Sport Solution Clinic
The Sport Solution Clinic is a program of AthletesCAN, the association of Canada’s National Team and Olympic and Paralympic Athletes, in conjunction with Western Law School.
AthletesCAN is the only fully independent and most inclusive athlete organization in the country and the first organization of its kind in the world. As the collective voice of Canadian national team athletes, AthletesCAN ensures an athlete centered sport system by developing athlete leaders who influence sport policy and, as role models, inspire a strong sport culture.
Sport Solution is the only program of its kind in North America and is available to all members of AthletesCAN. To keep up-to-date with all things Sport Solution, please follow us @sportsolutionclinic on Instagram.
Our Mission
Sport Solution is committed to supporting an athlete-centred sport system and strives to achieve this objective by counselling and advocating on behalf of Canada’s high performance athletes so their voices are properly represented when resolving the sport related issues that affect them.
The Clinic
Sport Solution offers Western Law students the opportunity to assist Canadian national team athletes in preventing and resolving sport-related legal issues. Each year, the Clinic typically hires 12 first-year law students as Caseworkers and 6 upper-year Case Managers. Caseworker responsibilities range from legal research to drafting briefs and athlete agreements, while Case Managers provide mentorship to caseworkers and assist Program Managers on client files as well as other ongoing projects. 6 upper-year Program Managers oversee the Clinic as a whole, directing the day-to-day operation of the Clinic in a leadership role as well as interacting with athletes and National Sport Organizations (NSOs). Program Managers are hired following their first year and hold the position until graduation, but are able to seek summer employment away from the Clinic following their second year.
Supervising Lawyer
Amanda Fowler
Amanda Fowler is the Supervising Lawyer of the Sport Solution Clinic at Western’s Faculty of Law. Amanda started her sports law career when she represented a college baseball player who was drafted to a major league team. Shortly after, she began practicing sports law by representing Olympic, high-performance and amateur athletes in various sport disputes, including team non-selections, improper carding nominations, human rights and doping infractions. Amanda has successfully represented Canadian and international athletes at the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada and the Court of Arbitration for Sport. One of her most memorable cases was being involved with the Caster Semenya appeal. She continues to advise professional athletes, sport organization and teams. In 2017, Amanda was a pro bono lawyer for the Invictus Games in Toronto.
Program Managers
Devin D’Gama
Devin D’Gama is a third-year law student at Western University. Prior to attending law school, he earned a Bachelor of Sport Management degree at Brock University. During Devin’s first year of law school, he volunteered as a 1L Caseworker with the Sport Solution Clinic.
Devin developed a passion for advocacy throughout his undergraduate degree, where he completed various internships within the athlete agency industry. In these roles, he learned the importance of client servicing and advocating on behalf of the athlete and their best interests. He has become accustomed to the fast-paced nature of athlete representation, which is a valuable asset considering the breadth of files and range of athletes that the Sport Solution Clinic supports.
Devin is excited to combine his passions for sport and the law. Having played competitive basketball and baseball growing up, Devin understands the importance of an athlete’s physical and mental well-being and its effect on performance. He is particularly interested in working to address safe sport and governance inequities that exist in high-performance sport. As Program Manager, he is committed to representing athletes navigating these issues to ensure that they are able to perform to the best of their abilities.
Liv Hart
Liv Hart is a third-year law student at Western University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from James Madison University. Liv volunteered as a Caseworker with the Sport Solution Clinic during her first year of law school.
Prior to attending law school, Liv worked at a sorority national headquarters where she provided leadership development training and led the implementation of a national accreditation program for 120 collegiate chapters across the United States. With unique experiences in addressing client needs and working in time-critical environments, Liv values taking the time to understand client challenges and identify strategic solutions.
As a former competitive figure skater, Liv is passionate toward advocating for safe and equitable sporting environments for all athletes. Liv is excited to continue her work with the Sport Solution Clinic as a Program Manager and furthering the Clinic’s mission of supporting an athlete-centered sport system.
Gavin Hughes
Gavin Hughes is a second-year law student at Western University and holds a Master of Arts in History from the University of Guelph. During his first year of law school, he volunteered as a Case Worker with the Sport Solution Clinic.
