“A good advocate with a particularly impressive football practice.”
Legal 500, 2019
“Extremely good on sports-related litigation matters and has a thorough knowledge of the football regulatory provisions at all levels.”
Chambers and Partners, 2019
“An outstanding practitioner and leading advocate with a widely held reputation at the Bar for being the foremost expert on football regulatory issues.”
Chambers and Partners, 2019
“literally wrote the book on football law.”
Legal 500, 2018
“He's excellent at cross-examination and he has real gravitas and presence”
Chambers UK, 2017
“He is truly exceptional all round, knows the area inside-out, is good on the law and is good in court”
Chambers UK, 2017
Nick is ranked as one of the leading barristers in Sports Law. He regularly acts for sports governing bodies, players, clubs, sponsors, broadcasters and agents. He is the ‘go to’ barrister in disputes in football in particular, whether commercial or regulatory. In addition to his busy sports practise, he is experienced in Commercial, Employment and Media law.
Nick is recognised as one of the leading sports lawyers in the UK by all of the legal directories. Ranked as one of the top 3 Most Highly Regarded Sports Law Silks in the UK by Who’s Who Legal 2019.
Nick is authorised to accept instructions directly from lay clients through the Direct Public Access scheme.
Nick is a director of the British Association for Sport and the Law (BASL).
Nick is one of only two barristers in England with a practice exclusively in sports related disputes. His practice ranges from commercial and contractual claims to regulatory and disciplinary disputes, issues relating to sponsorship, intellectual property and competition law in sport. He is active in disputes across all sports, but widely recognised for his special expertise in football where he has been involved in most of the high-profile disputes in England, as well as many internationally. Chambers and Partners (2020) described him as “An outstanding practitioner with a widely held reputation at the Bar for being the foremost expert on football regulatory matters,” adding "He just knows football inside out... he is also a superb advocate who can be equally aggressive or charming as the situation requires" and "has formed a fantastic reputation for successfully challenging governing bodies."
Ranked as one of the top 3 Most Highly Regarded Sports Law Silks in the UK by Who’s Who Legal (2019), described as “a well-prepared and very thorough advocate”, “beguilingly persuasive” and “He knows [sports law] inside out.”
Nick regularly appears in national and international courts and specialist sports tribunals, including the CAS, FIFA and all of the UK sports tribunals.
His clients include a number of sports governing bodies including FIFA, the Asian Football Confederation, the Chinese Football Association, the Scottish Football Association and the Saudi Football Federation, World Sailing, Sport England, the British Boxing Board of Control, the Rugby Football Union, the England and Wales Cricket Board, the Lawn Tennis Association and numerous football clubs including: Manchester United, Manchester City, Burnley, Leicester City, AFC Bournemouth, West Ham United, Crystal Palace, Watford, Sheffield United, Celtic, Hull City, Middlesbrough, Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Fulham, Cardiff City, Swansea City, Reading, Derby County, Queens Park Rangers, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Leeds United, Ipswich Town, Dalian Aerbin FC (China), Deportivo Maldonado (Uruguay), Global FC (Philippines), Techiman City (Ghana); and a number of Rugby clubs.
He has acted for a number of top flight professional and former professional football players including: Harry Kane, Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana, Jamie Vardy, Jake Livermore, Wilfried Zaha, Fernando Luiz Roza, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Joey Barton, Jay Rodriguez, Jonás Gutierrez, Kiko Femenía, N'Golo Kante, Aymeric Laporte, Ryan Fredericks, Jimmy Bullard, Andy Cole, Gabriel Heinze, Andre Arshavin, Adrian Mutu, John Obi Mikel, Peter Odemwingie and Peter Beardsley. Other clients include Tyson Fury and all of the major sports agencies including: Stellar, USM, WMG, BASE soccer as well as European agents such as Mino Raiola.
Nick was involved in the legal challenge to the Football League’s Financial Fair Play rules, working on the longest sports arbitration in England, as well as various other challenges to the legality of league rules and structures. He is currently leading a challenge to the validity of FIFA’s planned cap on football agents’ commission.
