An expertise built from more than 200 cases before CAS
Only one CAS award was annuled in 2015, we did it
Law is our business – Sport is our passion
Libra Law – the balance of convenience

Article en cours : News

News

NEWS 2023

September 2023 – Soirée de droit du sport at the Maison du Sport International on 29 September 2023

On the occasion of the visit of a delegation from the Finnish Association of Sports Law, the Swiss Association of Sports Law (ASDS) will have the pleasure to give the floor to Mr Pierre Ketterer, Regulatory & Governance Director of the FIA, who will present the functioning of the jurisdictional bodies of the FIA as well as the F1 Financial Regulations.

Attendance is free of charge, but open exclusively to members of the ASDS. To become a member of the ASDS member: https://www.asds.ch/fr/beitritsgesuch. Thereafter, contact Mr Ibarrola (ibarrola@libra-law.ch).

July 2023 – Dmitry Ilinikh v. FIVB

With the support of Libra Law, Olympic champion Dmitry Ilinikh has reached an agreement with the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) following disciplinary proceedings initiated against him for an anti-doping violation.

July 2023 – Another FIFA mediation

Another FIFA mediation resulting in a full agreement between the parties, to the great satisfaction of Mr Jorge Ibarrola

July 2023 – Mr Jorge Ibarrola, Mr Claude Ramoni and Yvan Henzer recognised by their peers and by Who’s Who Legal, notably in the category “World’s Leading Practitioners in the Who’s Who Legal Thought Leaders: Sports & Gaming 2023 report”.

Mr Jorge Ibarrola, Mr Claude Ramoni and Yvan Henzer recognised by their peers and by Who's Who Legal, notably in the category "World's Leading Practitioners in the Who's Who Legal Thought Leaders: Sports & Gaming 2023 report".

https://www.lexology.com/firms/1231406/jorge_ibarrola

https://www.lexology.com/firms/1231406/claude_ramoni

https://www.lexology.com/firms/1231406/yvan_henzer

July 2023 – Libra Law congratulates its founding partner Jorge Ibarrola on becoming an SBA Mediator

Mr Jorge Ibarrola has been awarded the title of FSA Mediator after completing the first comprehensive mediation training course set up by the Swiss Bar Association (SBA). He wrote his thesis on the role of the mediator compared to the role of the conciliator and the judge or arbitrator, using examples from the sports industry.

June 2023 – Instituto Superior en Derecho y Economía (ISDE)

Mr Jorge Ibarrola lectures within the Masters in Sports Law organised in Spanish language by the Instituto Superior en Derecho y Economía (ISDE), on the topic of the proceedings before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)

May 2023 – Faculty of Law, University of Aix-Marseille

Mr Jorge Ibarrola gives a lecture within the framework of the Master 2 professional course in sports law at the Faculty of Law, University of Aix-Marseille.

May 2023 – University of Neuchâtel

Yvan Henzer gives a lecture on evidence as part of a conference organised by the University of Neuchâtel on the subject of "Fundamental concepts of compensation: convergence and divergence".

This lecture is published in a book edited by Professors Anne-Sylvie Dupont and Christoph Müller

April 2023 – Sports Arbitration Moot

Mr Jorge Ibarrola sits as arbitrator at the final stage of the Sports Arbitration Moot in Madrid.

March 2023 – Instituto de Mediación Deportiva

Mr Jorge Ibarrola is invited to lecture at the sports mediation programme organised by the Instituto de Mediación Deportiva (IEMEDEP, Madrid).

March 2023 – Sports Law Institute

Mr Jorge Ibarrola is invited to speak in an online conversation on sports law, organised by the Sports Law Institute

March 2023 – FIFA publishes its Mediation Guidelines

https://www.fifa.com/legal/football-tribunal/news/fifa-publishes-mediation-guidelines

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7039946128385048576/

FIFA outlines  “Jorge Ibarrola, also a FIFA Mediator, added: “Congratulations to FIFA for the implementation of the mediation process available to all the members of the football family. The FIFA mediation guidelines will enable the parties not only to settle their disputes swiftly, efficiently and at no cost, but also to reach settlement agreements that may go beyond the mere resolution of their dispute, restoring, in particular, the communication between them and facilitating their future relationships. This will undoubtedly provide a significantly high level of satisfaction with respect to the achieved outcome.”