Before attending Western, Gavin was a U Sports varsity athlete with the Guelph Gryphons men’s cross country and track and field teams, contributing to multiple OUA and national championship titles. Off the track, he developed a passion for advocacy after navigating several coaching transitions, which led him to serve as an athlete representative on various executive boards. He also gave back to the sport community by mentoring and coaching young track athletes through a local organization.
These experiences shaped Gavin’s interest in sport-related disputes, particularly those involving safe sport and ethical concerns. Having experienced the physical and mental demands of sport firsthand, Gavin approaches athlete disputes with empathy and a deep understanding of their unique challenges.
Beyond sport, Gavin has held multiple research and teaching assistant roles, contributing to historical research projects and collaborating with international teams. These positions have strengthened his writing and research skills, resulting in several publications. They have also enhanced his ability to navigate conflict and foster collaboration within team environments.
Gavin is excited to continue his work with the Sport Solution Clinic as a Program Manager, where he is dedicated to empowering and advocating for athletes.
Abby Legere 
Abby Legere is a second-year law student at Western University. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Science in Biology from Acadia University. During her first year of law school, Abby volunteered as a Caseworker with the Sport Solution Clinic.
Before law school, Abby worked at a renewable energy research lab where she helped develop sustainable energy solutions for Indigenous communities. This role strengthened her skills in collaboration, client engagement, and translating complex information into accessible, actionable strategies, which are all skills she now brings to her work at the Clinic. Whether Abby is supporting athletes or working with communities, she is dedicated on listening first, identifying challenges, and delivering thoughtful and informed support.
Abby is a lifelong athlete and former competitive hockey player. She brings a deep understanding of the athlete experience and the demands of high-performance sport to her work. Her experiences as both a player and coach has given her a strong understanding of the challenges and injustices athletes face and the communication skills needed to advocate for their interests.
In Abby’s role as Program Manager she is dedicated to supporting athletes as they navigate legal challenges and ensuring a safe and equitable sporting environment for all.
Joe Van Der Woerd 
Joe van der Woerd is a third-year law student at Western University. During his first-year at Western Law, Joe was involved in sport law through participating in, and winning the Hockey Arbitration Moot. He earned a BA in Sport Management from Calvin University, where he focused his research on social issues in sport. Prior to attending law school, Joe gained experience in the sports industry as the operations manager at Howies Hockey Tape.
During his undergraduate studies, Joe competed for the club men’s volleyball team at Calvin University. In his role with the team, he advocated on behalf of the team for increased funding and resources. This experience not only increased Joe’s passion for advocating for athletes but made him aware of the challenges athletes face to maintain their focus on pursuing athletic excellence while dealing with off-the-court issues.
Joe is excited to continue combining his passions for sports and advocacy through his work as a Program Manager for the Sport Solution Clinic. He is committed to upholding the standards of the Clinic and working towards a healthier sports landscape in Canada. He looks forward to working alongside Canadian athletes as they pursue their athletic goals.
Erin Vowles 
Erin Vowles is a second-year law student at Western University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social and Political Thought and a certificate in Law and Public Policy from King’s University College. During her first year of law school, Erin volunteered as a Case Worker with the Sport Solution Clinic and interned with the Dispute Resolution Centre at Western Law.
Throughout her undergraduate studies, Erin developed her passion for advocacy through both local and global community engagement opportunities including Western’s Women in Civic Leadership Program and King’s Global Networks for Justice Study Abroad to Italy. These experiences equipped Erin with the ability to navigate high-pressure environments involving a diverse range of perspectives and conflicts.
Prior to law school, Erin trained for a professional ballet career in the United States which ignited her passion for supporting other high-performance athletes. She continues to teach dance and enjoys contributing her athlete-centered leadership skills to the clinic.
Erin is excited to support the Sport Solution Clinic as a Program Manager and is committed to empowering Canadian athletes through advocacy that promotes safe and equitable training environments.