He acted for Italian sportswear manufacturer, Macron in its multi-million pound sponsorship dispute with Leeds United and regularly acts in sponsorship disputes across many sports. Nick has also been involved in various intellectual property disputes in sport including acting for the ECB and Sky Sport in the landmark 'Fanatix' litigation. He has acted in various disputes in motor racing including for drivers, investors and team principals and for the Lotus Renault and the Caterham Formula 1 teams.
Nick was previously a Director of Queens Park Rangers FC (2007). He has a unique insight into the football industry including issues relating to football finance, commercial rights, sponsorship, employment law issues with players and managerial staff and regulation by the football governing bodies.
Nick advises and acts for the Association of Football Agents and is an internationally acknowledged expert in the regulation of and commercial disputes involving agents and Intermediaries. In football, Nick has been involved in all of the leading football cases concerning Third Party Ownership, Financial Fair Play, betting, doping and Agents’ disputes. He also acts for a foreign buyers of English football clubs.
Nick has a wide experience of sports arbitration and is a member of the disciplinary Tribunal of the IAAF. He is Chair of the Judicial Panel of the British Wrestling Association and has been appointed as an FA Rule K sole arbitrator in various disputes. He is a member of Sports Resolutions' independent Panel of Arbitrators and Mediators and is a member of the specialist sports list of arbitrators at the Asian International Arbitration Centre.
Nick is a member of the Editorial Board of Law In Sport and writes and lectures regularly on sports law issues. He is co-Author of “Challenging Sports Governing Bodies” (Bloomsbury, 2016) and is the author and General Editor of "Football and the Law" (Bloomsbury, 2018) the first comprehensive guide to football law on the world. He helped set up and lectures on the Professional Certificate Programme for Sports Agents course at Loughborough University, and lectures on the post graduate sports courses at ISDE in Madrid and DMU in London. He founded and chairs the Law in Sport Mentoring Programme. He is also a director of the British Association for Sport and the Law (BASL).
“A good advocate with a particularly impressive football practice.”
Legal 500, 2019
“He appreciates the wider picture.”
Chambers and Partners, 2019
“Extremely good on sports-related litigation matters and has a thorough knowledge of the football regulatory provisions at all levels.”
Chambers and Partners, 2019
“An outstanding practitioner and leading advocate with a widely held reputation at the Bar for being the foremost expert on football regulatory issues.”
Chambers and Partners, 2019
“literally wrote the book on football law.”
Legal 500, 2018
“Has his hands on most of the high-profile football work”
Legal 500, 2018
“An outstanding practitioner and "first-rate advocate"”
Chambers UK, 2018
“He is truly exceptional all round, knows the area inside-out, is good on the law and is good in court”
Chambers UK, 2017
“First-rate in all aspects.”
Legal 500, 2017
Nick De Marco QC successfully acted for Stevenage FC against a charge that the club failed to act towards the EFL with the utmost good faith in requesting and obtaining the League’s permission to postpone the game against Oldham Athletic in November 2019. The reasons can be found here: https://www.efl.com/news/2020/may/efl-statement-decision-taken-by--independent-disciplinary-commission.
Nick De Marco QC represented the Assistant Manager of Huddersfield Town FC following allegations of aggravated misconduct made against him by The FA. The FA dropped all the allegations following a review of the evidence.
Nick De Marco QC is advising the National League (covering level 5 and 6 football in England) about the decision to end the 2019/20 football season resulting from the impact of Covid-19.
Nick De Marco QC is advising the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) with respect to various issues arising from the current Covid-19 health emergency, including football players’ wages and their contractual, employment and collective bargaining rights.
Nick is representing the Championship football club in disciplinary charges brought by the EFL in relation to alleged breaches of Profit and Sustainability financial fair play rules relating to the Club’s sale and leaseback of its stadium and amortisation of player transfer fees.
Nick acted for the football player in a case involving betting against FA Rules. The player placed some bets against his own team, but given the exceptional circumstances of the case he was suspended for a period of 2 months, with a 4 further month suspended. Written reasons for the decision are available here.
Nick is acting for the Championship football club in proceedings brought by its former captain for wrongful dismissal.
Successfully represented the Stevenage Assistant Manager and former England Women's manager, Mark Sampson, before an FA Regulatory Commission. The charge that Mr Sampson had made an improper and/or abusive comment that was aggravated by reference to race/colour and/or nationality was dismissed after it was found to be not proven by the Commission.
