Amina Graham is a sought-after practitioner with extensive experience providing legal advice and representation across the spectrum of Sports Law, Professional Discipline, Inquests, and other Regulatory sectors.
Amina spent over 11 years at The Football Association (The FA) as an in-house barrister and Head of the Regulatory Legal department. She was responsible for representing The FA in disciplinary proceedings and providing legal advice in all football disciplinary matters throughout the football pyramid, up to and including, the Premier League. She has substantial experience of advising on and appearing in cases involving anti-doping, on-field misconduct, betting and anti-corruption, financial regulation, agents’ regulation, discrimination, and safeguarding.
Prior to joining The FA, Amina was a barrister at a leading chambers in London, specialising in criminal law. She also spent six months in The Hague, Netherlands, in the trial against Charles Taylor (former President of Liberia), who was charged with war crimes before the Special Court for Sierra Leone.
Amina is regularly instructed in respect of inquest proceedings and has acted for various interested parties during the inquest process. Recent instructions include representing the interests of a care home in relation to the death of a vulnerable adult, representing a health trust in the death of an autistic young mother, and a complex Article 2 jury inquest into a death in custody. Amina is also regularly instructed to act on behalf of medical professionals at inquests.
She also acts for both individuals and regulators in Professional Discipline proceedings, with particular experience representing police officers in gross misconduct proceedings. Her most recent cases include representing a serving Metropolitan Police Firearms Officer in police misconduct proceedings, which are currently the subject of judicial review following his acquittal. Amina also acts for various healthcare professionals involved in fitness to practice proceedings and has significant experience of advising on internal investigations, disciplinary and regulatory matters, and grievances.
Amina is a member of the football League Managers Association legal panel and is regularly instructed to provide legal advice and representation to professional football managers. She also sits on various sports disciplinary panels.
Amina is ranked as a Leading barrister in the field of Sports Law in both Chambers and Partners, and The Legal 500. She was recently shortlisted for Sports Junior of the Year in The Legal 500 UK Bar Awards 2024.
Amina accepts Direct Access instructions.
Amina is regularly instructed in inquest proceedings to act on behalf of various interested persons.
She has experience of advising and representing individuals and organisations at various stages of the inquest process. Recent cases of note include representing the interests of a care home in relation to the death of a vulnerable adult, representing a health trust in the death of an autistic young mother, and a complex Article 2 jury inquest into a death in custody.
Amina is also regularly instructed to act on behalf of medical professionals at inquests. She frequently acts on behalf of healthcare professionals in inquests and professional discipline proceedings.
Inquest into the death of CSL
Acted for Health Trust in respect of the death of an autistic 16-year-old at a boarding school.
Inquest into the death of IP
Acted for GP involved in prescribing antidepressant medication to 17 year old who later took her own life.
Inquest into the death of PC
Acted for traffic management company involved in undertaking roadworks shortly before a fatal traffic collision at the scene of the roadworks.
Inquest into the death of DH
Acted for dentist involving the death of an elderly patient following a tooth extraction.
Inquest into the death of FF
Represented Health Trust in respect of the death of a vulnerable autistic young mother.
Inquest into the death of SH
Acted for Consultant Orthopaedic surgeon in respect of the death of a patient following an amputation at a private hospital.
Inquest into the death of PMQ
Acted for a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist in respect of a stillbirth at hospital.
Amina is instructed to appear in all cases involving Professional Discipline matters and acts on behalf of both individuals and regulators.
She is regularly instructed to act on behalf of police officers in respect of police misconduct matters, particularly providing advice and representation in gross misconduct proceedings.
Amina frequently appears before the healthcare regulators acting on behalf healthcare professionals in respect of fitness to practise proceedings involving serious fitness to practise allegations.
Amina also has a wealth of experience advising on internal investigations, disciplinary and regulatory matters, and grievances.
Amina’s experience in the role of former Head of Regulatory Legal at The Football Association provides her with a breath of knowledge across the spectrum of professional disciplinary proceedings.
Metropolitan Police v NL
Police officer accused of using excessive force on a member of the public who had been arrested and detained for assaulting an Emergency Worker. The Panel found the allegations not proved and the Officer was acquitted of both Gross Misconduct and Misconduct.
Metropolitan Police v KG
Police officer accused of breaching the Standards of Equality and Diversity and Discreditable Conduct. The Panel found the allegations not proved and the Officer was acquitted of both Gross Misconduct and Misconduct.
