disciplinary proceedings before its independent judicial panel, Sussex County Cricket Club in successfully reducing a sanction imposed on Sussex by the disciplinary body for the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) following an allegation of ball-tampering, and an international rugby federation for various on-field disciplinary matters.

Oliver takes a particular interest in issues related to sporting integrity and has written for LawInSport on the subject of how sports governing bodies and event organisers should regulate against competition manipulation.  He also sits as an ‘arbitrator’ in the Sports Arbitration Moot, an annual sports law focussed mooting competition for law school students (organised in partnership with FIFA).

BASL/ De Montfort University, Sports Law and Practice LLM (2020)

Solicitor Advocate (Higher Courts Civil Proceedings) (2015)

BPP Law School, LPC (2010)

University of East Anglia, Law (LLB) with American Legal Studies (2009)