Acted for Boxing Board of Control successfully resisting application for judicial review.
Acting for Premier League club in international dispute about player transfer.
Nick is acting for all major UK football agents in a challenge to FIFA's proposed 3% cap on commission.
Advised Scotland Rugby Union in respect to whether Scotland may have been removed from the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Representing Uruguayan football club in dispute with Brazilian player and club before the Court of Arbitration for Sport concerning the breach of Article 17 of the FIFA RSTP.
Nick is representing a football club in international dispute about player transfer before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Advised FIFA in relation to ongoing litigation.
Nick is representing the former manager of Alexander Zverev (the second youngest player ranked in the top 10 by the Association of Tennis Professionals) concerning a contractual dispute before the High Court.
Acted for the former Liverpool and England international player in relation to charges brought against him by The FA who alleged he used abusive and/or insulting words against youth players. The Football Association [The FA] charged Mr Beardsley with three breaches of FA Rule E3 following the conclusion of initial disciplinary proceedings by Newcastle United FC into allegations of misconduct. Mr Beardsley is disappointed by the decision and has throughout categorically denied the allegations.
Successfully acted for Celtic captain Scott Brown in disciplinary proceedings brought against him for misconduct relating to gestures made at the end of a Celtic v Rangers match. The Charge was found not proven.
Successfully acted for Crystal Palace goalkeeper, Wayne Hennessey in charges brought against him for making an alleged Nazi salute at a dinner with other players. The charge was found not proven. The full written reasons are available here.
Acted for the Crystal Palace striker in disciplinary proceedings and then an FA Appeal hearing relating to a charge of misconduct against the Player for “sarcastic clapping”. The Appeal Board’s written reasons are available here.
Acted for West Ham United FC in regulatory proceedings brought by The FA following pitch incursions and protests at the London Stadium during the club’s Premier League fixture against Burnley in March 2018. West Ham was fined £100,000 for the breach. The FA's full written reasons are available here.
Represented the football agent David Manasseh in FA regulatory proceedings relating to a breach of FA rules about agents entering contracts with minors. Mr Manasseh was suspended from intermediary activity for three months ending on 31 December 2018 and fined £50,000.
Advising Harry Kane, Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana and a number of other England footballers over their Image Rights agreements whilst playing in the national team.
Acted for the England & Wales Cricket Board in relation to high profile disciplinary proceedings against the English cricket players following their involvement in a street fight and social media breaches.
Acted for QPR and two Premier League football clubs in arbitral challenges to Football League financial fair play rules based on proportionality and competition law.
Nick De Marco QC represented West Bromwich Albion striker, Jay Rodriguez, successfully dismissing charges of racially aggravated misconduct brought against him by The FA. The written reasons can be found here.
Represented the football club in leading case about police charges for policing football matches in the High Court and Court of Appeal. Also acted for club in ancillary proceedings establishing important principle that the club had a right to claim monies back in restitution ([2017] EWHC 375 (QB)).
Acted for Defendants in complex team move/restricve covenant case and by football agency against rival football agency and ex consultant agents. Improtant issue about effect of injunction on third parties (ie young players contracted to agents).
Acted for the Premier League Football player in the most high-profile football betting case of the year and then successfully represented the player in his appeal against sanction.
Represented the Scottish FA in an appeal against FIFA's disciplinary sanctions arising from the controversial "poppy ban" before FIFA and the CAS.
Represented the former owner and the Chairman of Leeds United FC in proceedings to overturn disciplinary sanctions imposed against him by The FA.
Represented one of the Respondents in multi-million pound arbitral dispute.
Represented Fulham player in disciplinary proceedings concerning Twitter postings
Acted for the Championship Football Club with respect to a professional negligence counterclaim against a leading solicitor's firm.
Acted for the Premier League club in a dispute with a football agent before the CAS.
Acted for Premier League Club in international dispute over player contract
Acted for the top Philippines football club in relation to player registration issues for the Asian Champions League.
Successfully acted for both the ECB and SKY TV in sports broadcast copyright infringement claim against a website and App creator.
Acted for the Premier League football club in international commercial arbitration brought by Dutch club concerning sell on fee and transfers of goalkeeper Michel Vorm, Ben Davies and Gylfi Sigurðsson.
