Wayne Barnes

Wayne joined SPB in January 2022, after ten years at a boutique white collar crime law firm, where he conducted detailed investigations into Government public tender contracts. Since joining SPB, he has undertaken complex internal investigations for SPB’s global network of clients across multiple jurisdictions, and has expanded the firm’s sport investigation offering.

Relevant recent reviews include: an internal investigation into bullying within an Olympic sport, a sensitive investigation into a boardroom leak, and a review and reconciliation instruction leading to wide-ranging recommendations including the overall of the national governing body’s disciplinary structure.

Wayne is also a former international rugby union referee and has presided over more international rugby matches than anyone else in history, including the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final. With his professional sporting background and his specialist legal practice, Wayne is able to bridge the worlds of law and sport.