Linklaters | Benja Arnott

Admissions

UK (England & Wales)

Services

Litigation, Arbitration & Investigations

Sectors

Sports

“I am an experienced commercial litigator specialising in sport, competition and public law disputes. I aim to provide clear and commercial advice to help clients navigate complex disputes, investigations and advisory matters. I am an integral part of the firm’s sport and ESG sector teams, and I am passionate about sport and human rights law pro bono matters.”

Overview

Benja is a Managing Associate in our Litigation, Arbitration & Investigations practice. He has a broad range of experience across sports, competition, public law/judicial review disputes and investigations, commercial litigation and arbitration, and ESG and human rights advisory matters.

Benja has acted on disputes before the High Court, Administrative Court, Competition Appeal Tribunal, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court in England & Wales, the European Court of Human Rights and the Hong Kong High Court, in addition to sport governing bodies’ private arbitral bodies. He has acted for clients across a range of sectors, including sport, energy, telecommunications, utilities, finance and travel.

He is a member of the firm’s Sport Sector core team and has particular expertise in advising clients within the sport sector on complex disputes, investigations and regulatory matters. He is a member of Sport Resolutions Pro Bono Panel and a Co-Editor of Linklaters SportingLinks blog.

Work highlights

Work highlights Benja’s recent experience includes advising:

the Premier League on its proceedings against Everton FC, Nottingham Forest FC and Leicester City FC for breaches of the Profitability and Sustainability Rules, as well as on a variety of other issues
the Premier League on its position in relation to the European Super League as well as various regulatory, contentious and competition law issues.
Visa in relation to the long-running UK and cross-border interchange fee litigation for alleged breaches of EU and domestic competition law, including in the Sainsbury’s proceedings before the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.
BA and other airlines on their judicial review challenge to the Department of Health’s Coronavirus quarantine rules.
a UK company in relation to threatened competition collective proceedings for an alleged abuse of a dominant position.
REDRESS on its application to the European Court of Human Rights on behalf of a victim of torture by a state authority.

Beyond the Office

Benja joined Linklaters in 2016, trained in London and Hong Kong, and has been a Managing Associate since 2023. He was seconded to the Premier League’s Legal Team in 2021-22.

He has been appointed to the Sport Resolutions Pro Bono Panel and served three terms on the Human Rights Lawyers Association Executive Committee.

He regularly acts on pro bono matters with a sport, human rights, public international, environmental and criminal law focus, and has been featured in the 2024 and 2025 Pro Bono Recognition List of England & Wales.

Benja is a regular author on articles concerning sport, competition, public law and arbitration, with publications featured on Mondaq, Law In Sport, and Lex Sportiva.

Education and Qualifications

Benja studied English Literature at the University of York, followed by the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) and the Legal Practice Course (LPC) and an MSc in Law, Business and Management at the University of Law.

Overview

Work highlights

Work highlights Benja’s recent experience includes advising:

the Premier League on its proceedings against Everton FC, Nottingham Forest FC and Leicester City FC for breaches of the Profitability and Sustainability Rules, as well as on a variety of other issues

the Premier League on its position in relation to the European Super League as well as various regulatory, contentious and competition law issues.

Visa in relation to the long-running UK and cross-border interchange fee litigation for alleged breaches of EU and domestic competition law, including in the Sainsbury’s proceedings before the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

BA and other airlines on their judicial review challenge to the Department of Health’s Coronavirus quarantine rules.

a UK company in relation to threatened competition collective proceedings for an alleged abuse of a dominant position.

REDRESS on its application to the European Court of Human Rights on behalf of a victim of torture by a state authority.

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Beyond the Office

Education and Qualifications

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Overview

Work highlights