Henry Goldschmidt is a director in the London Litigation Practice, working within the Sports & Entertainment Industry Group and focusing on contentious and regulatory sports matters.
Henry has successfully represented stakeholders from across the sports industry, including international federations, national governing bodies, leagues, clubs, teams, competition organisers, agencies, investors, senior executives, coaches and athletes. In addition to the English courts, he has acted before various national and international tribunals and the Court of Arbitration for Sport – many of them high-profile cases.
He has advised on a broad spectrum of issues, including financial fair play, multi-club ownership, owners’ and directors’ duties, anti-doping, concussion, agency, governance, eligibility, safeguarding, selection appeals, negligence, contractual claims, the sale and purchase of clubs/teams and international transfers. Henry has also conducted a number of investigations (of varying scopes and sizes) in relation to matters of sporting integrity, executive misconduct, athlete welfare and discrimination.
Henry is a trained commercial litigator and, alongside his sports practice, has represented clients in disputes across an array of other sectors. His recent work includes successfully defending a US$100 million oil and gas claim in the English High Court, guiding a multinational brewing company through an expert determination process, advising a digital services provider on cross-border warranty and indemnities (W&I) claims, as well as representing a public figure who was being harassed online.
Henry has completed the BASL Post Graduate Certificate in Sports Law from De Montfort University (with distinction), and has also spent time in-house on secondment.
Sports Sector Work
Acting for the owner of a Championship club in disciplinary proceedings brought by the EFL for multiple regulatory breaches.
Advising the owners of a professional rugby club in connection with Owners’ and Directors’ Test (OADT) regulatory compliance.
Acting for Nottingham Forest Football Club in proceedings brought by the Premier League for breaching its Profitability and Sustainability Rules.
Advising Knighthead Capital regarding its purchase of a 49% stake in Birmingham Phoenix, a cricket franchise that competes in The Hundred competition.
Advising various football clubs and shareholders in relation to UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules, including in associated disciplinary proceedings.
Conducting an independent investigation on behalf of a national governing body following allegations of serious misconduct by its (now former) President.
Advising various Premier League and EFL football clubs in relation to compliance with domestic/international regulations, including the relevant Owners’ and Directors’ Tests, Profitability and Sustainability Rules, UEFA Club Competitions Regulations, UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Sustainability Regulations, and FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players.
Acting for an EFL football club in relation to a claim for professional negligence and breaches of contractual, tortious and/or statutory duties.
Acting for a service provider in relation to a multimillion-euro claim (for breach of contract) in the English High Court against a major international sports federation.
Acting for a First-Class County cricket club in connection with an independent investigation into allegations of discrimination and institutional racism.
Conducting an independent investigation for national governing body in relation to alleged integrity breaches by an employee.
Advising Knighthead Capital on sports regulatory matters in connection with its takeover of Birmingham City Football Club.
Advising a lifestyle brand regarding its sponsorship and purchase of a motorsport team.
Advising the manager of a major European football club in relation to complications surrounding his move from the Premier League.
Acting for a national governing body in disciplinary proceedings against a former coach, who was found guilty of multiple misconduct charges and banned from coaching for life.
Representing a professional league in various disciplinary proceedings against clubs for breaches of financial fair play regulations.
Acting for a national governing body in its prosecution of an athlete for making public comments likely to bring the sport into disrepute.
Acting for athletes, teams and athlete support personnel in multiple anti-doping proceedings before domestic/international tribunals and the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Clients in this field have included Olympic gold medallists, World Champion boxers, and international footballers and rugby players.
Acting for a national governing body in relation to various selection appeals by athletes omitted from international competitions or specialist performance programmes.
Acting for a cyclist (multiple Tour de France winner), who was cleared of any wrongdoing following an extensive investigation into alleged breaches of anti-doping rules.
Advising former rugby internationals (some of whom are suffering from early-onset dementia) in relation to concussion and brain injury issues.
Other Sector Work
Acting for a digital travel services business regarding multiple claims emanating from a share purchase agreement and a related W&I insurance policy.
Advising a FinTech company in relation to various claims against service providers.
Acting for a state-owned oil company in the successful (total) defence of a US$100 million+ claim in the English High Court for alleged contractual losses relating to the purchase and sale of various cargoes.
Advising a major international brewing company in relation to a multimillion-pound valuation dispute with a joint venture partner and the ensuing expert determination process.
Advising a political figure who was the victim of sustained online abuse and harassment.
Advising a public figure in connection with potential claims against a UK political party and national newspaper.
Acting for a global talent agency in a dispute between a well-known musician and the promoter of an international music festival.
Advising an advertising company in relation to a dispute (and subsequent settlement) with a licensor regarding a digital marketing licence.
Acting for a digital service provider in a contractual claim against a public body in relation to the COVID-19 track and trace system, securing a highly favourable settlement at mediation (being 95% of the initial quantum claimed).
Advising an overseas governmental entity (and drafting the requisite underlying rules and regulations) in relation to the implementation of betting and gaming activity in its jurisdiction.
Author, “High stakes: Traversing the legal terrain of Milano Cortina 2026™”, Anti-doping, CAS, Discipline, Marketing, Olympics, Paralympics, Rules and Regulations, 3 February 2026.
Panellist, “Integrity Developments in Sport”, LawInSport Global Summit, 7 October 2025.
Organiser and Moderator, Squire Patton Boggs Sports Governance Forum, 14 May 2025.
Quoted, “Manslaughter probe continues 1 year after hockey player Adam Johnson’s death in England”, Ken Maguire, AP News, 28 October 2024.
Author, “The ICC’s dilemma: Australia’s stand against Afghanistan sparks debate on political interference”, LawInSport, 18 April 2024.
Cited, “The highest confidence that repetitive head collisions causes chronic traumatic encephalopathy? Analysing the scientific knowledge in the Rugby Union concussion litigation of England and Wales”, Jonathan Kilgallon, The International Sports Law Journal, 24, 20-39, 2024.
Quoted, “Adam Johnson’s death and uncharted waters for British sport”, Matt Slater, The New York Times, 27 January 2024.
Panellist (Moderator), “Contractual Issues in Sport: Recent developments post Covid-19”, AIAC Webinar, September 2020.
Speaker, “Duty of Care in Sport”, Marsh & Bluefin Sports Forum, London, November 2019.
Panellist, AIAC International Sports Law Conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, September 2019.
Co-author, “Parity of termination rights in football employment contracts”, Football Legal (11th Ed.), 30 June 2019.
Author, “The NHL concussion litigation – a second-class settlement?”, LawInSport, 31 December 2018.
Author, “Football’s greatest threat: Why technology & stakeholder collaboration are key to combating global match-fixing”, LawInSport, 8 December 2017.
Author, “Brain Injuries in Sport: The Invisible Killer”, Sports Integrity Initiative, 19 September 2017.