Represented the football agent in high profile regulatory proceedings arising out of a £10 million player transfer.
Acted for player in claim for rectification of a playing contract with club.
Acted for Italian kit manufacturer in commercial/sponsorship dispute with club.
Acted for the organisers of an international golf tour in dispute with sponsors under LCIA rules.
Represented former sporting director in claim for wrongful dismissal and defending counter claim for breach of fiduciary duty.
Successfully represented football player Jake Livermore in FA Anti-Doping hearing following Mr Livermore’s positive test for cocaine.
Successfully struck out Claimant’s claim establishing that Board’s disciplinary procedures were an arbitration for the purposes of the Arbitration Act.
Acted for Chinese Football Club in CAS claim brought by player.
Successfully acted for Boxing Board resisting Arbitration Act application to have Board removed as arbitrator in dispute between boxers and promoters.
Successfully acted for football club in challenge to FA Council’s decision not to allow club to change its name to Hull Tigers. The Rule K panel set aside the FA’s decision on procedural fairness grounds.
Represented the football club in proceedings concerning breach of dual interests and financial regulations.
Acted for the UK Association of Football Agents in relation to the changes to Football Agents’ regulations and European Commisison competition law complaint against capping of Intermediary fees.
Successfully acted for the International Sailing Federation in appeal proceedings before the Court of Arbitration in Sport in Lausanne, brought by the sailor arising from a finding of cheating in the Americas’ Cup.
Successfully acted for the British Board of Boxing Control in relation to a European and competition law challenge brought by a manager of boxers and others, in proceedings before the Appeal Stewards of the Board and in the High Court.
Successfully acted for the England & Wales Cricket Board and player in disciplinary proceedings (defending the player) and appeal proceedings (prosecuting the Indian player, Jadeja) arising out of high profile allegations during a Test Match.
Represented the England & Wales Cricket Board in high profile disciplinary and appeal proceedings against Essex County Cricket players related to “spot-betting” fixing in cricket, leading to the lifetime ban of Danish Kaneria. Nick also represented the ECB in the application in the Commercial Court arising out of the same case that led to the landmark decision that a sports appeal process was an arbitration for the purposes of the Arbitration Act.
Nick has a strong commercial practice having advised on and/or appeared in a wide range of commercial disputes including commercial fraud, worldwide freezing injunctions, injunctions for breach of confidentiality, search orders, contempt of court proceedings bankruptcy proceedings, partnerships, sale of goods and claims by city bankers for commission and bonuses. He has appeared in the Court of Appeal, the High Court and the County Courts. He has particular experience in both obtaining and resisting High Court injunctions. Nick’s sports work also has a heavily commercial focus, he regularly advises and acts in a varied manner of commercial and contractual arbitration disputes as well as High Court sponsorship and copyright claims.
Acted for the Championship Football Club with respect to a professional negligence counterclaim against a leading solicitor's firm.
Successfully acted for both the ECB and SKY TV in sports broadcast copyright infringement claim against a website and App creator.
Acted for the organisers of an international golf tour in dispute with sponsors under LCIA rules.
Represented one of the Respondents in multi-million pound arbitral dispute.
Acted for Italian kit manufacturer in commercial/sponsorship dispute with club.
Acted for player in claim for rectification of a playing contract with club.
Acted for car part manufacturer in large contractual dispute with Honda (Led by Robert Anderson QC.
Represented a car dealership defendant in contempt of court proceedings (which were then dropped) brought by the billionaire heiress in relation to a Lamborghini car. He later went on to win the case for his client in a multi-party 7 day High Court trial in which his client was the only one represented solely by junior counsel.
Obtained a search order for an estate agent in a confidentiality case.
Represented the defendant in Contempt of Court proceedings brought by a Russian oligarch in relation to ownership of a Ukranian television station.
Successfully represented (along with Robert Howe QC) a number of the defendants in an important new High Court case on springboard injunctions, restrictive covenants and team moves.
Acted for the former F1 Team Principal in a substantial high court claim for commission against the F1 team.
Acted for the distributers of the DVD film, ‘American Warships’ in resisting various IP injunctions brought by the producers of the Hollywood ‘Battleship’ movie.
