Marc Cavaliero

Cavaliero & Associates

Geneva www.cavaliero-associates.com

mc@cavaliero-associates.com Tel: +41 79 276 19 04

Biography

Marc Cavaliero is a Swiss-trained attorney-at-law and founding partner at Cavaliero & Associates, a Swiss boutique law firm specialising in sports, media and entertainment law. Before founding Cavaliero & Associates, Marc was a founding partner at Kleiner & Cavaliero. Previously, Marc worked within the legal affairs division of FIFA for almost 10 years as head of the disciplinary department and previously as senior group leader within the players' status department. Marc was recently appointed as FINA’s chief ethics and compliance officer and is also a member of the UCI Ethics Committee.

How has your role as a sports lawyer changed since you started your career?

My career as a sports lawyer started at FIFA in 2008, where I focused on driving the development and optimisation of the regulatory framework and governance structure of football disciplinary and ethics proceedings. Since 2017, I have worked in private practice to interact and adapt to the changes to the governance structure and the regulations. The spectrum of the regulatory framework became broader, more professional and more dense requiring a greater degree of specialisation and sophistication. Furthermore, the traditionally conservative lawyer environment has been shaken by a new mode of operation, communication and public visibility. The football world is a fast-running machine, where every actor – including sports lawyers – have to act fast and right. Mistakes today are hardly forgiven and we are here to set actors up for success to navigate, interact and adapt to this new era of professional football.

What do clients look for in an effective sports lawyer?

Clients firstly expect the right balance between legal advice and pragmatic advice. One needs to provide clear, transparent legal advice and be able to outline the risks or disadvantages of certain situations. While excellency and swiftness are expected, one shall never forget the client’s need for clarity and exemplarity. Finally, an ethical conduct of the lawyer is cornerstone to their activity and confidentiality.

To what extent is the coronavirus pandemic still affecting the sector?

Everyone has in mind the difficult period we went (are still going) through. Images of this period were tragic. The (financial) consequences of the pandemic were drastic and lasted a long time. Various measures had to be taken from the top of the sports pyramid to help the stakeholders and ensure that the consequences would be as “short-term” as possible. Thanks to this, the sports sector could recover rather fast and the industry is running at full speed (while being cautious of what tomorrow can be).

How does your role as member of the UCI Ethics Committee enhance your practice and what is the organisation’s goals?

I am extremely thankful to have been elected to such a position. It is a real privilege to act as ethics committee member, as we are confronted with extremely interesting but crucial questions and proceedings.

In addition to this position, I have been recently appointed as FINA’s chief ethics and compliance officer. This position will be operational as of 1st January 2023. Needless to say that I am very honoured to have been confirmed into this newly created position.

My partner at the firm, Jaime Cambreleng, is a member of the FIVB Disciplinary Panel and ad hoc clerk of the FEI Tribunal.

These different positions allow us to participate and stay informed of the legal development of some of the most important international sport federations from within. For instance, I partook in the draft of the amendments of the UCI Ethics Code applying the knowledge and experience acquired from its previous edition. This is an invaluable force.

How does Cavaliero & Associates distinguish itself from the competition?

This is always a difficult question to answer. First, we try to abide to all qualities described in question two. Let’s say that we always strive to respond swiftly, to be available around the clock and to provide transparent and useful legal advice.

We also conduct ourselves with a deontological approach towards colleagues, judges and clients.

Furthermore, the fact that we are a boutique law firm makes us very approachable, agile and allows for direct communication with clients, counterparts, institutions or courts. We aim at maintaining confidentiality and apply a wellbalanced mode of communication.

Lastly, our background and experience in sport allows us to stay on top of the ball of all legal developments of the sports law world.

Looking back over your career, what has been your proudest achievement?

As cheesy as it sounds, I am proud of the fact that our team keeps an impeccable reputation and is seen as strong ethical professionals of our industry. The fact that our team be recognised for its work, knowledge, commitment and integrity is crucial to keep the DNA of Cavaliero & Associates running.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

I was lucky enough to work alongside great professionals, whom I look up to and constantly provided great advice. If I had to select one – which is not an easy task – it would be: stay always true to yourself.

WWL says: Marc Cavaliero has “established a strong presence in the market” and is known as “a very good counsel” with “vast legal knowledge and experience”.