3PB

Sports law; Public and regulatory law

Year of call:  2015

Overview

Sam Shurey is a specialist regulatory barrister practising in sports law and professional discipline who joined 3PB in January 2023. Sam was formerly a Regulatory Advocate at The Football Association (The FA), where he worked within the Regulatory Legal Team.

Sam represented The FA before Regulatory Commissions, Safeguarding Review Panels, and Appeal Boards. Sam also advised on investigations and the preparation of charges. Sam’s time at The FA (over three years) provided him with extensive sports law experience well beyond his call.

His busy caseload at The FA included a wide range of disciplinary and safeguarding issues arising from youth, grassroots, non-league, Football League, and Premier League football. He appeared for The FA against KC opposition, both as sole counsel and as part of a team. His cases were often serious, complex and high profile and as such, he is experienced at dealing with prominent sporting participants and the associated intense media coverage.

He is now taking instructions across all sports, acting for the regulator/governing body/league as well as defending sporting participants. For instance, Sam is currently instructed by the International Tennis Federation (the ITF) to provide legal support on regulatory, disciplinary and safeguarding issues.

His other specialist area of expertise is professional discipline. Formerly a barrister with a top-tier criminal set in London, Sam regularly appeared in professional disciplinary proceedings before the Nursing and Midwifery Council, including lengthy and complex substantive hearings. Sam co-authored LexisNexis guidance on NMC procedure. He is now building a practice across a broad range of professional disciplinary work in areas including, but not limited to, healthcare, education, policing and the regulation of legal professionals.

A former criminal barrister, Sam amassed significant advocacy experience from appearing nationally at numerous Magistrates’ and Crown Courts including the Central Criminal Court (‘the Old Bailey’). In addition to serious general crime, Sam’s instructions included cases of financial wrongdoing, fraud, money laundering (as led junior to King’s Counsel) and POCA. For instance, he was instructed by the Financial Conduct Authority for a number of months to assist with an investigatory document review in a large regulatory case.

Many of Sam’s instructions at the criminal bar were privately funded and he often appeared on behalf of professionals or high-profile individuals. Sam dealt with expert evidence on issues such as mental health and he is particularly experienced at pursuing technical defences or legal arguments based on disclosure failings and procedural issues. Sam continues to accept private instructions in quasi-criminal matters ranging from contested cash forfeiture to shotgun licencing.

Sam Shurey is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. Please contact Sam for a copy of his privacy policy which sets out the basis upon which any personal data he may collect about you, or that is provided to him, will be processed by him. He will provide a copy of this policy to you within 5 working days of its request.

For further information on Sam’s specialist areas of work please see the expertise tabs below.

Sports

Sam Shurey is a specialist sports law barrister who has experience well beyond his call. Sam combines advocacy skills from the criminal courts with an in-depth understanding of the sports industry gleaned from his time working with both national and international sports governing bodies.

The FA

Sam was an in-house Regulatory Advocate within The FA’s Regulatory Legal Team for over three years. During this time Sam represented The FA before Regulatory Commissions, Safeguarding Review Panels, and Appeal Boards. Sam regularly provided investigative and pre-charge advice. Sam’s caseload covered an extensive range of regulatory issues, including:

On-field misconduct (such as violent conduct or “mass confrontations”) Discrimination (pursuant to FA Rule E3.2) Betting related misconduct Social media related misconduct Comments to the media amounting to a breach of FA Rules Misconduct of intermediaries and clubs relating to the representation and transfers of players Anti-doping matters (including The FA’s Social Drugs Regulations) Safeguarding investigations and proceedings (including interim orders, final orders, and appeals)

Sam’s experience in the criminal courts means that he is particularly well placed to assist with sports disciplinary or safeguarding matters linked to, or arising from, criminal investigations (regardless of whether the investigation resulted in a criminal charge, prosecution, and conviction).

Due to the nature of his work, Sam is experienced at dealing with cases of the highest profile, including those attracting intense media and social media coverage. Sam also appeared for The FA against King’s Counsel opposition, both as sole advocate and as part of a team.

Whilst some of Sam’s work remains private and confidential pursuant to the relevant regulations, published examples include:

The FA v Lee Johnson (at the time of charge, Manager of Sunderland AFC) - 2022

Sam appeared as sole advocate for The FA at a contested hearing relating to alleged violent and improper conduct contrary to FA Rule E3.

Written Reasons available here.

The FA v Ralph Hasenhüttl (at the time of charge, Manager for Southampton FC) - 2021

Sam appeared as sole advocate for The FA at a hearing to determine sanction for a breach of FA Rule E3 arising from an interview given to the media.

Written Reasons available here:

The FA v Jefferson Lerma (at the time of charge, Player for AFC Bournemouth) - 2021

Sam appeared as sole advocate for The FA at a contested hearing to determine a charge pursuant to FA Rule E3, alleging improper language and/or behaviour.

Written Reasons available here.

The FA v Kiko Casilla (at the time of charge, Player for Leeds United FC) - 2020

Sam assisted the Acting Head of Regulatory Legal at the contested Personal Hearing to determine a charge pursuant to FA Rule E3.2.

Written Reasons available here.

The FA v Tom Pope (at the time of charge, Player for Port Vale FC) - 2020

Sam appeared as sole advocate for The FA at contested hearings at first instance, and on appeal. The case related to FA Rule E3.2 and a Tweet posted by the Player. Expert evidence was called on the topic of antisemitism.

Written Reasons available here. Appeal Written Reasons available here.

The ITF

Sam is currently instructed to provide legal support to the ITF on regulatory, disciplinary, and safeguarding matters. Sam’s work at the ITF concerns cases arising from tennis played globally.

Sam has experience in a variety of cases before the ITF’s Internal Adjudication Panel.

Other sports

In light of his sports law and advocacy experience, Sam accepts instructions in relation to disciplinary, regulatory, and safeguarding matters across all sports. Sam’s experience equips him to deal with cases involving grass-roots participants through to those of the very highest profile. Sam is happy to work collaboratively with leading Counsel, in-house Counsel, and instructing solicitors.

Sam is available to advise on investigations and review disciplinary cases pre-charge. Sam is well placed to represent athletes/players, clubs/teams, and governing bodies/regulators, whether that be in writing or at an oral hearing (virtually or in person). Where necessary, Sam can provide urgent initial advice on serious safeguarding matters (including in relation to any interim safeguard) or disciplinary matters that require swift resolution for sporting or regulatory reasons.

Professional Discipline and Regulatory Law

In addition to his sports disciplinary, regulatory, and safeguarding work, Sam also accepts instructions in professional disciplinary matters across a range of sectors, including but not limited to:

Medical and healthcare practitioners Teachers Police Officers Legal professionals

Sam has appeared in a number of cases before the NMC including substantive and non-substantive hearings. Sam is experienced at mastering the technical facts necessary for the effective conduct of cases before professional tribunals.

Sam co-authored LexisNexis guidance on NMC procedure.

Middle Temple

BPTC, University of Law LLB, King's College London