Sam Shurey is a sports law barrister, specialising in disciplinary, safeguarding, and regulatory issues across all sports. He is the Deputy Head of 3PB’s Sports Law Group.
Sam has broad experience in sports law having chaired sports hearings and appeared for both the governing body and sporting participants in contested proceedings. Since joining 3PB in January 2023, Sam has been involved in cases concerning football, rugby, tennis, and basketball.
Sam has been instructed by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to provide legal support on regulatory, disciplinary, and safeguarding issues.
Sam was formerly a Regulatory Advocate at The Football Association (The FA) where he worked in the Regulatory Legal Team. Sam represented The FA before Regulatory Commissions, Safeguarding Review Panels, and Appeal Boards. He also advised on investigations and the preparation of charges.
With over three years of experience at The FA, Sam developed 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 Silks, both as The FA’s sole counsel and as part of a team. His cases were often serious, complex, and high profile. He is experienced at dealing with prominent sporting participants and the associated intense media coverage of sports proceedings.
Formerly a barrister with a top-tier criminal chambers in London, 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 Silk) and POCA. For instance, he was instructed by the Financial Conduct Authority for a number of months to assist with a large investigatory document review. 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 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 experience please see the expertise tabs below.
Sam Shurey is a specialist sports law barrister and is Deputy Head of 3PB’s Sports Law Group. 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.
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 grassroots participants through to those of the very highest profile.
Sam is happy to work collaboratively with leading counsel, in-house counsel, and instructing solicitors. He is well placed to represent athletes/players, clubs/teams, and governing bodies/regulators/leagues, whether that be in writing or at an oral hearing (virtually or in person).
Sam is available to advise on investigations and review disciplinary cases before charges are issued. 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.
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).
The FA:
Sam was an in-house Regulatory Advocate in 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 appeared for The FA against Silks, both as sole advocate and as part of a team.
Sam gained experience of an extensive range of regulatory issues, including:
Whilst some of Sam’s work remains private and confidential pursuant to the relevant regulations, published examples of his work at The FA 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 International Tennis Federation:
Sam was 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.
Representation of sports participants:
Sam has recently represented individual players in proceedings before disciplinary panels:
A County FA v A Player – 2024: Proceedings concerning a charge pursuant to FA Rule E3.2.
The RFU v A Player – 2024: Proceedings concerning a charge pursuant to RFU Rule 5.12.
Sam is developing particular experience in representing young participants (including those with prospects of progressing to the elite/professional level of their game/sport). Sam prioritises the welfare of those he represents and ensures that the complex processes of sports disciplinary proceedings are explained clearly to all involved.
Sitting on sports panels:
Since joining 3PB, Sam has gained experience sitting on sports panels. Sam has chaired panels determining technical sports regulatory disputes.
In addition to his sports disciplinary, regulatory, and safeguarding work, Sam also has significant experience in professional disciplinary matters.
Sam is highly proficient at mastering the technical facts necessary for the effective conduct of cases before professional tribunals.
Examples of his experience include:
Sam Shurey reviews the Continuous Professional Development requirements prescribed by the General Dental Council for Dentists and Dental Professionals.
Sam examines the procedure adopted by the GDC in the event of non-compliance, and provides pointers for Practitioners seeking to avoid erasure from the register.
Sam Shurey analyses the case of The FA v Imran Louza and examines how to apply the "balance of probabilities" in sports disciplinary cases.
Welcome to 3PB's Professional Discipline and Regulatory newsletter celebrating new rankings for our barristers in the latest Legal 500 publication. Edited by Daniel Brown, our newsletter has analysis from Sam Shurey on how to avoid erasure from the GDC register for non-compliance. Sunyana Sharma brings you news of the HCPC's updated standards of conduct, performance and ethics. Sunyana also considers the High Court's decision in Sudheer Shabir v. General Medical Council [2023] EWNH 1772 (Admin). Daniel Brown analyses Dr Sun v General Medical Council [2023] EWHC 1515 (Admin) concerned with mental health considerations in the context of findings of dishonesty.
Continue readingIn this edition, David Swinstead, Peter Jennings, Timothy Bradbury, Nicholas Leviseur, Lachlan Wilson, and Mark Sullivan - all part of 3PB's team of legal assessors - issue part 2 of their top hints and tips for successful advocacy on the importance of language. Susan Jones provides a review of the Powers, Purposes and Patterns of Coroners Prevention of Future Death Reports. We also have cases analyses from Daniel Brown, Susan Jones and Sam Shurey.
Continue readingSports and regulatory barrister Sam Shurey (2015 call), pictured here, has joined 3PB (3 Paper Buildings). Sam was formerly an in-house barrister at The Football Association (The FA), where he enjoyed a busy caseload including a wide range of disciplinary and safeguarding issues arising from youth, grassroots, non-league, Football League and Premier League football. Sam's work at The FA involved advising on, and appearing in, cases concerning on-field misconduct , betting related misconduct, discrimination, social...
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