Sports arbitration and sports mediation offer streamlined and effective alternatives to litigation for issues such as contracts, disciplinary actions, doping, eligibility and intellectual property.
JAMS offers a deep bench of neutrals for sports disputes, including former sports industry litigators, transactional lawyers and in-house counsel who understand the business and legal realities of the industry. Select neutrals have served on prestigious panels such as the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and some have handled name, image and likeness (NIL) disputes overseen by the College Sports Commission (CSC).
JAMS’ sports arbitrators and mediators are supported by professional administrators who assist each client with their needs, ranging from single-case administration to the custom design and implementation of alternative dispute resolution programs for sports governing bodies.
JAMS’ experience extends to amateur and collegiate sports, addressing a host of sport disputes related to educational institutions. Our services support compliance with Title IX, the 2020 Final Rule and U.S. Department of Education mandates under the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX of the Education Act). We promote fairness, due process and transparency throughout the Title IX process, helping educational institutions meet evolving Title IX requirements.
JAMS serves as the arbitral body or tribunal for the following governing bodies:
Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit and Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority
(Thoroughbred racing anti-doping arbitrations)
Women’s Tennis Association
(Safeguarding arbitrations in professional sport)
Our Services
Types of Disputes Handled in Sports Arbitration and Mediation
- Contractual disagreements such as playing agreements, sponsorship deals, events, exclusivity, governance, manager and agent disputes, team conflict, insurance, sports project dispute boards, and other commercial matters
- Disciplinary actions and appeals
- Safeguarding and safe sport
- Name, image, and likeness (NIL), publicity, licensing, endorsements, image rights, and other intellectual property matters
- Salary negotiations and labor and employment
- Doping allegations and suspensions
- Athlete eligibility issues such as age, amateur status, or transfer rules
Understanding Sports Law
Sports law is a broad field encompassing:
- Regulatory and sanctioning functions
- Athlete and coaching contracts
- Broadcast and media rights
- Safety standards
- Intellectual property and copyright
- Drug testing, antitrust, torts, and labor law
- Defamation and privacy concerns
Professional, collegiate, and amateur sports bodies rely on legal clarity to support ethical conduct and operational integrity.
Why Choose JAMS for Sports Arbitration and Mediation?
Proven Experience
Our sports-focused panel of neutrals brings decades of experience resolving professional and collegiate sports disputes. The group includes arbitrators, mediators and administrators who have worked with professional athletes, leagues, teams and governing bodies worldwide. Among them are neutrals who have served on panels such as the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Legal and Industry Compliance
JAMS neutrals handling sports matters often bring a deep command of sports law and industry compliance considerations, including league rules, doping protocols and athlete rights.
Tailored Flexibility
Whether it's an urgent disciplinary case or a complex contractual dispute, we adapt our process to meet the speed, privacy and logistical needs of the sports world—from preseason to playoffs.