Sport Solution Clinic
The Sport Solution Clinic is a program of AthletesCAN, the association of Canada’s national team athletes, in conjuction with the Faculty of Law at Western University. The Clinic offers access to free information, as well as pro bono advice and guidance on sport-related legal issues that may require counsel, such as team selection, carding and safe sport matters.
Mission
Sport Solution is committed to supporting an athlete-centred sport system and strives to achieve this objective by counselling and advocating on behalf of Canada’s high performance athletes so their voices are well represented when resolving sport related issues that affect them.
History
In April 1996, AthletesCAN joined forces with the Sports Law Centre, the Faculty of Law at the University of Western Ontario, and the Dispute Resolution Centre to create an AthletesCAN program that would help Canada’s national team athletes resolve and prevent legal conflicts in sport. Together, they named this clinic Sport Solution. It is the only clinic of its kind in North America and is available free of charge to all members of AthletesCAN.
Legal Services Offered
Sport Solution responds to the legal needs of athletes on a full range of issues and can provide information about:
- General Inquiries and Concerns
- Athlete Agreements
- NSO Procedures
- SDRCC Procedures
- Safe Sport Procedures
- How to Prepare for NSO Appeals and Arbitration at the SDRCC
Types of Issues We Handle
- Team Selection
- AAP Funding / Carding
- Safe Sport
- Discipline
- Other Sport-Related Legal Concerns
Please feel free to contact us with any of your sport-related legal questions. If your issue is beyond the scope of the Clinic’s services, Sport Solution may refer you to legal counsel
Sport Solution Blog
Over the years, the Clinic has learned of many challenges, particularly legal issues, encountered by AthletesCAN members. With this understanding, the blog aims to share expertise, stories, learnings, insights and information to empower national team athletes to make informed decisions and assert their rights in legal disputes in sport.
The blog features articles on the processes undertaken by Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC) and its Abuse-Free Sport program, as well as issues surrounding carding, athlete agreements, new safe sport mandates and policies, analysis of sports legal issues and views on the broader Canadian sports environment, etc.. We welcome you to reach out if you have a topic we should cover, by emailing us at [email protected]. The blog aims to contribute to a future where athletes are skilled competitors and empowered advocates championing their own success.
CONTACT US
Call Early!
in the future.
2023-24 Office Hours
Monday to Friday 10am-5pm Eastern Time
Fall Semester: September 18 – December 7
Winter Semester: January 8 – April 11
2023-24 Sessional Dates Where the Clinic Will Be Closed
November 6 – 10 – Fall Study Break
December 11 – 22 – Fall Term Examination Period
December 23 – January 8 – Winter Break
February 19 – 23 – Winter Study Week
April 15 – April 26 – Winter Examination Period
Get In Touch
THE TEAM
Amanda Fowler
Supervising Lawyer
Amanda Fowler is the award-winning Supervising Lawyer of the Sport Solution Clinic at Western’s Faculty of Law. Amanda started her sports law career when she represented a college baseball player who was drafted to a major league team. Shortly after, she began practicing sports law by representing Olympic, high-performance and amateur athletes in various sport disputes, including team non-selections, improper carding nominations, human rights and doping infractions. Amanda has successfully represented Canadian and international athletes at the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada and the Court of Arbitration for Sport. One of her most memorable cases was being involved with the Caster Semenya appeal.
In 2017, Amanda was a pro bono lawyer for the Invictus Games in Toronto. In 2022, she was named one of Canada’s leading sports and entertainment lawyers by Who’s Who Legal for the second consecutive year, and also took home the Lexology Client Choice Award in Sports & Entertainment Law, which is recognized within both the United States and Canada and internationally.
She continues to advise professional athletes, sport organization and teams.
Anthony Crudo
Program Manager
Anthony Crudo is a second-year law student at Western University. He received a Bachelor of Applied Science at Queen’s University in Computer Engineering. During Anthony’s first year of law school, he volunteered as a Caseworker with the Sport Solution Clinic.
Prior to attending law school, Anthony worked at an international aerospace company and a smart technology start-up. Throughout his professional career, he gained valuable experience working to promote clients’ interests and interacting with multidisciplinary teams. Anthony has also worked with many local and international non-profit organizations through which he supported initiatives including combating youth houselessness and promoting diversity and inclusivity within STEM-related fields.
Anthony is very excited to continue his work with the Sport Solution clinic as a Program Manager. He has a passion for advocacy and focuses on using an empathetic lens in understanding the athlete’s perspective when approaching any case. Anthony is committed to serving Canadian athletes and upholding the Clinic’s high standard of excellence.