Legal Services
Sport Solution responds to the needs of athletes on a full range of issues including:
General Inquiries and Concerns
Call Early! Sport Solution provides athletes with the relevant information to answer any sport-related legal question. This can often have a preventative function – if the athlete is given the proper information regarding a seemingly small inquiry at an early stage, this will reduce the likelihood that the situation will evolve into a more serious issue in the future.
National Sport Organization Procedures
National Sport Organizations (NSOs) are the bodies that govern sports in Canada (for example, Volleyball Canada). When procedural issues between athletes and NSOs arise, Sport Solution students research and analyze established policies to provide athletes with a clear understanding of their claim or the tools to resolve the situation.
Appeals
If an NSO renders a decision that an athlete disagrees with, Sport Solution can assist the athlete in appealing the decision (on procedural grounds). Common appeal issues include team selection, funding and doping. Sport Solution students may assist athletes at all levels of appeal, from the internal appeal within the NSO to the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC).
Mediation and Arbitration
The SDRCC is a national alternative dispute mechanism tailored to the fit the needs of the Canadian sport community. If an athlete has an issue that is serious enough to require the services of the SDRCC, Sport Solution students may assist athletes with drafting their documents and advising them on the appeal process. Advocacy for athletes at mediation or arbitration may be provided on a case-by-case basis with direct support from the supervising lawyer and/or pro bono counsel.
Specific Issues We Advise On
- General Inquiries and Concerns
- Athlete Agreements
- NSO Procedures
- SDRCC Procedures
- Safe Sport Procedures
- How to Prepare for NSO Appeals and Arbitration at the SDRCC
The areas of administrative sport law dealt with at the clinic are:
- Team Selection
- AAP Funding / Carding
- Safe Sport
- Discipline
- Other Sport Related Legal Concerns
Sport Solution Publications
Sport Solution students provide regular content to AthletesCAN, the SDRCC and Western Law that reviews common concerns within the sporting community and tips on how to deal with these topics.
Recent Sport Solution publications include:
- A Western Law Blog Post “Making sport safer: the Sport Solution Clinic and the changing nature of sport disputes”
- An SDRCC Newsletter Article on Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter
- Resource to Support Athletes Navigate Potential Anti-Doping Violations
- The 2008 Western Law Alumni Magazine featured an article about the Sport Solution Clinic.
Hours of Operation
2025 Summer Regular Office Hours: [May 8 – Aug 23]
- Monday to Friday 10am-5pm Eastern Standard Time
2025 Fall Semester Regular Office Hours: [Sept 4 – Dec 5]
- Monday to Friday 10am-5pm Eastern Standard Time
2025 Winter Semester Regular Office Hours: [Jan 13 – April 11]
- Monday to Friday 10am-5pm Eastern Standard Time
2025/2026 Sessional Dates where the clinic will be closed
- November 4-8 – Fall Study Week
- December 9-20 - Fall Term Examination Period
- February 17-21 - Winter Study Week
- April 14-28 - Winter Examination Period
Contact Information
Email: sportsolution@athletescan.ca
Phone: 519-661-4163
Facebook: @AthletesCAN
Instagram: @sportsolutionclinic
Prospective Students: If you have any questions regarding Sport Solution, or how to get involved, do not hesitate to email us.
Athletes: CALL EARLY! Sport Solution can better address your needs before the problem escalates. At the Sport Solution, you, the athlete, control the dispute resolution process - we're here to give you the tools to resolve the problem.
Before making contact, it is recommended to organize any relevant information you may have available into digital files creating a background of your situation. This will allow the program managers to efficiently investigate the issue and provide you with a timely response.Disclaimer
Sport Solution is a program of AthletesCAN, the association of Canada's national team athletes. The Program Managers, case managers and caseworkers of the Sport Solution program are law students who can provide athletes with legal information and resources on: sport dispute resolution procedures, athlete agreements and contracts, selection and discipline procedures in sport, and related legal and policy issues.
The Sport Solution Program Managers, case managers and caseworkers are not lawyers and they cannot provide legal advice or opinion. AthletesCAN respects an individual's privacy and any personal or confidential information that is provided to the Sport Solution will be used solely to assist the athlete with their issue or concern, and will not be shared with others without the athlete's consent.
