Kendrah Potts

‘Very responsive, succinct and commercial in her approach, she is an excellent pair of hands on any commercial, fraud or sports related dispute.’ – Legal 500, 2021 (UK Bar: Commercial Litigation)

Kendrah has a broad commercial disputes practice. Having worked as a commercial litigator for many years (including at Freshfields and Mishcon de Reya (qualifying at Freshfields in 2006)), Kendrah’s commercial litigation experience is significantly beyond her year of call.

As a partner and senior associate Kendrah led on high-value, complex cases across different industries, representing international companies, financial institutions and governments. She advised on a wide range of commercial disputes in the Court of Appeal, High Court and County Courts, including acting on the successful defence of the claims in the high profile OCENSA Pipeline Group Litigation.

Kendrah advises (led and as sole counsel) on matters ranging from complex, multi-million pound disputes to smaller commercial disputes. She advises on interim applications as well as on the enforcement of judgments and arbitration awards.

Many of Kendrah’s cases have an international element (her language skills have been particularly helpful in this regard) and she is experienced advising on conflicts of laws issues and dealing with foreign law.

Recent cases include:

• Sole advocate acting on the defence of a $25million breach of contract claim concerning international broadcast rights (arbitration).
• Advising on the defence of a breach of contract claim for £20 million arising out of a SPA, including successfully defending a summary judgment application turning on matters of contractual interpretation (Damoco (Bermuda) Limited and Others v Atlanta Bidco Limited [2020] EWHC 501 (Comm)). (Led by Graham Chapman QC.)
• Instructed for the First Defendant in the matter of Public Institution for Social Security v Al Rajaan & Others. The case, involving claims for over $800 million, arises out of alleged payments of secret commissions. (Led by Tom Weisselberg QC.)
• Acting as sole advocate on the defence of a £10million breach of contract claim and a counterclaim for misrepresentation and mistake (arbitration).
• Advising an international entertainment agency on a multi million pound contract dispute arising out of a joint venture and involving alleged breaches of licence, service and shareholder agreements.
• Acting for a Claimant in three separate proceedings in the High Court involving allegations of conspiracy, deceit, breach of contract and fiduciary duties and unjust enrichment arising out of similar fraudulent transactions (led by Jeff Chapman QC).
• Sole advocate advising on a $100million breach of contract dispute relating to broadcasting rights (LCIA arbitration).
• Sole counsel instructed on a challenge to an arbitration award pursuant to sections 67 and 68 of the Arbitration Act.
• Sole counsel representing a claimant in a breach of contract claim involving issues of apparent authority.
• Sole counsel advising a US event promoter on enforcement proceedings (in respect of a judgment for $100million) in the UK.
• Appearing as sole counsel advising on the enforcement of a foreign arbitration award and related enforcement proceedings in the Commercial Court.
• Representing a major betting operator in a number of contract disputes.

Kendrah represents clients in a range of civil fraud and asset recovery claims both in the courts and arbitration.

Recent cases include:

• Acting for an individual in his successful defence of claims brought in the High Court, including claims in deceit, unjust enrichment, knowing receipt, resulting trust and breach of warranty (led by Daniel Saoul). (Barley v Muir [2018] EWHC 619 (QB))
• Acting for a Claimant in three separate proceedings in the High Court involving allegations of conspiracy, deceit, breach of contract and fiduciary duties and unjust enrichment arising out of similar fraudulent transactions (led by Jeff Chapman QC).
• Sole counsel acting for an individual in his defence of allegations of bribery arising in the context of an election for president of an international organisation.
• Acting on a dispute in the High Court arising out of alleged fraudulent conduct by a financial advisor.
• Instructed on a £10million claim, involving claims in deceit, negligence and/or breach of contract, arising out of alleged mortgage fraud. The claims involve numerous transactions from which lead cases were selected. (Led by Patrick Lawrence QC.)

Prior to joining the Bar, Kendrah advised clients on a range of commercial disputes before arbitral bodies, including in the sports industry (please see the “Sports” link for further information on Kendrah’s sports arbitration work). For details of Kendrah’s commercial disputes experience, please see the “Commercial Litigation” section above. Kendrah has worked in Paris, Barcelona and Switzerland and is also able to work in French and Spanish.

‘Has a depth of knowledge of the law, sports regulations and the sports industry that belies her year of call. Is both concise and comprehensive in her written and oral advice, is exceptional with clients, is quietly persuasive and passionate in her representation of clients.’ – Legal 500, 2021

“Kendrah may be new to the Bar but her talent is unquestionable. She understands sports law issues with ease and grasps the fundamentals quickly. She’s always a pleasure to work with.” – Chambers & Partners, 2020

Kendrah represents athletes, sports governing bodies, agents and clubs before a range of domestic and international tribunals and courts, including the Court of Arbitration for Sport and Sports Resolutions. She advises on all sports-related matters, including contract disputes, anti-doping rule violations, match-fixing charges, selection disputes, disciplinary matters, governance and corruption. She also takes instructions in non-contentious matters, such as drafting and advising on regulations and governance issues.