R (on the application of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis) v MN
Judicial review proceedings in respect of a decision of a police misconduct panel to dismiss the case at half-time following a R v Galbraith submission. The case involved allegations of sexual assault and sexually inappropriate communications with another officer. Proceedings ongoing.
BTP v MW
British Transport Police proceedings in respect of allegations of sexually inappropriate communications. Successfully argued that the special conditions were not met for the case to proceed to an accelerated misconduct hearing.
Metropolitan Police v MN
Metropolitan Police firearms officer accused of 15 allegations of gross misconduct. These included allegations of sexual assault and a number of allegations of inappropriate sexualised communications involving a fellow officer. The entirety of the case was dismissed following a submission of no case to answer made on behalf of the officer at the conclusion of the AA’s case. This case is currently the subject of judicial review of the Metropolitan Police Commissioner following MN’s acquittal.
Hertfordshire Police v BW
Police officer accused 12 separate allegations, including sexual assault and discriminatory language during an off-duty night out with colleagues.
GMC v JB
Represented a Consultant Cardiologist accused of historical rape allegation. Successfully argued for the revocation of the doctor’s interim suspension of their registration.
HCPC v PK
Healthcare professional accused of theft and fraudulent misrepresentations. Successfully applied to exclude substantial hearsay evidence on the basis of its inherent unfairness to the proceedings.
Amina is ranked as a Leading barrister in Sports Law in both Chambers and Partners, and The Legal 500.
She has over 11 years’ experience working as an in-house barrister at The Football Association (The FA) as Head of the Regulatory Legal department. In this role she was responsible for providing legal advice and representation on behalf of The FA in all football disciplinary matters throughout the football pyramid, up to and including, the Premier League.
Amina has substantial experience of advising on and appearing in cases involving anti-doping, on-field misconduct, betting and anti-corruption, financial regulation, agents’ regulation, discrimination and safeguarding.
She has been involved in the most high-profile cases in football regulation over the last decade, including The FA v Ivan Toney (betting), The FA v Jurgen Klopp (on- field misconduct), The FA v John Yems (discrimination), The FA v Kieran Trippier (betting), The FA v Daniel Sturridge (betting), and The FA v Jose Mourinho (on- field misconduct).
Amina represents both regulators and individuals and is regularly instructed to act for various parties in respect of sports regulatory and disciplinary matters.
Amina is a member of the League Managers Association’s legal panel and provides advice and assistance to professional football managers. Amina also sits as a disciplinary and safeguarding panel member for various sports governing bodies including the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), UK Athletics, Badminton England. She is a Specialist Member of the Sports Resolution Panel and sits on the National Safeguarding Panel and the National Panel. She is also a pro bono lawyer for Sport Resolutions and a Mentor for LawInSport.
The FA v Nottingham Forest FC
Represented The FA in respect of disciplinary proceedings against the Club resulting from a post on the Club’s X account which was found to have alleged actual bias against the VAR. The Club was fined £750,000 for the breach.
Led by Jonathan Laidlaw KC in the Club’s appeal against sanction.
The FA v Nuno Espirito Santo & Neco Williams
Represented The FA in disciplinary proceedings against both the Manager and a Player of Nottingham Forest FC relating to highly publicised media comments in which they both criticised the VAR in a Premier League fixture.
Sports Regulator v X & Y
Led by Jonathan Laidlaw KC in disciplinary proceedings involving two Premier League coaches in respect of extensive investigation into alleged breaches of the Agents’ and Intermediaries’ Regulations. Successfully advanced representations on behalf of both clients leading to no charges being brought against either of them.
Sports Regulator v X
Represented a Sports Governing Body (SGB) in safeguarding case involving serious sexual criminal allegations against a sports participant. Case concerned extensive legal argument over the issue of the SGB’s jurisdiction over participants in safeguarding proceedings compared with disciplinary proceedings.
Represented SGB in disciplinary case involving sexual assault by a professional coach against two female coaches. Coach received significant suspension from sport.
Regularly instructed to provide legal advice and assistance to various Premier League and EFL managers in respect of disciplinary proceedings.
The FA v DS
Represented SGB in disciplinary case involving sexual assault by a professional coach against two female coaches. Coach received significant suspension from sport.
Acted for various Premier League and English Football League Managers providing legal advice and assistance in disciplinary proceedings both pre and post charge.
Amina Graham acted for a Metropolitan Police Officer accused of using excessive force on a…
Michael Rawlinson represented the Nottingham Forest Football Club. Amina Graham appeared on behalf of The Football Association….
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