Katherine (Kate) Porter Partner

Kate also serves as a member of the Investigatory Body of the Aquatics Integrity Unit of World Aquatics, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Dallas Cup, one of the most prominent youth soccer tournaments in the United States.

Prior to joining Vela Wood, Kate spent nearly a dozen years as an attorney at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in New York where she represented clients in sports related disputes. During her time at Skadden, Kate also served as clerk and ad hoc clerk to arbitration panels in sports-related arbitrations before CAS, under both the ordinary and appeal arbitration procedures. Her work on CAS matters includes disputes relating to the international transfer of players, the interpretation and application of an international federation’s rules, and anti-doping matters. Kate also has represented large corporations in international arbitrations before the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR) and International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).

Kate is listed as a Thought Leader – USA – Sports 2023 by WhosWhoLegal (WWL) and a Recommended Global Leader – Sports 2022 by the same organization. Kate is an arbitrator on the European Handball Court of Arbitration,  a member of the Editorial Board, North America Panel of LawInSport, a member of Women In Sports Law (WISLaw), and a member of the Board of Advisers of the Jeffrey S. Moorad Center for the Study of Sports Law. In 2022, Kate was listed as a Who’s Who Legal Sports & Gaming Thought Leader. She also frequently speaks on sports law-related matters, and has lectured to law students at Columbia University, ISDE, Football Business Academy and St. John’s University.

Select Representations

• Professional soccer team in connection with league investigation into allegations that rival team tampered with several of its players
• A new professional sports league in connection with league formation and sponsorship and initial governance issues
• Professional soccer team in connection with signing players to new player agreements
• Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) marketplace in the formation and launch of its innovative platform
• Professional football (NFL) team in connection with organizing and hosting an international friendly match at the team’s stadium
• Athletes and athlete agents in various transactions related to the commercialization of collegiate athletes’ NIL
• Qatar Football Association in successfully defending against a protest fled by the U.A.E. Football Association that sought to overturn Qatar’s historic victory in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup
• Asian Football Confederation and Qatar Football Association Vice President in overturning discipline imposed by the FIFA Ethics Committee, which is thought to be the frst time the Appeal Committee had overturned a decision of the Ethics Committee
• “Big Four” U.S. professional sports league in internal investigation relating to alleged violation of league rules
• Organizing committee for major international sporting event in connection with internal investigatory proceedings commenced by the sporting organization
• Sports marketing company in breach of contract dispute concerning the commercial rights to South America’s most popular soccer tournament
• Men’s professional golf tour in dispute with its member arising out of the administration of the tour’s anti-doping program