Kendrah is on the arbitral and mediation panels of Sport Resolutions and sits on the Union Cycliste Internationale’s Arbitral and Disciplinary Panel and the British Equestrian Federation’s Anti-Doping Panel.

Kendrah was appointed to the Challenge Panel advising the UK Government on its review of UK Anti-Doping in 2017.

Kendrah was Legal Counsel to the international commission established by the Union Cycliste Internationale to investigate doping and related allegations of corruption and mismanagement in cycling. She also undertook a secondment to the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games where she was the lead lawyer on sports integrity and anti-doping.

She is an editor for LawInSport and regularly speaks at conferences and publishes articles.

Kendrah is currently instructed on a number of cases before CAS, first instance sports governing body tribunals and Rule K arbitrations.

Recent cases include:

• Acting for Daniel Sturridge in his defence of charges under The FA Betting Regulations.
• Acting for Birmingham City FC in its defence of a misconduct charge relating to the EFL financial fair play regulations.
• Acting for Alex Hales in respect of disciplinary charges for bringing the game into disrepute.
• Representing the RFU in the prosecution of Nathan Hughes for bringing the game into disrepute.
• Representing Kalkaba Malboum in proceedings before CAS in the successful defence of disciplinary charges, including (the first case of) infringing the autonomy of sport, brought by the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa.
• Regularly representing the Governing Bodies of Tennis in respect of charges brought under the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program at first instance and before CAS. Cases include representing the Governing Bodies in the successful prosecution of charges brought against Nicolas Kicker (match-fixing and failing to cooperate with an investigation), Peng Shuai (relating to the draw at Wimbledon in 2017), Federico Coria (failing to report a corrupt approach and tampering with evidence), Patricio Heras (match-fixing and failing to report corrupt approaches).
• Acting for a former Premier League footballer in a contract dispute with an agent (Rule K arbitration).
• Acting for an English club in a dispute with a Serie A club arising out of the transfer of a player (before CAS).
• Acting for an agent and international football player in CAS proceedings regarding contract disputes with another agent.
• Acting for an international rugby player on a commercial contract dispute.
• Advising an international sports rights-holder on a multi million pound contract dispute arising out of an international broadcasting agreement.
• Advising a Premier League club on claims for breach of contract and fraud relating to player transfers.
• Acting for an agent in a contract dispute with an international and former Premier League footballer (Rule K arbitration).
• Acting for an agent in CAS proceedings regarding a contract dispute with another agent in respect of an international football player.
• Acting for an agent in Rule K proceedings arising out of the transfer of a player to a Premier League club.
• Advising Nigel Levine on his response to an anti-doping rule violation charge.
• Acting for an agent in a contract dispute with a UFC fighter.
• Acting for Nesta Carter in his defence of doping charges (before CAS, led by Kate Gallafent QC, and as sole advocate in separate proceedings before the IAAF).
• Acting for the Rugby Football Union on the prosecution of various doping cases.
• Advising a governing body on its defence arising out of a selection dispute.
• Advising a tennis club on a claim in the courts arising out of a dispute with a member.
• Advising the ITF on disciplinary proceedings against an official.
• Advising a foreign football club on a potential appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal to challenge a CAS decision.

Kendrah has more than ten years’ experience of costs matters. As a former solicitor she has extensive experience of issues relating to CFAs, billing and costs budgets. Kendrah’s experience of preparing costs budgets and managing cases as a solicitor makes her particularly well qualified to defend costs budgets and fees at CCMCs and on detailed assessment.

Recent cases include:

• Acting for a law firm in respect of claims relating to CFAs and ATE insurance (led by Nicholas Bacon QC).
• Acting for a law firm in its defence of an application under the Solicitors Act 1974 (led by Daniel Saoul).
• Representing a law firm in relation to a wasted costs application.

Kendrah is a CEDR accredited mediator and is on the Sport Resolutions Mediation Panel. In acting as mediator Kendrah draws on her experiences as a solicitor in private practice and in-house, which provided her with a particularly good understanding of the commercial realities in which parties operate and which is often crucial to facilitating settlement.

Kendrah is on the Sport Resolutions Legal Arbitrator Panel and sits as an arbitrator for the Union Cycliste Internationale and British Equestrian Federation.