Tuesday, 11 Nov 2025 | 9.00AM – 11.00AM (Business breakfast from 8.30 am to 9.00 am)
Location: The Ritz-Carlton Dubai International Financial Centre, Centre Cut located at P or Podium Level
RSVP: https://dubai.ticketmagic.me/event/recent-developments-in-sports-arbitration
Presentation
De Cayetti Law is pleased to host a unique conference on sports arbitration, bringing together leading legal experts and CAS approved arbitrators to address the recent developments in sports arbitration. Against the backdrop of the region’s growing influence in hosting major sporting events and shaping governance frameworks, the conference will provide a unique platform to explore key issues such as the growing interest in sports, the role and specificity of the arbitration procedure before the CAS, as a specialized arbitration body in safeguarding fairness and integrity in sport.
Our Speakers
Alain Zahlan de Cayetti
CAS arbitrator
Partner De Cayetti Law (France, UAE)
Michele Bernasconi
CAS arbitrator
Partner Bär & Karrer (Switzerland)
Jeffrey Benz
CAS arbitrator
Attorney, Barrister, Arbitrator, Mediator JAMS (Los Angeles), 4 New Square Chambers (London)
Topics
Topic 1 – Sports Specificity in International Arbitration
Presented by Alain Zahlan de Cayetti
- Specificity of sports. Role of sports in contributing to social harmony, peace, equality, health, ethical values, sense of sound competition
- Evolution of sport-related conflict resolution mechanisms
- Current general framework of arbitration in sports and proliferation of sports’ conflict resolution centres
- A few words about the UAE Federal Law No. (4) of 2023 Concerning Sports
Topic 2 – The Court of Arbitration for Sport. How it works. Some practical cases.
Presented by Michele Bernasconi
- A few words about CAS: history, structure, values.
- A few examples to show how CAS really works: a football case of 30 years ago and a case today.
- CAS is not only football.
Topic 3 – Doping, Sport Ad Hoc Arbitration. Selections and Eligibility
Presented by Jeffrey Benz
- Doping dopes: cases of mistake and intent (description of the system, using case to illustrate the fundamentals)
- The need for speed: The CAS ad hoc divisions, their operation and practical aspects (discussing a case or two)
- Selections and eligibility cases: I want to compete! (discussing a case or two)
- Whither sports mediation?