Represented the makers of the Oscar winning movie, Room at the Top in a copyright dispute with the BBC and others about attempts to screen a new screenplay based on the same original novel, (led by Ian Mill QC).
Involved in obtaining various ancillary orders as part of a large civil fraud claim.
Advising Harry Kane, Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana and a number of other England footballers over their Image Rights agreements whilst playing in the national team.
Acted for QPR and two Premier League football clubs in arbitral challenges to Football League financial fair play rules based on proportionality and competition law.
Nick has long been rated as a leading practitioner at the Employment Bar. He has a wide and extensive employment law practice.
He specialises in High Court work, regularly obtaining or resisting injunctions relating to confidential information and restrictive covenants.
Nick frequently appears in the Employment Appeals Tribunal and the High Court.
Nick also wrote the section on Sports Cases in Goulding on Employee Competition (Second edition) and on Contempt of Court in the Third Ed. Nick assists unrepresented appellants before the EAT.
“He is excellent at thinking on his feet and rarely seems to be thrown by anything he comes across.”
Legal 500, 2019
“He is highly impressive and responsive.”
Legal 500, 2018
“A crisp, compelling and impressive advocate.”
Chambers UK, 2018
“Excellent, clever and user-friendly.”
Chambers UK, 2018
“He's excellent at cross-examination and he has real gravitas and presence”
Chambers UK, 2017
“A very able and persuasive advocate.”
Legal 500, 2017
Represented company in injunction and claim for breach of restrictive covenants.
Represented aircraft manufacturer in injunction and claim for misuse of confidential information.
Acted for Appellant candidate for General Secretary of the GMB union, successfully appealing decision of the Certification Officer that he had not been unlawfully excluded from standing for the election.
Acted for Defendants in complex team move/restricve covenant case and by football agency against rival football agency and ex consultant agents. Improtant issue about effect of injunction on third parties (ie young players contracted to agents).
Represented former sporting director in claim for wrongful dismissal and defending counter claim for breach of fiduciary duty.
Obtained an area restraint non-compete interim injunction for estate agents.
Acted for the broker in respect to an application for an injunction and then a speedy trial in an important case about obligations during employment contracts, termination, notice periods, and the right to injunctive relief.
Represented (along with Paul Goulding QC) the retailer in case involving ‘zero hours’ contract dispute.
Obtained a search order for an estate agent in a confidentiality case.
Successfully represented (along with Robert Howe QC) a number of the defendants in an important new High Court case on springboard injunctions, restrictive covenants and team moves.
Acted for the bank in a substantial whistleblowing trial brought by the former Finance Director. He is currently acting for the bank in the EAT.
Successfully represented the Respondent in an important application before the Court of Appeal which had the effect of protecting the Respondents from costs orders in employment related appeals where there is a significant public interest. Nick previously (2012) won in the EAT below on a significant issue of trade union and human rights law, and successfully obtained substantial compensation for the Claimants later in the ET (2013).
Nick has successfully represented the Respondent in a number of long discrimination and whistle-blowing trials between the parties in the Employment Tribunal and in resisting appeals in the EAT. He has also obtained multiple costs’ orders against the Claimants including maximum costs order in one of the claims.
Nick is a leading expert in all aspects of discrimination law and has acted for and against claimants in discrimination claims arising in the employment, sporting, commercial and public law fields.
Nick is author of the Blackstone's Guide to the Employment Equality Regulations – a practical guide to the Sexual Orientation and Religion or Belief discrimination regulations (and the first book on the subjects), and co-wrote the chapter on discrimination in Lester, Pannick and Herberg on Human Rights.
Nick has successfully represented the Respondent in a number of long discrimination and whistle-blowing trials between the parties in the Employment Tribunal and in resisting appeals in the EAT. He has also obtained multiple costs’ orders against the Claimants including maximum costs order in one of the claims.
Advised and acted for the Commisison (along with Lord Pannick QC) in landmark case that led to finding that the BNP breached discrimination law by having a whites only membership policy.
Nick has advised and acted for a variety of clients including film makers, publishers and professional musicians in disputes concerning copyright claims, a radio station in a dispute with a DJ, claims for an account and contractual disputes between professional musicians over royalty payments and IP rights. He is regularly involved in disputes concerning media rights in the sports industry.
