David Casserly SC
Kellerhals CarrardKellerhals Carrard is a ‘leading firm in sports law’ with ’deep knowledge’ of doping-related and football disputes before CAS, regulatory and governance matters, as well as non-contentious work around event hosting, sponsorship, media, merchandising, and licensing. The team is headed by David Casserly SC, who is qualified as an Irish barrister and was appointed as a silk there in 2023, whose practice covers advising on significant commercial sports deals such as player transfers and club investments and representing international clients before CAS, and Jean-Pierre Morand, who is an anti-doping dispute specialist and has extensive expertise in the field of sports marketing and hosting contracts. Sports commercial contracts and sports arbitration are also the expertise of Luc Argand, Andrea Fioravanti , Massimiliano Maestretti, Stefano Perucchi , Henry Peter, and Jean-Philippe Rochat .
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘A leading firm in sports law matters with a wide range of knowledge in sports regulations, in particular with regard to football matters. Always up to date and with a very important network in sports related entities.'
- 'Strongly professional, always available, and able to address all types of problems irrespective of its dimension/complexity. Client driven and with a well-prepared team with deep knowledge in different fields of specialization. A firm that you can trust and rely on, and which delivers honest results.'
- 'Their sports law team had worked together for many years which makes them a value to any club especially because they can address side issues in other fields of law with their colleagues within the firm. The client can be assured that its matters will be taken care in the same place and by and by professionals of similar quality.’
‘Mr. David Casserly SC is without a doubt one of the best, if not the best, lawyer in sports law. His career speaks for itself, representing the biggest clubs and federations in the world. His unique ability to organize and his systematically thinking means that clients can entrust him with the most diverse and complex cases. For some years now Mr. Casserly has been assisted by a younger but no less competent lawyer, Mr. Anton Sotir and nowadays he is also the one who deals with various club matters.'
‘A highly efficient team led by David Casserly SC. A thorough understanding of the workings of the sport courts. Advanced legal skills. Lethal accuracy. Great ability to call on the best professionals in other fields and abroad.’
‘David Casserly SC is a great professional. Sharp, competent, tenacious. Excellent intuitive skills. Outstanding litigator. A master. Adam Taylor and Anton Sotir, who work alongside David, are invaluable helpers, contributing to the team's great efficiency. Competent and responsive. Edgard Philippin is a tremendous expert in Swiss law.’
‘What separates Kellerhals Carrard from other sports law practices is the industry experience of the various members of the team. Their lawyers have held and continue to hold senior positions within international sports bodies. In addition, the fact that Kellerhals Carrard, as a Swiss law firm, has various English-speaking barristers is a significant asset.’
‘I worked primarily with Nicolas Zbinden and the team of lawyers working for him in the anti-doping space. Nicolas is one of the most experienced anti-doping lawyers in the world having acted, for many years, for WADA, World Athletics, IWF and many other international federations. His technical expertise in anti-doping matters is truly first class. I also trust his strategic judgement implicitly.’
Key clients
- Comtoyou Team Audi Sport
- Ducati Motor Holding SpA
- Euroleague Basketball
- European Bridge League
- European Club Association (ECA)
- FC Dallas
- FC Nantes
- FC Porto
- FIBA / Basketball Champions League SA
- Football Association of Ireland (FAI)
- Global Association of International Sports Federations
- Grasshopper Football Club
- International Biathlon Union (IBU)
- International Cheer Union
- International Olympic Committee (IOC)
- International Powerlifting Federation (IPF)
- International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA)
- International Volleyball Federation (FIVB)
- International Weightlifting Federation (IWF)
- Leopard Racing Team Audi
- Manchester City Football Club
- Paris Saint-Germain
- Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF)
- World Air Sports Federation (FAI)
- World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)
- World Athletics (WA)
- World Bridge Federation
- World Dance Sport Federation
- World Games
- World Rugby
Work highlights
- Advised the European Club Association (ECA) on the creation of a new joint venture with UEFA for the exploitation of all commercial rights relating to European club football competitions (UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Conference etc.) from 2024 onwards.
- Represented World Anti-Doping Agency WADA at the ad hoc division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to challenge the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) Disciplinary Anti-Doping Committee's decision to lift the suspension of figure skater Kamila Valieva.
- Acting for Paris Saint-Germain before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in a dispute with Spanish club Real Betis regarding the transfer of Tottenham Hotspur and Argentina footballer Giovani Lo Celso.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Jean-Pierre Morand
Kellerhals CarrardNext Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Nicolas Zbinden
Kellerhals CarrardPractice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
David Casserly SC, Jean-Pierre Morand