Wayne Barnes

Wayne Barnes

• World Rugby Referee of the Year and criminal law barrister
• Founding member of Fulcrum Chambers in London
• Specialises in compliance, bribery, corruption, and serious fraud investigations
• Sought-after media personality

A leading international sports official and World Rugby referee, Wayne Barnes is also a criminal barrister, public speaker, and sought-after sports media personality. Equally comfortable in both the boardroom and on the pitch, he has been involved with numerous high-profile legal cases and blue-chip clients throughout his law career.

His career as an international referee has seen Wayne Barnes referee ninety international tests and oversee more Rugby World Cup matches than any other official. He started out officiating while still at school, but his vast experience over the years has seen him rise to the top of the game.

Wayne Barnes, besides his rugby career, has been a criminal barrister since 2003. He has managed to balance law with his rugby commitments and is a founding Director at Fulcrum Chambers, London. Heading up the sports law section, he advises National Governing Bodies, sports institutions, sponsors, and rights holders on various aspects of sports law, governance, ethics, and safeguarding. Specialising in compliance, bribery, corruption, and serious fraud investigation, he has represented many multinationals prosecuted by the largest international law enforcement agencies. He has also conducted complex internal company investigations and delivers training to both companies and individuals to help them avoid regulator intervention. In addition to this, Wayne Barnes also has experience in mediation and arbitration.

Someone regularly seen on media as a rugby pundit and commentator on the UK’s main broadcast channels, Wayne Barnes is uniquely placed to explain the technicalities of law and global game nuances, drawing on his own experiences to do so.

Wayne Barnes – Speaker

As a sought-after, well-established speaker, Wayne Barnes draws on both his lengthy sports career and legal background to deliver interactive talks. He has hundreds of corporate and fundraising events under his belt. He lives in the UK and presents in English.

Speaking Topics

• Leading to the top: Workshop format exploring how strong leadership means being a true part of your team
• The fine art of navigating (and working with) your competition: When your peers are all competing for the same accolades, Wayne sheds light on how building up those around you elevates everybody
• Thriving through adversity and building resilience: Preparing for the nuclear scenario, how to deal with pressure with a clear head, and techniques for surviving the fall-out of failure and come back stronger
• Review, review, review: How a learning culture is relevant every day, not just when looking back. Hear how laying it all out publicly and developing an honest – and sometimes brutal – review culture from the top to the bottom of an organisation sounds scary, but it is the only way to truly improve