Fair Play or Foul? The Future of Sports Arbitration

Join JAMS neutral, Hon. Hugh L. Fraser (Ret.), O.C., FCIArb, FCollArb, who will speak on the panel “Fair Play or Foul? The Future of Sports Arbitration,” taking place on February 12, 2026, at the JAMS Washington DC Resolution Center, as part of Georgetown Arbitration Month 2026, presented by the Georgetown International Arbitration Society (GIAS).

The panel will bring together in-house counsel, arbitration practitioners, and sports law professionals to explore the evolving role of arbitration in resolving disputes within the global sports ecosystem, with a particular focus on issues of procedural fairness, institutional legitimacy, and transparency. Against the backdrop of recent developments in sports governance and dispute resolution, the discussion will examine how sports arbitration—particularly before bodies such as the Court of Arbitration for Sport—has adapted to address the competing interests of federations, clubs, athletes, and other stakeholders. 

Each year, GIAS organizes Arbitration Month, their flagship series of events featuring lectures, masterclasses, and panel discussions with leading figures in international arbitration.

Featured Panel:

Fair Play or Foul? The Future of Sports Arbitration

Feb 12, 2026 | 11:45 AM

The panel will examine the role of sports arbitration, focusing on fairness, legitimacy, and transparency. It will explore how bodies such as the Court of Arbitration for Sport address disputes between federations, clubs, and athletes, and will consider practical challenges and future reforms.

Moderator:

• Alejandro Tafur - Treasurer, GIAS

Speakers:

• Sarah Levine Hartley - Partner, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
• Hon. Hugh L. Fraser (Ret.), O.C., FCIArb, FCollArb - JAMS Arbitrator
• Miguel Lietard - Director of Litigation, FIFA
• José Manuel Maza - CAS Arbitrator

Agenda:

11:15 am - Registration/arrival with coffee and pastries
11:45 am - 1:00 pm - Panel discussion (60-minute discussion + 15-minute Q&A)
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm - Networking lunch