February 2023 – Instituto Superior en Derecho y Economía (ISDE)

Mr Jorge Ibarrola lectures at the Master's programme in international sports law of the Instituto Superior en Derecho y Economía (ISDE), on the topic of the Lex Sportiva.

January 2023 – FIFA Mediation

FIFA ratifies the integral agreement of the parties to a mediation procedure led by Mr Jorge Ibarrola.

 

January 2023 – Fonds du Sport Vaudois

Watch here the interview Mr Yvan Henzer gave to the channel La Télé when he became Chairman of the Fonds du Sport vaudois

NEWS 2022

The risks of e-filing: analysis of a recent decision by the Swiss Federal Tribunal

In a recent decision of the Swiss Federal Tribunal (TF 4A_254/2023 of 12 June 2023), which will be published shortly, the judges were asked to rule on the misadventure of a party who had used the electronic platform of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to upload its statement of appeal and exhibits.

Due to alleged technical difficulties, the briefs were sent by e-mail but not uploaded to the CAS electronic platform. The party only realised its mistake after the appeal deadline had passed. CAS then issued a closure order for the late filing of the appeal. (more…)

Yvan Henzer nominated President of a foundation supporting local athletes and sports stakeholders

The whole firm warmly congratulates Yvan Henzer on his nomination by the State Council as President of "Fonds du Sport Vaudois" for a five-year term (2023-2027). This foundation's mission is to redistribute the profits of the lottery to local sports stakeholders and athletes.

Yvan will continue his activities as a lawyer within the firm, his new position as President of the Fonds du Sport Vaudois being a part-time mandate.

 

13th CEMAJ Conference

On the occasion of the 13th CEMAJ Conference on New Developments in International Commercial Arbitration 2022 that took place at the University of Neuchâtel on 11 November 2022, Claude Ramoni was given the opportunity to talk about jurisdictional issues of CAS Arbitration on the occasion of the Olympic Games.

Claude Ramoni’s contribution focused on the extent of the competence of the different CAS Divisions dealing with Olympic disputes. He also analysed certain practical issues arising in respect to Olympic disputes submitted to the CAS. Claude Ramoni’s article, together with the very interesting contributions of all speakers to the conference have been published in the form of a book edited by University of Neuchâtel.

Libra Law is very grateful to Prof. Mueller, Rigozzi and Besson for having been given the chance to make a contribution on this truly interesting topic, which has given - and will surely - give rise to numerous disputes on the occasion of each edition of the Olympic Games.

Soirée de droit du sport at the Maison du Sport International on 8 November 2022

Mr Jorge Ibarrola, member of the Committee of the Swiss Association of Sports Law (ASDS), will have the pleasure to give the floor to Professor Jacques de Werra, Director of the Digital Law Center of the Faculty of Law of the University of Geneva, who will come to present a subject on which he has recently written, namely sports and intellectual property.

If you wish to attend this event, please register via the following Doodle link: https://doodle.com/meeting/participate/id/boQ9E4Xe

Attendance is free, but open exclusively to ASDS members. To become a member of the ASDS: https://www.asds.ch/demande-d-adhesion. Then contact Me Ibarrola (ibarrola@libra-law.ch).

CAS Seminar – Libra Law’s Cocktail

Libra Law’s Cocktail for CAS Seminar Participants.

Please read the full invitation here

5 to 7 organised by the Sports Law Commission of the Vaud Bar Association

SAVE THE DATE: 5 to 7 conference organised by the Sports Law Commission of the Vaud Bar Association on 17 October 2022 at the Lausanne Palace. Mr Rémy Wyler and Mr Miguel Liétard will address the issue of the breach and/or termination of a football player contracts with a comparison of the consequences under Swiss employment law and sports law.

