Interview with a sports lawyer. Part 6. Anna Smirnova

Today we have an interview with the international sports lawyer, ISDE graduate, attorney of Monteneri Sports Law – Anna Smirnova (Linkedin).

– Good evening, Anna! Could you tell us please about your background?

Hello everyone. Let me first thank International Sports Law for this conversation and this wonderful job you are doing on the channel. 

Originally, I am an international lawyer, I graduated from Saint-Petersburg State University International Law department and started my legal career as a corporate lawyer in an international law firm one of which branches was in Saint-Petersburg at that time. Thanks to my colleagues from that firm in 2010 I was lucky to join Ilim Group, one of the major industrial companies in Russia, as a senior lawyer for international projects, where during four years I had an exceptional experience as an international lawyer handling not only M&A deals but participating in truly international matters such as the trade of emission reduction units under the Kyoto Protocol or legal evaluation of risks for major businesses after Russia’s accession to the WTO. 

– Why did you choose the branch of sports law?

As a former equestrian athlete, I was always passionate about specializing in sports law. First time when I understood the importance of law in sport came to me back in 2002. I was participating in the International Sports Youth Games in Moscow and on the road from Saint-Petersburg to Moscow my horse got cold; it was the first time I heard from our team representative and a veterinary committee of the competition about TUE (therapeutic use exemption) and the importance of proper paperwork in order to avoid issues with doping-control. 

After I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 2007, there were not many international schools with master’s programs in sports law. So, I continued my education in Saint-Petersburg seeking for master’s degree in international law, and by occasion in 2008 I knew about the International Sports Law program in ISDE (Instituto Superior de Derecho y Economia) in Madrid. Thus, I took an academic leave in Saint-Petersburg University and in 2009 left for Madrid. 

– You work with Monteneri Sports Law. How did you become a lawyer of this firm? 

The International Sports Law master’s program in ISDE was divided into two parts, theoretical half-year and internship during the second half-year. Gianpaolo Monteneri was at that time the Academic Director of the program, and he decided to offer to me an internship in his law firm in Zurich. Since then we have always remained in contact and cooperated to the extent feasible, even when I returned to Saint-Petersburg and started working for Ilim Group. 

– You are a member of the Disciplinary Tribunal in World Athletics. What do you like more: to be a judge or to be a lawyer? 

Being a judge or a lawyer, these are different sides of the same coin, and I enjoy them both, particularly, considering the difference in the legal issues. As a judge, even if as a human being I may be sympathetic towards an athlete especially in doping-related matters, there is law which is applied strictly and severely. Personally, I must admit that being a representative of a party in the proceedings gives more flexibility in action and argumentation and, therefore, at least for the time being, appeals to me more. 

– Is it possible to find a job only as a sports lawyer in Switzerland, or should it always be parallel with other branches of law? Generally, is it easy to find a job in a sports law firm?

Switzerland can boast an incredible cluster of international organizations giving vast opportunities and not only for lawyers. Yes, international sports law is also centralized mostly in Switzerland, but I would not pose the question whether it is easier or not to find a job there than in any other country. Each lawyer in a sports law firm has his/her own story of success. Especially for young lawyers, I would not recommend to limit career opportunities by geography only, important is to find the way where you can develop professionally. 

– In your opinion, why International Sports Law becomes more important every year?

Sport as many other fields of social and, of course, economic activities cannot exist isolated. One may like or dislike globalization but sport by nature contemplates interaction between people of different origins and culture. The broader such interaction evolves the more controversy appears and, consequently, the more regulation is needed.

– Which books exist in your must-read list related to the sports law?

My everyday indispensable “bible” is the ‘Code of the Court of Arbitration for Sport: Commentary, Cases and Materials’ by Despina Mavromati and Matthieu Reeb. 

– What advice would you share with our readers and young sports lawyers?

My very first boss once told me to learn by heart the standards of securities’ emission (hundreds of pages of complex regulations); this should not be understood literally but meaning of how important is to become a specialist in something of real value for you and your professional interests. And one more, exceptionally worthy which I remember from the lectures of Prof. Colucci: learn the languages. Your native language and English are not enough nowadays. 

– We would like to express appreciation for answering the questions. We wish you to score major successes in the future!

My pleasure and thanks again for inviting me. All the best!