Paul J. Greene is an international sports lawyer who appears regularly before the Court of Arbitration for Sport, in Lausanne, Switzerland, in addition to appearing before international and domestic sports arbitral bodies. Paul has represented clients from more than 50 countries and more than 60 different sports, even representing an Olympic gold medal-winning horse. Paul has successfully represented athletes, sport federations and national Olympic committees since founding Global Sports Advocates in 2014.

How did you come to specialise in sports law?

When I was in law school in the early 2000s, I learned of international sports law in its infancy. My career developed as sports arbitration grew as a specialty. In 2014, I founded a law firm, Global Sports Advocates, devoted solely to the practice of sports law. Today, I lead a team of lawyers that handles only sports law matters around the world.

What qualities make for an effective sports lawyer?

An approach built on passion and zealous advocacy is a solid foundation to being an effective sports lawyer. Also, one must always act with integrity and be available for clients to communicate whenever they need you.

What do you enjoy most about working in sport-related law?

I am constantly inspired by my clients. Also, I enjoy traveling to new places.

If you could implement one reform in international sports arbitration, what would it be?

I would ensure that each athlete who finds themselves involved in a disciplinary proceeding has access to both a quality lawyer to advocate for them, and an impartial hearing panel to decide their fate. In many parts of the world, these two things are not so easily obtained.

With the Olympics and Caster Semenya’s appeal to the CAS highlighting how IAAF regulations affect female athletes with high testosterone levels, do you think we will see changes in these rules in the coming years?

Yes, I believe that the battle over intersex athlete rights and transgender athlete rights is just beginning. The next few years will see a widescale adaptation of sporting regulations that aim to define "what is fair" vis-à-vis the inclusion of intersex and transgender athletes. Another landmark CAS case is likely needed to define the parameters for participation of intersex and transgender athletes.

For what reasons is the sports industry an increasingly attractive area of investment for private equity groups?

Private equity groups view the sports industry as one that presents them with the opportunity to generate enormous amounts of revenue on a global stage. The ever-growing value of sports broadcasting rights and the deep connection that professional sports teams have to their communities make the sports industry an ever-attractive area for investment.

What makes Global Sports Advocates stand out from its competitors?

We are solely devoted to the practice of sports law. We have a proven track record of success over many years. Clients come to us with their careers, hopes, and dreams hanging in the balance, and we put them back on the path to success.

What is the most memorable case you’ve been a part of, and why?

The most memorable case I have been part of is the case of Caroline Maher, an Egyptian taekwondo athlete who was falsely accused of taking steroids more than a decade ago by her international federation. Looking back, I am still proud of how my strong advocacy led to a just result for Caroline, who in the end was found to be innocent. Further, the CAS ordered that Caroline be paid $20,000 by the international taekwondo federation, which was the highest compensation ever ordered for an athlete against an international federation in a doping case at that time. Caroline went on to serve as a member of the Egyptian parliament and was the first African female to be inducted into the Taekwondo Hall of Fame.