Samuel Gan
Program Manager
Samuel Gan is a third-year JD/MBA student at Western. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from St. Francis Xavier University before working for two years in a technology start-up. During Sam’s first year of law school, he volunteered with Project Consent for Pro Bono Students Canada, where he provided consent education to local high school students.
Sam recently completed his U SPORTS varsity athletics career with the Western Mustangs track and field team after initially competing with the St. Francis Xavier X-Men varsity football and track teams. With extensive experience in team and individual sports, Sam values the diversity of approaches to high-performance athletics and understands the challenges of balancing the pursuit of greatness in sport with the stresses of everyday responsibilities.
Sam is excited to be joining the Sport Solution Clinic as a Program Manager and eager to contribute to the important work of supporting Canadian athletes. Through his work, Sam hopes to remove obstacles and issues faced by athletes so they can focus on being the best that they can be.
Hannah Herrington
Program Manager
Hannah Herrington is a second-year law student at Western University, after earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Health, Society and Policy from the University of Utah. Hannah relocated to Vancouver after graduation, where she served as a key member of the provincial health authority and drove the development of innovative and strategic policies.
Hannah’s expertise in health care and human resources equips her with a unique ability to navigate complex and fast-paced environments, making her a valuable resource for clients with time-sensitive or multifaceted matters.
During her first year of law school, Hannah volunteered as a Caseworker with Sport Solution, further fueling her passion for advocating for athletes and eliminating obstacles hindering their success. With an interest in health policy, she is particularly invested in the safe sport movement and is eager to help athletes safeguard their physical and mental well-being. As she transitions into the role of Program Manager, she is excited to continue contributing to the clinic’s crucial work in empowering athletes.
Safiya Nanji
Program Manager
Safiya Nanji is a third-year law student at Western University. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Tufts University and a Master of Arts degree from Columbia University, where she specialized in human rights. Her thesis focused on the exploitation and abuse pertaining to restorative justice in international conflict zones.
Prior to law school, Safiya interned at Parliament and Physicians for Human Rights, where she gained valuable experience instituting change at both the grassroots and macro-policy levels. These transferable skills will be particularly beneficial in serving clients’ interests and communicating with large organizations.
During her first year of law school, Safiya worked with the Sport Solution Clinic as a caseworker and thoroughly enjoyed combining her passion for advocacy and sports. She has been particularly interested in the area of safe sport and ensuring that all athletes have a safe physical and mental training environment. Safiya is excited to be taking on the role of a Program Manager and is committed to upholding the Clinic’s high standard in serving and supporting Canadian athletes.
Dylan Romero-Marshall
Program Manager
Dylan Romero-Marshall is a second-year law student at Western University with a Bachelor of Arts in Justice, Political Philosophy, and Law from McMaster University. During his first year, he volunteered as a Caseworker with the Sport Solution Clinic and the Community Workshops project with Pro Bono Students Canada.
Prior to law school, Dylan was a U SPORTS varsity athlete with the McMaster Marauders men’s volleyball team for five years, helping the team capture multiple Ontario championships and national medals. Outside of sports, Dylan volunteered his time in giving back to the community through a local organization, sparking a keen interest in advocacy.
As a Program Manager at the Sport Solution Clinic, Dylan is excited to combine his passions for advocacy and sports. He is determined to maintain the clinic’s high standard of excellence in supporting Canadian athletes. His commitment to service, and passion for advocacy make him a valuable asset to the clinic and the broader legal community.
Laura Wade
Program Manager
Laura Wade is a third-year law student at Western. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and criminology from St. Thomas University (STU). Prior to attending law school, she worked in the field of corporate law policy and operations to which she gained transferable skills in research and promoting client’s interests.
During her undergraduate degree, Laura was involved in the athletics community and administration which sparked a passion for advocating for athletes. She was further involved in the Senate Committee at STU, where she represented the student population and advocated for more regard for students’ mental health in academic affairs.
Laura is quite excited to be involved with the Sport Solution Clinic as a Program Manager. She is committed to upholding the Clinic’s standard of excellence while supporting and advocating on behalf of athletes. This opportunity to utilize her skills combined with her legal education and passion for sports will allow her to empower athletes, which she is very much looking forward to.
Disclaimer
Sport Solution is a program of AthletesCAN, the association of Canada’s national team athletes. The Program Managers at Sport Solution are law students who can provide athletes with legal information and resources on: sport dispute resolution procedures, athlete agreements and contracts, selection and discipline procedures in sport, and related legal and policy issues.
The Sport Solution Program Managers are not lawyers, and they cannot provide legal advice or opinion. The Sport Solution respects an individual’s privacy and any personal or confidential information that is provided to the Sport Solution will be used solely to assist the athlete with their issue or concern, and will not be shared with others without the athlete’s consent.