Charles Russell Speechlys LLP

Dispute Resolution

Benoît is a partner in the sports group of Charles Russell Speechlys in Zurich, specialising in commercial sports law (sponsorship, media rights and merchandising agreements), disciplinary & ethics proceedings, good governance and sports integrity issues (competition and match manipulation, age cheating and anti-doping). He also has experience in sports politics since he played a key role in the electoral campaign of AFC President, Shaikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, for the FIFA Presidential election in 2016.

He is also an arbitrator at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland, since 2019. His name appears on two Lists of Arbitrators (General and Football) and he is regularly appointed.

He has extensive experience in the legal environment in Europe and Asia. He regularly assists sports organisations, clubs, athletes and players, agents, investment funds, and governments among others.

Before joining Charles Russell Speechlys, Benoit founded his law firm BP Sports Law LLC in Zurich in May 2020. Prior to this, he served as general counsel and director of Legal Affairs of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for nearly seven years. During his tenure at the AFC, he provided advice to the AFC Executive Committee on high level legal and strategic matters. Before joining the AFC in 2013, Benoît worked at the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) as deputy secretary of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee and of the FIFA Ethics Committee. Having worked in many international environments across different continents such as South America (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and Asia (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) – Benoît developed a vast and extensive network and knowledge of the international sports legal and business industry worldwide. Having travelled all around the world for business purposes, Benoît gained a privileged access to sports leaders and key decision-makers. In 2017, his achievements were recognized at the Leaders Under 40 Awards in London for the category “Legal & Governance”. He is regularly invited as a keynote speaker at international sports law and sports business conferences and for many sports business and sports law university curriculums around the world.

Benoît is fluent in French, English, German and has a good understanding of Spanish and Portuguese.

Benoît is a member of the Swiss Bar Association, Rex Sport, AIJA, Swiss Sports Law Association, International Association of Young Lawyers and the Editorial Board of Football Legal.

Benoît holds a Master in International Sports Law (LL.M.).