More details will follow. This conference is reserved to the Vaud Bar Association members

Sports Law Days

The 10th edition of the Sports Law Days will take place on 6 and 7 October 2022 in Macolin/Magglingen (Switzerland).

Please consult the full programme here

The CAS reaffirms fundamental procedural concepts and confirms that the Olympic Program belongs to the IOC and not to the international federations, let alone national federations

Please read here our comment on the CAS award 2020/A/7590-7591

NEWS 2021

(Français) Soirée de droit du sport à la Maison du Sport International le 2 novembre 2021

Sorry, this entry is only available in French.

Libra Law congratulates Tuluá for its victory before the Swiss federal Tribunal

You can download the award here (in French).

You can download Libra Law’s analysis of the award here (in English) or here (in Spanish) or here in French

Ms Monia Karmass has been promoted

Jorge Ibarrola, Claude Ramoni and Yvan Henzer are delighted to announce that Ms Monia Karmass has been promoted as Libra Law partner as of 1 January 2021.

Ms Monia Karmass is a Swiss qualified lawyer, specialising in sports and commercial law, as well as in litigation before sports legal bodies (FIFA, UEFA, WADA, IOC, etc.), the Court of Arbitration for Sport and Swiss ordinary courts, including the Swiss Federal Tribunal. She provides sophisticated advice to Swiss and international clients in a wide range of legal matters related to sport, including disciplinary, contractual and governance matters, as well as to commercial litigation, employment law and economic criminal matters.

Libra Law now consists of four partners, namely Ms Monia Karmass, Mr Jorge Ibarrola, Mr Claude Ramoni and Mr Yvan Henzer, plus associates and trainee lawyers.

Jorge, Claude and Yvan say: “Monia has proven to be an outstanding legal counsel since she joined Libra Law. Becoming our partner is not only a pride for us, but also significantly strengthens our firm and will allow us to improve and increase the scope of our services to our clients in Switzerland and worldwide.”

NEWS 2020

SEPTEMBER 2020: The Court of Arbitration for Sport cancels lifetime bans imposed by the IOC on three Russian biathlete represented by Yvan Henzer.

By decisions issued in November and December 2017, the IOC imposed lifetime bans on three Russian biathletes, medallists at the Winter Olympic Games Sochi 2014. Libra Law successfully represented the three biathletes before the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The arbitration panel ruled that two athletes did not commit any anti-doping rule violations. Accordingly, they can keep their individual results, notably a silver medal. With respect to the third athlete, the arbitration panel confirmed that she was guilty, but reduced the sanction imposed on her. The athlete contemplate submitting an appeal before the Swiss Federal Tribunal. For more information:

https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1098790/cas-overturns-biathletes-life-bans

https://libra-law.ch/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/CAS_Media_Release_5434_5435_5444.pdf

 

AUGUST 2020 : Jorge Ibarrola & Monia Karmass successful before the Swiss Federal Tribunal

Congratulations to the Turkish Football Federation for this success before the Swiss Federal Tribunal. This is our 3rd win in a row, after FIFA, the CAS and now STF. Next stage: ECHR? Interesting reasoning of the STF regarding public hearings at CAS and excellent synthesis of the standing to appeal pursuant to the CAS Jurisprudence. A free translation in English is available here.

https://www.bger.ch/ext/eurospider/live/fr/php/aza/http/index.php?highlight_docid=aza%3A%2F%2Faza://17-08-2020-4A_486-2019&lang=fr&zoom=&type=show_document

 

JUNE 2020 : Claude Ramoni appointed to the UEFA Appeals Body

Libra Law congratulates its founding partner, Claude Ramoni, for his election to the UEFA Appeals Body.

Click here to learn more.

