Amina Graham is a leading practitioner specialising in Sports Law, Professional Discipline, Inquests, and other Regulatory sectors.
Amina is Co-Head of the Sports Law Group at 2 Hare Court. She is ranked as a Leading barrister in Sports Law in both Chambers and Partners, and The Legal 500.
Before joining chambers Amina worked at The Football Association (The FA) as an in-house barrister and Head of the Regulatory Legal department for over a decade. Prior to that, she practised at a leading chambers in London, specialising in criminal law, and also spent time in the Hague, Netherlands, working on the trial of Charles Taylor (former President of Liberia), who was accused of war crimes in Sierra Leone.
As former Head of Regulatory Legal at The FA, Amina was responsible for overseeing football disciplinary matters throughout the football pyramid, up to and including, the Premier League. Amina has substantial experience of advising and representing sports governing bodies, clubs and individual sports participants in an array of sports disciplinary and regulatory matters ranging from anti-doping, on-field misconduct, betting and anti-corruption, financial regulation, agents’ regulation, discrimination, and safeguarding.
Amina is regularly instructed in inquest proceedings and has acted for a wide range of Interested Persons throughout the inquest process. Amina is often instructed in high profile, complex and sensitive inquests and has acted for various health trusts, care homes, police authorities and other private organisations. 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, representing a police authority in a high profile, complex Article 2 jury inquest into a death in custody.
Amina is also a member of the Attorney General’s C Panel of Counsel and acts on behalf of the government throughout all stages of the inquest proceedings.
Amina acts for both individuals and regulators in Professional Discipline proceedings. She has particular experience representing police officers in gross misconduct proceedings. She has represented officers at all stages of the misconduct process. 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 is a member of the Premier League’s approved list of Panel Counsel and a member of the League Managers’ Association (LMA) list of Panel Counsel.
Amina accepts Direct Access instructions.
Amina is a member of the Attorney General’s C Panel of Counsel and accepts instructions in all areas of public law work. Amina is regularly instructed in inquest proceedings and has acted for a wide range of Interested Persons throughout the inquest process.
Amina is often instructed in high profile, complex and sensitive inquests and has acted for various health trusts, care homes, the police authority and other private organisations.
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.
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, representing a police authority in a high profile, complex Article 2 jury inquest into a death in custody.
Inquest into the death of AB
Acted for charity organisation at inquest relating to death of a vulnerable autistic person.
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 SB
Acted for police authority in Article 2 jury inquest involving death of a man following taser and restraint. The case involved complex medical evidence and substantial expert witness testimony.
Inquest into the death of ST
Acted for police authority in respect of death of a man suffering from Acute Behavioral Disturbance. The case involved issues of prone restraint and substantial expert evidence
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.
Amina has 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. She has represented officers at all stages of the misconduct process, successfully making representations to discontinue proceedings and also securing favourable outcomes for officers at final hearings.
Amina also acts for various healthcare professionals involved in fitness to practice proceedings and has significant experience of advising on internal investigations, and disciplinary and regulatory matters.
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. (R (on the application of the Metropolitan Police Commissioner) v Police Misconduct Panel & PC Mark Neale [2025] EWHC 1462 (Admin)
Metropolitan Police v JK & others
Police officer accused of breaching various Standards of Behaviour in relation to stop and search involving suspected drugs. It was alleged that the officer had failed to report the seizure and failed to challenge and report conduct of another officer. Allegations against officer found not proved.
Metropolitan Police.v HW
Police officer accused of nine allegations of unwanted sexual touching of two female officers. Eight out of the nine allegations found not proved.
Metropolitan Police v JC
Police officer accused of a breach of the standards for failing to report or challenge discriminatory messages in a group WhatsApp chat. Successful representations to discontinue proceedings.
Metropolitan Police v GP
Police officer accused of a breach of the standards of Duties and Responsibilities, Honesty and Integrity and Discreditable Conduct. Successful representations to discontinue proceedings
South Yorkshire Police v SA
Police sergeant accused of breaching the standards of Authority, Respect and Courtesy, Honesty and Integrity, Confidentiality and Discreditable Conduct in respect of conduct towards junior colleague. Successful representations to discontinue proceedings.
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 Co-Head of the Sports Law Group at 2 Hare Court. She is ranked as a Leading barrister in Sports Law in both Chambers and Partners, and The Legal 500. Amina is also a member of the Premier League’s approved list of Panel Counsel.
She worked as an in-house barrister at The Football Association (The FA) as Head of the Regulatory Legal department for over a decade. 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. She has been involved in some of the most high-profile cases in football regulation over the last decade.
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.
Some of the football cases she has been involved in include The FA v Nottingham Forest FC, 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 has acted for the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), the International Tennis Federation (ITF), The Football Association (The FA), World Rugby, UK Anti-Doping (UKAD), and the Premier League. She has also acted for Premier League football clubs and individual sports participants in disciplinary and regulatory disputes.
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 Lucas Paqueta
Represented The FA in one of the highest profile and most complex spot-fixing cases ever prosecuted by a sports governing body.
Led by Jonathan Laidlaw KC
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.
ITIA v Arslanbek Aitlukov
Represented the International Tennis Integrity Agency in respect of player charged with breaches of the Anti-Doping Regulations. The player was suspended for four years following a contested hearing.
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.
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