Advising Harry Kane, Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana and a number of other England footballers over their Image Rights agreements whilst playing in the national team.
Successfully acted for both the ECB and SKY TV in sports broadcast copyright infringement claim against a website and App creator.
Acted in film and television arbitral proceedings in dispute with distributors of movie film involving copyright law issues.
Advised movie director in copyright dispute with producer’s estate.
Acted for the distributers of the DVD film, ‘American Warships’ in resisting various IP injunctions brought by the producers of the Hollywood ‘Battleship’ movie.
Represented the makers of the Oscar winning movie, Room at the Top in a copyright dispute with the BBC and others about attempts to screen a new screenplay based on the same original novel, (led by Ian Mill QC).
Acts for the Publisher in a copyright dispute with the author.
Nick has extensive experience of acting in a variety of commercial, contractual and regulatory arbitrations. He also sits as an Arbitrator having being appointed as the Chair of the Judicial Panel of the British Wrestling Association and in other various football arbitrations including sitting as a FA Rule K sole arbitrator and as a member of the RFU Disciplinary Panel. He has been appointed as a Judicial Chair of the Football Association County Anti-Discrimination Disciplinary Panels, and has sat as a member of a Football Conference Disciplinary Board. Nick is a member of Sports Resolutions' independent Panel of Arbitrators and Mediators and is also a member of the specialist sports list of arbitrators at the Asian International Arbitration Centre.
He has a special interest in arbitration and was involved in the leading case that established sports disciplinary proceedings can be arbitrations for the purposes of the Arbitration Act (Kaneria v ECB). He regularly advises and acts for sports’ governing bodies and individuals with respect to the validity and scope of arbitration clauses.
Represented the football agent in high profile regulatory proceedings arising out of a £10 million player transfer.
Acted for QPR and two Premier League football clubs in arbitral challenges to Football League financial fair play rules based on proportionality and competition law.
Represented one of the Respondents in multi-million pound arbitral dispute.
Nick has a wide range of experience in regulatory work. He has been instructed by the General Medical Council in relation to the regulation of the medical professions (appearing often in the High Court and Employment Tribunals on behalf of the GMC) and has been instructed by various sporting regulatory bodies (such as the British Board of Boxing Control, the English Cricket Board, the Rugby Football Union, the Football Association and the Lawn Tennis Association) and by persons challenging the decisions of regulatory bodies. He often appears before sports’ regulatory bodies defending or prosecuting athletes. He has also appeared before the Office of Fair Trading adjudicator, and advised other clients in other OFT cases.
Acted for the former Liverpool and England international player in relation to charges brought against him by The FA who alleged he used abusive and/or insulting words against youth players. The Football Association [The FA] charged Mr Beardsley with three breaches of FA Rule E3 following the conclusion of initial disciplinary proceedings by Newcastle United FC into allegations of misconduct. Mr Beardsley is disappointed by the decision and has throughout categorically denied the allegations.
Successfully acted for Celtic captain Scott Brown in disciplinary proceedings brought against him for misconduct relating to gestures made at the end of a Celtic v Rangers match. The Charge was found not proven.
Successfully acted for Crystal Palace goalkeeper, Wayne Hennessey in charges brought against him for making an alleged Nazi salute at a dinner with other players. The charge was found not proven. The full written reasons are available here.
Acted for the Crystal Palace striker in disciplinary proceedings and then an FA Appeal hearing relating to a charge of misconduct against the Player for “sarcastic clapping”. The Appeal Board’s written reasons are available here.
Acted for West Ham United FC in regulatory proceedings brought by The FA following pitch incursions and protests at the London Stadium during the club’s Premier League fixture against Burnley in March 2018. West Ham was fined £100,000 for the breach. The FA's full written reasons are available here.
Represented the football agent David Manasseh in FA regulatory proceedings relating to a breach of FA rules about agents entering contracts with minors. Mr Manasseh was suspended from intermediary activity for three months ending on 31 December 2018 and fined £50,000.
Acted for the Premier League Football player in the most high-profile football betting case of the year and then successfully represented the player in his appeal against sanction.
Nick De Marco QC represented West Bromwich Albion striker, Jay Rodriguez, successfully dismissing charges of racially aggravated misconduct brought against him by The FA. The written reasons can be found here.