JUNE 2020 : Who’s Who Legal – Sports & Entertainment 2020

Jorge Ibarrola is ranked again in Who’s Who Legal 2020 as  Thought leader – National Leader - Sports and Entertainement – Switzerland

You can consult his biography here: https://whoswholegal.com/jorge-ibarrola

JUNE 2020 : Who’s Who Legal – Sports & Entertainment 2020

Claude Ramoni is ranked again in Who’s Who Legal 2020 as  Thought leader – National Leader - Sports and Entertainement – Switzerland

You can consult his biography here: https://whoswholegal.com/claude-ramoni

MAY 2020 : Libra Law in the Top 10

Libra Law is proud to be ranked in the Top 10 (ranking Bilanz-Le Temps 2020) best practices in sports law in Switzerland.

The rankings are available here.

NEWS 2019

Who’s Who Legal – Sports & Entertainment 2019

Jorge Ibarrola is ranked again in Who’s Who Legal 2019 as Thought Leaders Global Elite 2019 – Sports and Thought Leaders – Switzerland.

You can consult his biography here: https://whoswholegal.com/jorge-ibarrola

Yvan Henzer elected to the Board of Trustees of AVENA

Libra Law congratulates Yvan Henzer on his election to the Board of Trustees of the AVENA Pension Fund for the 2020-2023 term.

Click here to learn more.

Soirée de droit du sport at the Maison du Sport International on 27 août 2019 – change of programme

AUGUST 2019 : The next ASDS Sports Law evening will take place on 27 August 2019 at 6.30pm at the Maison du Sport International.

Mr Jorge Ibarrola will have the pleasure of welcoming guest speaker Pierre Muller, arbitrator, conciliator and CEDR Accredited Mediator, former Judge of the Canton Tribunal of Canton de Vaud, Switzerland, to speak about: “Conciliation and mediation to resolve sports disputes: opportunities”.

If you wish to attend this evening, please register via doodle: https://doodle.com/poll/4hy3s8qix2483muy

The participation is free, but only open to ASDS members. To become a member of ASDS: https://www.asds.ch/demande-d-adhesion and then contact Mr Ibarrola (ibarrola@libra-law.ch).

CEDR Mediator

JULY 2019: Libra Law congratulates Jorge Ibarrola for his accreditation as CEDR Mediator. We all look forward to further develop the area of mediation both in commercial and in sports areas.

New legal provisions under Swiss law

APRIL 2019 : Corruption and the manipulation of sports competitions are now in the sights of justice thanks to the new provisions that came into force on 1 January 2019.

The article may be read here.

Escuela Universiteria Real Madrid

JANUARY 2019 : Claude Ramoni lectures on the World Anti-Doping Code within the framework of the International Master in Sports Law of the Escuela Universitaria Real Madrid

Anti-doping system, evolutions and perspectives, University of Burgundy

JANUARY 2019 : Claude Ramoni takes part in a round-table discussion : The defence of the athlete who challenges his offence : intentionality and proof of absence of offence

NEWS 2018

UEFA Anti-Doping Symposium 2018, London

NOVEMBER 2018 : Jorge Ibarrola moderates a panel on “New developments in anti-doping : International Testing Agency and CAS as first instance for anti-doping disputes”.

Conference « New Developments in International Commercial Arbitration 2018 », Université de Neuchâtel

NOVEMBER 2018 : Jorge Ibarrola lectures on “Selected Recent Procedural Issues Arising in CAS Arbitral Proceedings”.

2 May 2018 : Who’s Who Legal 2018: Libra law recognised in sports law

Jorge Ibarrola & Claude Ramoni are recognised as leaders in sports law by their peers in the 2018 edition of WWL

Jorge Ibarrola at LIBRA LAW is “a top lawyer” highlighted for his excellent experience representing clients including sports federations, athletes and football clubs, in both arbitration and litigation proceedings.

Claude Ramoni is well versed in advising sports federations and athletes on a wide array of sports-related issues, and is considered particularly impressive when it comes to doping matters.

