6 - Formula 1 and the Law

Welcome to episode 19 of The Sports Law Podcast! In this episode, Nick De Marco KC presents highlights from the 2026 Blackstone Chambers conference titled The Price of the Game: Damages Claims in Sports Law. Chaired by James Segan KC, the panel comprised Nick, Tom Richards KC, Tom Mountford, Ravi Mehta, Luka Krsljanin, Celia Rooney and Rhys Jones. The episode covers the key elements of a damages claim by one participant in sport against another, including: Breach of rules/contract: What principles apply to damages claims by clubs, players or other participants, and what is the appropriate forum? Should claims be brought for sporting remedies or damages? Competition law: What are the available claims and relevant fora, and against whom can actions be brought? The follow-on element: To what extent are prior regulatory or disciplinary decisions admissible in subsequent proceedings, and can they effectively determine liability? Causation: Can causation of loss be established in a sporting context, and if so how? Quantification: How can losses be properly assessed and quantified?

In episode 18 of The Sports Law Podcast, Nick De Marco KC is joined by Dame Tracey Crouch DBE, managing director of sport at Hanover Communications, for a special in-depth episode. Tracey was previously Sports Minister in the UK and Chair of the Independent Fan-Led Review of Football Governance, often referred to as the Crouch Report, which led to the new Independent football Regulator, the first of its kind in the world. In this insightful episode, Tracey discusses her career and life in politics and sport, the Fan-Led Review, challenges for the new Football Regulator, women’s sport and the wider role of sport in society.

Welcome to episode 17 of the Sports Law Podcast. In this episode, Nick De Marco KC presents recorded highlights from the 2025 Blackstone Chambers seminar titled The Impact of the Football Governance Act on Dispute Resolution in Football. Recorded at the IET London, Nick chaired the session and the panel comprised Adam Lewis KC, Tom Hickman KC, James Segan KC, Tom Richards KC, Shane Sibbel, Celia Rooney and Marlena Valles. During the seminar, the panel considered recent developments within the existing dispute resolution processes in football and considered how those processes and issues may be affected by the introduction of the new regulator and review before the Competition Appeal Tribunal under the Football Governance Act. To access the PowerPoint slides used at the seminar, please head to the Sports Law Podcast landing page on the Blackstone Chambers website and navigate to episode 17.

Streaming now, episode 16 of the Blackstone Chambers Sports Law Podcast: Artificial Intelligence in Sport. Host Nick De Marco KC is joined by four leading experts to explore the fascinating area of Artificial Intelligence in sport. The panel comprises Harry Borovick, General Counsel and AI Governance Officer at Luminance; Christopher Flanagan, Head of Legal at Future plc; Christian Nourry, Chief Executive Officer of QPR FC; and Marlena Valles, barrister at Blackstone Chambers. Join the panellists as they explore how AI is being used in sport today, the legal and ethical issues it raises, and how its role is expected to evolve in the years ahead.

Streaming now, episode 15 of the Blackstone Chambers Sports Law Podcast: Life as a Sports Lawyer. Host Nick De Marco KC is joined by an expert panel: Caroline McGrory, Chief Legal Officer at Cadillac F1; Angelique Richardson, Senior Associate at Lawrence Stephens; Celia Rooney, barrister at Blackstone Chambers; and Iain Taker, Legal Director at Watford FC. In this episode, Nick and his guests discuss what life is really like as a sports lawyer. The panel explores the varied work that sports lawyers undertake, their favourite aspects of the job, and the paths each of them took to reach their current roles. They conclude by sharing their top tips for anyone aspiring to work in sports law.