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London
Rhodri Thomas
Partner
rhodri.thomas@freshfields.com
London: +44 20 7936 4000
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About

Rhodri has extensive experience in litigation, arbitration and contentious regulatory matters, especially in the sport and data sectors. 

Rhodri heads Freshfields’ sports disputes practice. He advises a large number of national and international sports governing bodies, teams and individual athletes, and has sat as an arbitrator in more than 100 sports arbitrations.  He has a masters degree in sports law.

Rhodri also specialises in cybersecurity and data privacy, acting in both litigation and regulatory proceedings following data related incidents.  

Rhodri joined the firm in 2005 and has worked in our London, Tokyo and Hong Kong offices. 

Capabilities
Commercial litigation
Data privacy and cyber security
International arbitration
Media, entertainment and sports
Sports
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Rhodri has represented clients, including conducting oral advocacy, before arbitral tribunals such as the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the UEFA CFCB Adjudicatory Chamber, the Independent Appeal Committee of World Rugby, FA Premier League Rule X Arbitral Panels and Rule W Commissions, FA Rule K Tribunals, EFL League Arbitration Panels, and the Union Cycliste Internationale Arbitral Tribunal. 

Selected sports experience includes acting for:

  • Manchester City Football Club in high-profile arbitration proceedings against the FA Premier League regarding the validity of Premier League Rules.
  • Several FA Premier League football clubs, including Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Everton, Manchester City, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur regarding domestic and international regulatory regimes.
  • A government on the establishment of a football regulator.
  • The English Football League in a high-profile regulatory matter and related arbitration proceedings involving Leicester FC and the Premier League.
  • Super League Basketball in High Court Litigation to determine the future of elite British domestic basketball.
  • A Formula 1 team and a Power Unit Manufacturer regarding various FIA regulations.
  • Four FA Premier League football clubs on their participation in and withdrawal from the proposed European Super League.
  • Lommel SK, and its owner City Football Group in arbitration and litigation proceedings and in relation to a complaint before the European Commission.
  • The English Football League regarding various disciplinary, arbitral and regulatory issues.
  • Manchester City Football Club in overturning a ban imposed by UEFA for alleged breaches of financial fair play regulations.
  • A MotoGP team in relation to sponsorship issues.
  • The purchaser of an English football club on various aspects of the acquisition, including related High Court proceedings.
  • SailGP on a variety of issues.
  • CVC in relation to various investments in the sports sector, including rugby, tennis and volleyball.
  • advising the owners of Newcastle United Football Club regarding various issues, including acting in High Court proceedings.
  • A FIFA World Cup organising committee in relation to corruption allegations surrounding the FIFA World Cup.
  • FIFA in High Court litigation involving competition law issues.
  • A national rugby union in multiple proceedings regarding qualification for Rugby World Cups.
  • A leading international cyclist in arbitral proceedings against his former team.
  • A Paralympic world record holder in proceedings before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
  • The International Association of Athletics Federations in relation to a forensic review of its governance, operations and finance.

Selected cyber / data experience includes advising:

  • A multinational corporation regarding one of the world's largest data breaches, involving regulatory investigations in 30 jurisdictions and collective action litigation in three countries.
  • A large European financial services and technology firm regarding a significant data breach and ransom threat. 
  • A global investment bank in successfully defending an FCA enforcement case relating to perceived inadequacies in the bank’s IT systems.
  • An international investment fund in responding to a data breach in the UK and Germany.
  • Europe's largest Fintech in relation to a ransomware attack.
  • A multinational company after a phishing attack led to the theft of tens of millions of dollars. 
  • Dozens of other organisations in relation to data breaches, DDOS attacks, ransomware attacks and state-sponsored cyber-attacks.

The team around Rhodri Thomas is amazing for sports law work
— Chambers UK  | 2026
Rhodri Thomas
Partner
rhodri.thomas@freshfields.com

T +44 20 7936 4000

London Office

100 Bishopsgate

London EC2P 2SR
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