Quastels LLP is pleased to announce the arrival of Stuart McInnes MBE, who has joined the firm as Senior Counsel, further strengthening the firm’s dispute resolution and sports law capabilities.
Stuart McInnes MBE is a solicitor, previously with Squire Patton Boggs, with over 40 years’ experience in complex disputes and sports law and is an internationally recognised sports arbitrator. He is widely regarded as one of the leading figures in global sports arbitration and governance.
Internationally Recognised Expertise
Stuart has served as an arbitrator at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for around two decades, including appointment to the CAS ad hoc division for the London 2012 Olympic Games, and he has also sat on major-event tribunals. His practice is shaped by substantial cross-border dispute experience, particularly in football and wider sports regulation. In addition, he is Chairman of the Ordinary Arbitration Division of the Qatar Sports Arbitration Tribunal, and sits as an arbitrator at the Saudi Sports Arbitration Center, where he oversees (predominantly football-related) proceedings.
Stuart has acted for and advised governing bodies and stakeholders internationally, including a seven-year consultancy to the Saudi Arabian Football Federation on governance and regulatory matters, dispute resolution, reputation-critical issues, and the drafting and implementation of emergency COVID-19 rules. He has also advised at ministerial level in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on sports-law issues, including the development of women’s football and broader participation in sport. Alongside his work in Saudi Arabia, Stuart has advised the Governments of the UAE and The Sultanate of Oman. Stuart undertook high value commercial arbitrations as Counsel and as an arbitrator.
Recognition and Contribution
Stuart was appointed MBE in 2006 in recognition of his charity work in the City of London, and he is active in sports governance and legal education, including as a Visiting Professor on international sports law programmes.
Joining Quastels
In his role as Senior Counsel at Quastels, Stuart will support the firm’s dispute resolution and sports law offering, providing strategic insight and specialist expertise to clients operating in the UK and internationally. His appointment reflects Quastels’ continued focus on building depth in specialist practice areas.
Stuart’s arrival marks an exciting addition to the firm, enhancing Quastels’ ability to advise on complex, high-value disputes and regulatory matters in the sports sector and beyond.
If you’d like to discuss how Stuart and his team can assist you in sport or dispute resolution matters, whether UK-based or international, please contact him via his email, smcinnes@quastels.com, or call +44 07974 923455.
