Leveling the Playing Field: The Future of Sports Arbitration in India
Virtual Event
1:30-2:30 pm IST / 9:00-10:00 am CET
Registrar: +1.972.244.3403
ITA: +1.972.244.3414
E-Mail: ita@cailaw.org
Overview
Presented by Young ITA
Join us for an engaging and forward-looking webinar on “Leveling the Playing Field: The Future of Sports Arbitration in India”, hosted in collaboration with Young ITA. As India’s sports ecosystem continues to expand—ranging from grassroots development to international leagues—there is a growing demand for robust and specialized dispute resolution mechanisms.
This virtual event will explore the evolving landscape of sports arbitration in India, assess the current framework, and highlight opportunities for reform. This one-hour webinar will provide practical insights into how India can enhance the credibility, transparency, and efficiency of sports dispute resolution. It aims to promote dialogue between stakeholders in sports, law, and policy, and to foster collaboration with international experts.
1:30-2:30 pm IST / 9:00-10:00 am CET
#YoungITATalks is a series of local and virtual events presented around the world, featuring talks, workshops or interviews that cover a wide range of subjects relating to arbitration. The #YoungITATalks series is designed to provide young practitioners with opportunities to learn, share ideas, and connect.
Thanks to the generosity of our sponsor, this event is tuition-free.
Schedule and Speakers
3:30-4:30 pm: Panel Discussion – Leveling the Playing Field: The Future of Sports Arbitration in India
- The Evolution of Global Sports Arbitration: Comparing institutional models and exploring innovations in procedure and governance.
- Harmonizing Standards and Ensuring Access: Challenges in balancing athlete rights, due process, and efficiency across jurisdictions.
- India in Context: Opportunities and challenges in emerging sports markets, and how national frameworks can integrate with global dispute resolution systems.
- The Future of Sports Dispute Resolution: What next for international sports arbitration? The role of technology, ethics, and new institutions.
- Q&A
Speakers
Vidushpat Singhania
Managing Partner
Krida Legal
Vidushpat is amongst one of the most well-known and leading Sports & Gaming lawyers in India. Amongst many, his accolades include being ranked as ‘Forbes Top 100 lawyer’ and ‘Business World 40 under 40’. He has been acknowledged worldwide for his advisory and consulting expertise on sport governance, betting and gambling laws, league formation and rights structuring, FEMA, and Foreign Direct Investment, related commercial transactions as well as anti-doping disputes. He has been instrumental in drafting laws and policies pertaining to the niche of sports and gaming across various jurisdictions such as the ‘National Sports Development Bill,’ ‘National Sports Fraud Bill,’ ‘The National Anti-Doping Act 2022’ amongst others.
Vidushpat has authored several publications, including the title on “Law & Sports in India,” with Hon’ble Mr. Justice (Retired) Mukul Mudgal, which is a leading reference work for sports in India. Vidushpat has represented and continues to represent leading organizations and sportspersons before courts, Court of Arbitration for Sports, Arbitral Tribunals and Anti-Doping Authorities.
Dr Anna Kozmenko
Partner
Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle Ltd.
Dr. Anna Kozmenko is a highly experienced disputes lawyer recognized by leading directories as one of the top international lawyers of her generation.
Having practiced in Russia, France, the US, and Switzerland, Dr. Kozmenko has extensive experience in both civil and common law jurisdictions. She represents sovereigns, state and private entities in high profile international disputes, including complex litigations, commercial, investment and sports arbitrations.
Dr. Kozmenko has acted as counsel and arbitrator in over 100 arbitrations under a wide range of arbitration rules including the ICC, LCIA, SCC, VIAC, DIS, ICAC, AAA/ICDR, UNCITRAL, CAS/TAS, ICSID, ICSID Additional Facility and Swiss rules, as well as ad hoc arbitrations under the UNCITRAL Rules. She has particular expertise in natural resources, energy, telecommunications, construction, engineering, and sports sectors.
