Catherine Forshaw

Senior Associate

0161 836 8885
07741 669 519
catherine.forshaw@brabners.com

Catherine is a Senior Associate in our sports law team and leads our focuses on rugby and women in sport.

She handles contentious and non-contentious regulatory, safeguarding, athlete eligibility, anti-doping and general commercial litigation matters for a wide range of clients, including national governing bodies, football clubs, athletes, footballers and agents.

Catherine has significant experience in advising national governing bodies and football clubs in relation to their regulatory frameworks and associated policies and procedures.

Also experienced in advising clients on sport-related dispute resolution — including regulatory and contractual disputes — Catherine represents many clients in RFL Operational Rules Tribunals, FA Safeguarding Disciplinary Hearings, FA Rule K and English Football League (EFL) arbitration proceedings.

Prior to joining Brabners in 2018, Catherine completed a six-month secondment with The FA, during which she dealt with a number of regulatory disputes and commercial matters. These included working on the bid for the 2022 UEFA Women’s Euros.

Catherine was named as an 'excellent' Leading Associate in sport in The Legal 500 rankings for 2025 and was nominated as a ‘rising star’ within the Technology Media and Telecoms (TMT) category of The Legal 500 Northern Powerhouse Awards 2023.

A qualified UK Anti-doping (‘UKAD’) Accredited Advisor, Catherine is a member of the EFL’s newly formed Together Advisory Panel, which will guide the work of the EFL on issues relating to equality, diversity and inclusion.

She is an Independent Judicial Panel Member for the British Basketball Federation (BBF) and the Legal Representative and Chair on a number of national governing body eligibility and inclusion panels that deal specifically with the inclusion of transgender athletes in sport. Catherine has also worked for the British Association for Sport and Law (BASL) as its Executive Co-ordinator since 2014 and is a Trustee of the National Football Museum.

Catherine is based in our Manchester office.

“As a professional sports club playing and operating on two continents, our situation is complicated and unique, which requires a nuanced and considered brand of legal services. Catherine Forshaw has been an anchor of support and stability for our club, providing clutch and critical counsel to help us navigate through difficult situations and come out the other side stronger. I would recommend Catherine to any organisation looking for the highest level of representation.”

Eric Perez — Ottawa Aces

“The support we received from Catherine Forshaw and her colleagues at Brabners during a very difficult period for our family was exceptional. We were in a very dark place and feeling overwhelmed until we were put in touch with Catherine. She made us feel that there was finally somebody who understood and empathised with our situation. We were guided through the whole process and the sound advice and support we received resulted in us turning a very bad situation into a positive outcome. We would highly recommend Catherine and Brabners.”

Mr and Mrs. R

“Catherine Forshaw is extremely diligent and conscientious. She is able to anticipate what sports clients want, even before they know it themselves.”

Client feedback

“Catherine Forshaw is hard working and reliable.”

Client feedback

“Catherine Forshaw is a key name for both union and league rugby clients, and is known for her strong focus on UK FA and RFL anti-doping disciplinary proceedings and Safeguarding Commission proceedings.”

Legal 500 2025

“[Catherine Forshaw] is a fantastic lawyer, very capable and it is clear that she goes above and beyond both for her clients and in strengthening her knowledge and skills in the sports sector.”

The Legal 500 client feedback 2025