Acted for the England & Wales Cricket Board in relation to high profile disciplinary proceedings against the English cricket players following their involvement in a street fight and social media breaches.
Successfully represented football player Jake Livermore in FA Anti-Doping hearing following Mr Livermore’s positive test for cocaine.
Successfully struck out Claimant’s claim establishing that Board’s disciplinary procedures were an arbitration for the purposes of the Arbitration Act.
Successfully acted for Boxing Board resisting Arbitration Act application to have Board removed as arbitrator in dispute between boxers and promoters.
Successfully acted for football club in challenge to FA Council’s decision not to allow club to change its name to Hull Tigers. The Rule K panel set aside the FA’s decision on procedural fairness grounds.
Represented the football club in proceedings concerning breach of dual interests and financial regulations.
Represented West Ham and Sakho in case concerning player release for Africa Cup.
Acted for the UK Association of Football Agents in relation to the changes to Football Agents’ regulations and European Commisison competition law complaint against capping of Intermediary fees.
Represented football agents in appeal against ban for misconduct.
Successfully acted for the International Sailing Federation in appeal proceedings before the Court of Arbitration in Sport in Lausanne, brought by the sailor arising from a finding of cheating in the Americas’ Cup.
Successfully acted for the England & Wales Cricket Board and player in disciplinary proceedings (defending the player) and appeal proceedings (prosecuting the Indian player, Jadeja) arising out of high profile allegations during a Test Match.
Represented the football agent, Phil Smith in a successful appeal before the FA Appeal Panel against a ban on Mr Smith practising as a football agent following findings that he had breached provisions of the Agents’ Regulations regarding Third Party Ownership. The case is the first one in which an Agent in the UK has been charged with third party interest in a football player, an area in which Nick has specialist expertise.
Represented the FAW in a High Court challenge brought by the football club concerning their admission into the competition.
Represented the England & Wales Cricket Board in high profile disciplinary and appeal proceedings against Essex County Cricket players related to “spot-betting” fixing in cricket, leading to the lifetime ban of Danish Kaneria. Nick also represented the ECB in the application in the Commercial Court arising out of the same case that led to the landmark decision that a sports appeal process was an arbitration for the purposes of the Arbitration Act.
Nick acted for QPR in defence of various charges relating to Third Party Investment and Football Agents Regulations. QPR successfully resisted the most serious charges, and the threat of a points deduction was avoided, thus enabling the club to be promoted to the Premier League as winners of the Championship in the most important football legal case since the Tevez litigation.
LLB (Lond), First Class, (Scholarship: Jules Thorn Scholar, Middle Temple)
Nick has a busy international practice, acting for clients in sport from around the world. He took part in the Bar Council trade delegation to South Korea and China, and regularly lectures in sports law throughout the world.
Before going to the Bar, Nick worked as a film and video editor. He was also elected as a trade union representative and student union president.
While at university he won a number of mooting competitions including the Blackstone/Herbert Smith/GTI national mooting competition (1998-1999) and the Inner Temple mooting competition (2000).
Nick is an acclaimed photographer, often travelling the world to take photos. He has published various books including “Cubans” available on Blurb.com. The international photography magazine, Leica Fotografia International, featured a 12-page profile of his work in June 2010 and he was recently interviewed by Lomography magazine (https://www.lomography.com/magazine/318551-community-amigo-nick-de-marco). His work has been exhibited in central London.
Nick is a football fan and previous Director of QPR.
A lover of all things Italian, Nick spends much of his spare time in his house in southern Italy where he has a small vineyard and olive grove, making his own organic wine and olive oil.
VAT registration number: 796265871
Barristers regulated by the Bar Standards Board
Gary Oliver
Senior Clerk
+44 (0) 207 8227325
Derek Sutton
Deputy Senior Clerk
+44 (0) 207 8227327
Adam Sloane
Deputy Senior Clerk
+44 (0) 207 8227326
Dean Tolman
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 8227331
Lewis Walker
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 8227323
Billy Brian
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 8227339
Marc Armstrong
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 8227330
Adam Fuschillo
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 8227329
Danny Compton
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 8227338
Sophie Floydd
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 8227324
Nina Russell
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 8227322
