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Stephen Townley

Solicitor, FCIArb

Phone:

+44 (0) 7880 505 220

Degrees/Indentures 

LONDON INTERCOLLEGIATE LL.M., IN MARITIME AND COMPANY LAW
University College London and London School of Economics (1975)

 

LL.B., (Hons) London (1971 - 1974)

 

COMMERCIAL APPRENTICE – ENGINEERING SECTOR

​Associated Biscuits (1966–1968)

CURRENT POSITIONS (LEGAL)

2023 - Present

2019 - Present

2018- Present

2015 - Present

2012 - Present

1996 - Present

Special Counsel – ADR, Sport & Entertainment Brands

Stobbs (Intangible Asset Management), UK

Arbitrator & Mediator

World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)

International Neutral, Arbitrator & Mediator

JAMS

Industry Expert - Sports Sector

Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC)

Mediator

Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)

Arbitrator 

Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)

CURRENT POSITIONS (BUSINESS)

2026 - Present

2025 - Present

2025- Present

2024 - Present

2020 - Present

2020 - Present

1998 - Present

2006 - Present

Board Member

Wildpool, UK

Board Member

My Club Europe, UK

Chair of Advisory Board

Global Sustainable Sport, UK

Board Member

Mountain Gap Limited, UK

Chairman

CausalSpark Limited, UK

Partner

Wild By Nature LLP, UK

Chairman & Co-Founder

Active Rights Management Ltd (ARM), UK

Honorary Member

NSPCC Council, UK

– Led legal teams as Special Counsel in a US$1 billion+ cricket media rights arbitration in India, involving five jurisdictions, ICC and domestic arbitrations in Singapore and India, anti-suit injunction before the Indian Supreme Court, and successfully discharged a previous arbitration award.

– Series of engagements since 2012 including handling high-profile FIFA Presidential Election Football body disciplinary matters before sports panels, national courts, and CAS, involving governance, regulatory, fraud and reputational issues across multiple jurisdictions. 

– Experience in project managing complex cross border teams including lawyers, forensic accountants, expert witnesses, PR specialists, interpreting and tracking social media and crossovers with regulatory and criminal agencies that can become involved in matters connected with civil disputes.

 

Successful mediation resolving a multi-party cross-border dispute arising from cancellation of AFC football tournaments across Asia due to Covid interruption including consideration of the impact of force majeure and insurance.

Successful mediation resolving a complex financial services dispute between over one hundred investors and a regulated fund manager in the high-tech engineering sector in the UK.

Successful mediation resolving shareholder, investor and partner disputes in the entertainment and media sector, achieving amicable exit arrangements in Japan and the US.

Successful mediation resolving IP and contractual issues between two rival eSports and augmented reality games organisers based in New Zealand and Sweden.

Successful mediation in 2005 for the transfer of the ownership/control rights to the SportAccord Convention to the Olympic and International Federation movement.

 

​– Appointed as panel member and chair in CAS arbitrations, including the ad-hoc CAS panel and panel appointments in UAE arbitrations under ICC and Dubai rules.

EXAMPLES OF THE TYPES OF MATTERS HANDLED IN ARBITRATION AND MEDIATION EITHER AS COUNSEL OR ARBITRATOR AND OR MEDIATOR

OTHER CAREER NOTES

▪ Finalist, Lifetime Achievement Award – The Legal 500 ESG UK Awards, 2025.

▪ Pro Bono advisory and philanthropic work for environmental charities such as those connected with the protection and restoration of the River Wye.

▪ Honorary Member of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children’s Council in recognition of support for the NSPCC’s work for children.

▪ Supporting the social enterprise Câr-y-Môr to develop jobs for Wales coastal communities through evolving skills in farming seaweed and aquaculture.

▪ Advisor to the ARK Foundation, which pioneered environmental consumer products in the UK.

© 2026 Stephen Townley

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