On this episode of Bad News, Good Lawyers, Tom Firestone, head of our Government Investigations & White Collar Practice, is joined by partner Wayne Barnes, one of the most accomplished international rugby referees in the sport’s history and author of Throwing the Book: The Strife and Crimes of a Rugby Referee. Wayne reflects on his journey from community rugby in rural England to officiating the Rugby World Cup 2023 final, while building a successful legal career.
Tom and Wayne discuss the parallels between rugby refereeing and legal practice, including why referees and lawyers face many of the same practical and ethical dilemmas, from decision-making under pressure to the importance of trust, communication and consistency.
They also explore the growing role of technology in sport and the ongoing challenge of tackling corruption, with Wayne sharing his views on protecting integrity and maintaining public confidence in sport.
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*The views expressed by guests on Bad News, Good Lawyers are those of the guest and do not necessarily reflect the views of Squire Patton Boggs.
Key questions addressed in this episode
How did Wayne become a rugby referee?
What made him switch from rugby to law?
What can lawyers learn from sports?
What can sports learn from the law?
Was FIFA’s “light-touch” directive applied fairly in the FIFA World Cup 2026?
What should be done to clean up corruption in sports?
If you have any questions about our podcast, please contact Tom Firestone. And look out for future episodes in this series, where we discuss the intersection of law and politics, and how good lawyers can develop creative solutions to the toughest issues.