Few lawyers can boast having a CV as diverse as Tom Solesbury’s. He’s worked at London law firms, been part of in-house teams and founded his own boutique sports law outfit. On top of that, he took a six-year break from the law to become a rower, representing Great Britain at the London and Beijing Olympics, four World Championships and numerous World Cups. What brought him back to the legal world was a thirst for more challenges – something that’s been driving him since.
In February of last year Solesbury became General Counsel at UK Athletics, the national governing body for athletics. This was soon followed by an appointment as Chief Operating Officer in October. He is particularly proud of handling many disciplinary cases and leading the way on safeguarding work. With the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics just a few months away, Solesbury wants to support the British teams and ensure a smooth delivery, overseeing everything from selection policies to appeals. This will also mean building upon their solid relationships with other athletics federations.