Catherine Forshaw

Catherine is an Associate specialising in regulatory sports law; she is the Sub-Sector Head for Brabners’ Rugby and Women in Sport initiatives. Catherine has considerable expertise advising national governing bodies (NGBs), clubs, agents, and athletes on sports related dispute resolution and EDI matters including around the emerging eligibility and participation issues affecting NGBs in respect of the inclusion of transgender and DSD athletes. Catherine, alongside Jason Smith, has led the Brabners’ initiatives in this area and is also currently advising British Swimming on its new transgender eligibility policy following the introduction by World Aquatics of its new “Policy on Eligibility for the Men’s and Women’s Competition Categories” in June 2022. In furtherance of this experience, Catherine has been appointed by three NGBs and one professional league to act as Chair and Legal Representative on their respective Disciplinary, EDI and Transgender Eligibility and Participation Panels.