Trinity Sports Law barrister Fraser Williamson and clerk Paul McNab, were in Portugal this week as part of a continued effort to build international relationships within the sports law sector.
As part of the visit, Fraser and Paul met with leading Portuguese sports law firm 14 Sports Law, including established European practitioners Matilde Costa Dias and Andre Duarte Costa (pictured), to further develop cross-border collaboration. The firm is widely recognised for its expertise across a range of sports law matters and its strong presence within the European market.
Alongside these meetings, Fraser and Paul also attended the Ion2Build 2026 Conference in Cascais, Lisbon, having received a personal invitation from the organisers, Ricardo Mira, Tiago Mira and Rui Lanca.
The Conference is a leading international event at the intersection of sport and business, bringing together over 850 attendees from across the global sports industry. Delegates include elite athletes, club executives, legal professionals, entrepreneurs, media figures and innovation leaders, creating a diverse and high-level networking environment.
The opening speech at the Conference was delivered by the Portuguese Minister for Business. Other speakers and panel guests included elite level referees Bobby Maddely, Luis Godhino, Artur Soares Dias and professional client of Fraser's, assistant referee Dan Robathan. There were further contributions from former rugby union players Eoin O'Malley and Max Evans, and former Standard Leige FC owner Bruno Venanzi.
The 2026 programme focused on four key themes, Sport, Performance, Innovation and Business with panel discussions exploring topics such as the commercial evolution of sport, governance challenges, the impact of artificial intelligence on performance, high performance versus mental health and the growing influence of media and storytelling within the industry. The event was also an opportunity to engage with industry leaders, alongside technology showcases and structured networking sessions.
Fraser and Paul’s attendance reflects Trinity Chambers’ continued expansion in sports law and its commitment to building strong relationships across key jurisdictions.
Commenting on the Portugal visit, Fraser said:
“We’re already developing strong relationships here, including with leading firms such as 14 Sports Law, and events like this play an important role in building the connections that underpin international sports law work. It’s an exciting time for the sector and for Trinity’s involvement within it.”