Christopher Quinlan KC

Practice Areas

Christopher is a vastly experienced silk with an international and national sports law practice. He appears before and chairs tribunals, adjudicating upon on-field foul play, off-field misconduct, anti-doping, safeguarding and selection appeals in a wide-range of sports and competitions.

Christopher has officiated at international and national tournaments and competitions including Olympic Games (2020, 2024) every Rugby World Cup (men) since 2007, British & Irish Lions 2021 & 2025 tours and Premier League and Championship football. He has significant leadership experience in sport, acting as World Rugby Judicial Panel Chair (2017- ) and the Football Association’s first independent JPC (2019-2025).

In January 2023 Christopher was appointed and remains Chair of the English Football League (EFL) Club Financial Review Panel.

Christopher has been instrumental in the development of different sports. In 2016 he led a review of the structure and composition of the British Horseracing Authority (‘BHA’) Disciplinary Panel, Appeal Board and Licensing Committee. The BHA implemented the far-reaching recommendations in the resulting ‘Quinlan Review’.

In summer of 2020 Christopher conducted an independent review of the safeguarding policies and procedures of UK Athletics. His recommendations were accepted in their entirety.

Christopher helped develop the Head Contact Process (‘HCP’) used by match officials, citing commissioners and judicial panels at every level of the game worldwide to assess the seriousness of foul play involving head/neck contact in rugby union.

He is a Recorder and a legal member of World Athletics Disciplinary Tribunal, National Anti-Doping Panel, National Safeguarding Panel and Sport Resolutions Panel of Arbitrators