In addition to appearing before arbitral tribunals and acting as arbitrator, Dr. Kozmenko advises clients on all arbitration-related matters, including strategic and pre-arbitration risk assessments, investment treaty planning, enforcement and set-aside proceedings before the Swiss Supreme Court. Prior to rejoining Curtis in 2024, Dr. Kozmenko was a partner and led the investment arbitration practice at a major Swiss law firm.
Dr Annabelle Bennett AC SC
Retired Judge
Federal Court of Australia
The Honourable Dr Annabelle Bennett AC SC is a retired Judge of the Federal Court of Australia and was an additional judge of the Supreme Court of the ACT and a Deputy President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, having previously practised as a Senior Counsel specialising in intellectual property. She is currently an Arbitrator of the Court of Arbitration for Sport; Member of the Board of Directors of the Garvan Institute; Chair of Gardior Pty Limited (Trustee of the Infrastructure Fund); Member and past President of Chief Executive Women; Member of the Board of Directors of the Community Migrant Resource Centre; and Member of the Advisory Board of the Faculty of Law at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Until early 2024 Dr Bennett was Chancellor of Bond University and Chair of the ANSTO Board. She has also served as a Commissioner with the NSW Law Reform Commission and as a Royal Commissioner into National Natural Disaster Arrangements. Dr Bennett is a Fellow of both the Australian Academy of Science and Australian Academy of Law.
Dr Bennett is a Member of the WIPO Mediation and Arbitration List of Neutrals and a Member of the indicative List of Government and Non-Governmental Panellists for the WTO Disputes Settlement Process. She also practises as a Barrister, in an advisory role, and as a mediator and arbitrator.
Jeffrey G. Benz
Jeffrey Benz, Esq., FCIArb, FCollArb, CEDS, is a dual-qualified US attorney (California, Colorado, Hawaii, New York) and barrister (England & Wales) and sought-after ADR practitioner based in London and Los Angeles. Following a career as a private practice litigator with a large international law firm, Mr. Benz worked in-house at global sports and entertainment and technology organizations, including in executive leadership positions. He brings this well-rounded perspective to his ADR practice.
Mr. Benz has mediated and arbitrated several hundred complex domestic and cross-border disputes under the rules of many major institutions. He has been recognized repeatedly as "Lawyer of the Year" for arbitration in Los Angeles and was recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in America (Best Lawyers, 2021-23).
Mr Benz has also developed a sports-focused specialty. According to Who's Who Legal 2018-22 UK Bar, he is "'widely recognised for his first-rate arbitration practice' and clients note he is 'in a class of his own' when it comes to complex sports disciplinary disputes." In 2016, the BBC noted Mr. Benz is "widely regarded as amongst the most experienced judges" in world sport.
Namrata Chatterjee
League Secretary
Indian Super League
Namrata is s a sports lawyer and currently serves as the League Secretary of the Indian Super League. She is also the Regional Coordinator for India at Women in Sports Law (WISLaw).
Previously, she worked as Legal Counsel in the Sports Legal Services, Disciplinary and Governance unit of the Asian Football Confederation. She is a graduate of the 16th edition of the FIFA Master Program in Management, Law, and Humanities of Sport, where she graduated with merit.
Before pursuing her master’s degree, Namrata practiced at India’s leading law firm, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas (formerly Amarchand Mangaldas Suresh A Shroff & Co). She holds an undergraduate law degree with a specialization in Intellectual Property Rights from National Law University, Jodhpur.
Aayushi Singh
Moderator
Juriste, Three Crowns, Paris
Young ITA, India Co-Chair
Aayushi is a Juriste at Three Crowns, Paris. Aayushi previously worked at Khaitan and Co., New Delhi and was also a Visiting Foreign Lawyer at WilmerHale, London. Aayushi's experience includes commercial arbitration under SIAC, ICC and DIAC Rules seated in London, Singapore, Zurich, and New Delhi. She pursued the NUS-MIDS Double Degree Programme between the National University of Singapore, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies and University of Geneva. She is a recipient of a full scholarship for her postgraduate studies by the Aga Khan Development Network. She also received a full scholarship to pursue the Austrian Arbitration Academy offered by the University of Vienna. She presently serves as the Senior Young OGEMID Rapporteur and is a Steering Committee Member of the Indian Women in International Arbitration.
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