International Master in Sports Law of the Escuela Universitaria Real Madrid, Universidad Europea

OCTOBER 2018: Claude Ramoni lectures on anti-doping structures within the framework of the International Master in Sports Law of the Escuela Universitaria Real Madrid, Universidad Europea

Master of Advanced Studies in Sports Administration and Technology of AISTS

OCTOBER 2018: Claude Ramoni lectures on Sports Legal Entities within the framework of the Master of Advanced Studies in Sports Administration and Technology of AISTS

UEFA Football Law Program

SEPTEMBER 2018: Jorge Ibarrola lectures on provisional measures before the CAS in the framework of the second edition of the UEFA Football Law Program

SAWI (Academy for Marketing and Communication SA)

MAY 2018: Jorge Ibarrola lectures on the role of transfer, solidarity, and training compensations of FIFA in the framework of the programme for intermediaries in football 2018, of the SAWI (Academy for Marketing and Communication SA)

International Sports Law Master – LL.M., of the Institut Nacional d’Educació Física de Catalunya (INEFC)

MAY 2018: Jorge Ibarrola and Claude Ramoni lecture on CAS proceedings and provisional measures, as well as on the IOC disciplinary model, within the framework of the International Sports Law Master – LL.M., of the Institut Nacional d'Educació Física de Catalunya (INEFC) of the University of Lleida, Spain

SportAccord Convention

APRIL 2018: Jorge Ibarrola attends the SportAccord Convention, in Bangkok, on behalf of the World Karate Federation

European Branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb)

APRIL 2018: Jorge Ibarrola lectures on applicable law, standing and standard of proof in CAS arbitrations within the framework of the 2018 Annual Conference of the European Branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) in Lisbon

FIFA Master

APRIL 2018: Claude Ramoni lectures on personality rights within the framework of the FIFA Master programme

Master in International sports law of the Instituto Superior de Derecho y Economia (ISDE)

MARCH 2018: Jorge Ibarrola lectures on proceedings before international sports federations and before the CAS within the framework of the Master in International Sports Law of the Instituto Superior de Derecho y Economia (ISDE)

Master in International sports law of the Instituto Superior de Derecho y Economia (ISDE)

MARCH 2018: Claude Ramoni lectures on anti-doping structure and legal basis within the framework of the Master in International Sports Law of the Instituto Superior de Derecho y Economia (ISDE)

Data Protection Regulation Workshop

MARCH 2018: In cooperation with Wiz-Team and ThinkSport, Libra Law organises a conference on new data protection regulations, during which Jorge Ibarrola lectures on the impact on international sport federations and on the athletes’ consent

Master of Advanced Studies in Sports Administration and Technology of AISTS

MARCH 2018: Jorge Ibarrola lectures on the liability of sport event organisers at the Master of Advanced Studies in Sports Administration and Technology of AISTS

30 October 2018 : Soirée de droit du sport at the Maison du Sport International on 19 December 2018

The next ASDS Sports Law evening will take place on 19 December 2018 at 6.30pm at the Maison du Sport International.

Mr Jorge Ibarrola will have the pleasure of welcoming guest speaker Jean-Philippe Dubey, Head of the Scientific Department of the CAS and member of the ASDS Committee. Mr Dubey will discuss the decision rendered on 29 August 2018 by the Court of Appeal in Brussels concerning the arbitration clause in the FIFA Statues, in addition to the judgement of 2 October 2018 of the European Court of Human Rights in the Mutu and Pechstein cases. This will be followed by an open discussion between Mr Dubey and the participants.

If you wish to attend this evening, please register via doodle: https://doodle.com/poll/ey4grav99efyqrk4

Participation is free, but only open to ASDS members. To become a member of ASDS: https://www.asds.ch/demande-d-adhesion and contact Mr Ibarrola (ibarrola@libra-law.ch).

