Attorney Maidie Oliveau has a big job to do at the London Olympic Gamesand so far, its involved a French modern pentathlon competitor, an Irish boxer, and the Spanish Canoeing Federation. Theyve all appealed cases to the ad hoc division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport. For the ad hoc divisions 12 arbitratorsof whom Oliveau is the only U.S. representative and the sole womantheir mandate is to resolve legal disputes that arise from 10 days before the Opening Ceremonies through the end of the 2012 Games. The three-person panels hear cases involving qualification for the Games, doping issues, and disputes that come up in the field of play.
A veteran transactional lawyer who specializes in sports at Arent Fox in Los Angeles, Oliveau was first appointed as an arbitrator in 1997 by the U.S.s International Olympic Committee member. She has since served as an arbitrator for the Games in Sydney, Salt Lake, Athens, and Tourino, and Salt La.
CorpCounsel.com spoke with Oliveau while she was on the ground in London. Below is an edited version of that conversation.
CorpCounsel: What happens at Court of Arbitration for Sport ad hoc division hearings?
Maidie Oliveau: The parties, with the filing of their appeal, will file a brief statement of the facts and the issues. There is normally an adverse partythat would be primarily the entity which made the decision thats being appealed. We also will add any people or organizations who are considered interested parties. That might include other athletes. It could be the International Olympic Committee. It could be the London Organizing Committee
At the hearing, the parties present both their legal position and any witnesses. We arbitrators then deliberate. If the circumstances dictate, we issue the decision without the reasons immediately, and then we follow up with the reasons. Those decisions are published.
CC: What rules do you apply when evaluating appeals?
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