Littleton Chambers

Employment and Sports Law

Joel’s specialist practice areas, for which he is ranked in leading directories, are sports, employment, discrimination and business protection law. Joel appears in cases which attract press attention and are of wider international significance. Joel appeared before the UK Supreme Court in Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia (Cultural Bureau) v Costantine [2025] UKSC 9, [2025] 1 WLR 1207,which is the leading case on the court’s duty to give effect to state immunity. Joel also represented the successful appellant in CAS 2025/A/11241Majeed v Anorthosis Famagusta FC, an international football wage dispute before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (the “Supreme Court” of sport). Recently, Joel defended QPR in an £11+ million discrimination, harassment and victimisation suit brought by a former academy player.

Joel prides himself on having a modern and down-to-earth approach. His collaborative style focuses on early strategising to achieve client objectives and his self-deprecating manner makes working with him on even the most challenging cases enjoyable. Clients say that Joel has an ability to develop fine-tuned solutions in difficult circumstances and that he communicates in a “calm” and “measured” way. As a keen advocate, natural presenter, and robust cross-examiner, Joel brings a rounded skillset to the table.

• Sport Resolutions Safeguarding Case Management Programme Legal Advice Service

• Sport Resolutions Pro Bono Panel

• Former chair on The FA’s CFA Disciplinary Panel (from 2017 to 2021)

• Employment Law Association Member

• Bar Professional Training Course – BPP Law School

• LLM – UCL

• GDL – City

• BA Theology (First Class) – University of Nottingham

Publications

Sports "‘Golden Mitigation’ in football: Lessons from the Nottingham Forest's Profitability & Sustainability Regulations Appeal decision", (2024) LawInSport “Pitfalls of Sports Federations Playing Judge, Jury & Executioner – A Review of Turk v FIM”, (2022) LawInSport “VB Football Assets v Blackpool Football Club (Properties) Ltd & Ors [2018] EWHC 1232” (Ch), (2018) Lexis Analysis Employment “Clarity for Irregular Workers: Paid Annual Leave Accrual in the Supreme Court” (2022) Lexology “Annual Leave in the Court of Appeal: Another win for Gig Workers” (2022) Lexology Commercial “Directors Duties to Creditors: Does BTI 2014 v Sequana Bring Clarity or Confusion to the Duty?” (2022) Littleton Talks and Speaking Events “Law students need to stop waiting for that Suits moment” (2018) Legal Cheek