25 April 2018 : Yvan Henzer appointed on the board of a foundation supporting sport in canton de Vaud

Yvan Henzer has been appointed by the State Council on the board of the "Fonds du Sport Vaudois", a foundation supporting top-level athletes and funding sport projects with the benefits of the lottery

29 March 2018 : Mr Jorge Ibarrola on Radio Suisse Romande

Jorge Ibarrola on the Swiss national radio station regarding football players who evade the tax authorities. The show is available on the following link

2 February 2018 : Mr Jorge Ibarrola on Radio Suisse Romande

Jorge Ibarrola on the Swiss national radio explaining the CAS award concerning the Russian athletes. The show is available on the following link

Sports Law evening at the Maison du Sport International on 20 March 2018

Mr Jorge Ibarrola had the honour to welcome Mr Bernard Welten, CAS Arbitrator and lawyer from Bern as guest speaker on the subject of the CAS Ad Hoc Chamber in PyeongChang as part of the ASDS Sports Law evenings. Mr Welten described the roles of the AD Hoc Chamber of the CAS during the Olympic Games, using decisions taken by the Chamber to illustrate his presentation, particularly those relating to the Russian athletes.

The next Sports Law evening is likely to take place in June 2018.

Participation is free but open only to ASDS members. To become a member of ASDS:.

https://www.asds.ch/demande-d-adhesion contact Mr Ibarrola (ibarrola@libra-law.ch).

NEWS 2017

Analysis of provisions of an football player’s agent contract, under Swiss law, article published in French on 24 December 2017 in le Matin Dimanche

(Français) Prochaine Soirée de droit du sport à la Maison du Sport International

Sorry, this entry is only available in French.

Who’s Who Legal 2017: Libra law recognised in sports law

Jorge Ibarrola & Claude Ramoni are recognised as leaders in sports law by their peers in the 2017 edition of WWL.

New faces at Libra Law

Since August 2017, Messrs Fabien Cagneux, former Counsel at CAS, and Sebastian Permain, Australian lawyer, have joined Libra Law

The CAS confirms the suspension imposed by ICF on S. Tarnovschi

Libra Law congratulates the International Canoe Federation (ICF) for its success in the case Sergei Tarnovschi, whose appeal was dismissed by the CAS, which confirmed the 4-year suspension imposed by ICF on the athlete. See the CAS press release here.

The CAS concludes the case Trabzonspor

Libra Law congratulates the Turkish Football Federation for its success in the Case Trabzonspor, whose appeal was dismissed by the CAS, which confirmed the UEFA decision according to which UEFA had no jurisdiction to impose domestic sanctions resulting from the match fixing offences which occurred in 2010 and 2011.

Who’s Who Legal 2017

Who’s Who Legal 2017 also acknowledges Libra Law as a leading Swiss sports law Firm.

 

Libra Law awarded for its expertise in Sports Law

According to a peer review conducted amongst 6500 Swiss lawyers, LIBRA LAW is ranked within the seven best Swiss law firms in Sports law and is awarded five stars.

This award means that our law firm is particularly regularly recommanded by our colleagues and clients.

Jorge Ibarrola lectures at the Congress organised by the Escuela Universitaria Real Madrid.

Within the framework of the Congress organised by the Escuela Universitaria Real Madrid, the authors of the recently published book "La extinción del contrato del deportista en Europa y Latinoamérica" presented on 16 February 2017 their respective contributions. Jorge Ibarrola presented his chapter on the termination of the athlete's employment contract in Swiss law.

.

Libra Law wins on provisional measures

On behalf of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Libra Law obtains an interim injunction from CAS confirming that the football club Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors will remain banned from AFC Champions League 2017

Please click here to read the CAS Media Release

Yvan Henzer launches his blog

Yvan Henzer hosts a blog in the newspaper "Le Temps".

Find the blog here.

Jorge Ibarrola and Claude Ramoni act as consultants for a local radio

Every Tuesday at 8:15am, attorneys-at-law take part in the radio broadcast "A vos droits" for the local station Rouge FM in order to present topics on several aspects of law or to answer questions raised by the audience. Jorge Ibarrola and Claude Ramoni are regularly invited as consultants

NEWS 2016