Paul Horvath
PRINCIPAL SPORTS LAWYER
Paul Horvath and his handpicked team are client focused and solution focused. While the law can be full of jargon, Paul is known for simplifying difficult concepts into easy to understand language. This goes a long way in his clients being able to fully understand their options to make informed choices.
Paul Horvath completed his Master of Laws at the University of Melbourne with an emphasis on sports law. He has also served on the board of Harness Racing Victoria and as the Chair of the Law Institute of Victoria’s Sports Law Group. Before opening his own legal practice, Paul worked primarily in the field of litigation.
In 2004, Paul opened his legal practice in Melbourne, Australia with an emphasis on sports, commercial and employment law.
In 2008, having gained extensive experience in panel and tribunal work, document and policy drafting, Paul launched SportsLawyer as a specialist sports law practice.
Paul is currently on the Governance, Risk and Integrity Committee of Water Polo Australia. He is also the current Vice-Captain, and a committee member, of the Brighton Golf Club in Victoria.
Your case is important to us. See what some of our clients had to say in a recent survey conducted when our firm was being awarded the Global Law Experts Awards 2025 for Sports Law, Australia.
“SportsLawyer has consistently demonstrated exceptional expertise in sports law and provides invaluable legal services to our organisation. Their professionalism, innovative approach, and deep knowledge of the sports industry have earned them a well-deserved reputation.”
– Client surveyed for Global Law Experts Awards 2025 for Sports Law, Australia
Awards and Accomplishments
- Recipient of the Lexology Client Choice Award (2022) https://www.lexology.com/1318410/author/Paul_Horvath
- Who’s Who Legal Australia – Sports & Entertainment Law (2019-2024)
- NAB Professional Services Awards Finalist – PH Solicitor (2018)
- ANZSLA Paul Trisley Award (2007)
Expertise
- Sports Tribunals: AFL, Australian rules football, soccer
- Doping Cases: AFL (Essendon Supplements Program Investigation – Mark Thompson)
- Governance: AFL Coaches Association, Richmond Football Club, Commonwealth Games Australia
- Investigations: Bullying, Code of Conduct Breaches, Discrimination, Director breaches of duty
- Sports Disputes and Litigation: Contract, Defamation, Discrimination (Elisha Buckley), Selection disputes
- Criminal Law Cases: various AFL players & elite athletes over the past 20 years, mainly during their athletic careers.
“In all cases we have relied upon the expertise of SportsLawyer principal Paul Horvath and his staff for their expert advice. On all occasions, SportsLawyer have been super responsive, accurate and detailed with their advice.”
– Client surveyed for Global Law Experts Awards 2025 for Sports Law, Australia
Experience
Paul knows that it is important to work with both organisations and individuals as it provides a depth of understanding of both sides of any sports law issues. Below is only a sample of the types of matters Paul has been involved with.
Representing Organisations
“Paul and his team at SportsLawyer have been an amazing group of people to have in our corner when negotiating professional athletic agreements and other legal matters. Their knowledge and expertise has been invaluable over the years and they have continued to provided us with complete confidence prior to signing any sponsorship contracts and ensuring we understand all of our legal obligations”
– Client surveyed for Global Law Experts Award 2025 for Sports Law, Australia
- Acted for Football Federation Victoria (FFV) in an appeal to the Football Federation of Australia (FFA) Appeals Board by 3 players against 5 year bans for assaulting spectators at an FFV fixture. SportsLawyer successfully argued for the bans to be upheld.
- Acted on behalf of an AFL Club and its players in relation to AFL Tribunal and AFL Tribunal Appeal hearings. AFL Tribunal (2009-2017): Jake King, Dustin Martin, Trent Cotchin, Ty Vickery, Alex Rance, Bachar Houli.
- Converting the Constitution of an international sporting body from an incorporated association to a company limited by guarantee.
- Successfully representing athletes (including world champions) in doping and other sports disputes before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in both Switzerland and Australia (Oceania);
- Court of Arbitration for Sport: 2007/A/1291 Mikhaylo Zubkov v. Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA), award of 21 December 2007
- Court of Arbitration for Sport: A2/2009 Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA), on behalf of Australian Sports Commission (ASC) and Golf Australia (GA) v. Daniel Nisbet, award of 2 February 2010
- Appearing in Selection Appeals for London 2012 for an Olympic Gold Medallist, and for another Olympic Gold Medallist prior to the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games.
- Conducting an investigation for Athletics Australia following the London 2012 Olympics relating to allegations by a high-profile athlete that the sport had discriminated against them, and that the CEO misled the athlete.
- Court of Arbitration for Sport: 2013/A/3407 Green Gully Soccer Club v. Pedro Henrique Coelho de Oliveira, award of 20 June 2014
- Greyhound Racing Appeals & Disciplinary Board: Ron Gilliland (2016), Jason Thompson (2017)
- Thompson v Greyhound Racing Victoria Stewards (Review and Regulation) [2017] VCAT 1784 (3 November 2017)
- Victorian Racing Tribunal: Greyhound Racing Victoria v Chris Scanlan (2021)
“We would not hesitate in recommending Paul to any other organisation seeking an outstanding lawyer.”
– Client survey for 2022 Client Choice Awards for Sports Law, Australia
Representing Individuals
- Represented a World Champion sportsperson in relation to an alleged breach of anti-doping rules (under WADA Code) and succeeded in having all charges dismissed.
- Australian Karting Appeals Court: Scott McLaughlin (2006)
- CAMS Appeal Tribunal: Acted for a Porsche race driver in having all rule breaches dismissed at a hearing (2014)
- Representing Mark “Bomber” Thompson in the Essendon Supplements Program Investigation and AFL Commission Hearing
- Acting on behalf of triathlete Emma Snowsill in an Olympic selection appeal.
- Represented an eight time national go-kart champion in the Australian Motor Sport Appeal Court (2008) and succeeded in having a race penalty overturned at the national championships, resulting in the driver successfully receiving his next National Championship Trophy (David Sera).
- Represented an international level athlete in an investigation conducted by ASADA (now SIA) relating to an alleged doping offence, part of a broader investigation. After making comprehensive submissions to ASADA and providing supporting documentation in response to proposed assertions by ASADA of alleged anti-doping violations, and in support of the athlete’s position, the charges were not proceeded with, and the athlete received no penalty.
“Paul was calm, reassuring and precise when talking with me and he would continue to keep me up to date by taking me through step by step with how things were progressing.”
– Client survey for 2022 Client Choice Awards for Sports Law, Australia
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