SCHWAB LEGAL
Schwab Legal acts for a range of Australian and international clients with a focus on sport, labour & human rights.
Expertise
Director Brendan Schwab is a principled, courageous, and highly skilled lawyer and consultant with deep experience in 'big picture' strategy, reform, bargaining, and advocacy, as well as the intricate details of complex negotiations, dispute resolution, and policy. His work is founded on trusted relationships with clients and strategic partners.
Experience
Brendan is an architect of the global and Australian player association movements, with over 30 years of experience in leadership and key legal roles. He has represented and collaborated with some of the world's strongest player associations and sports teams, including Australia's Socceroos and Matildas. Brendan served as the Executive Director of the World Players Association, the global peak body for player associations, from 2015 to 2023, giving him unique experience and insights into sports, labour, and human rights law.
Impact
As a lawyer, CEO, and later Chair of Professional Footballers Australia, Brendan played a pivotal role in the transformation of Australian football. His contributions included the creation of a new governing body, professional leagues, collective bargaining, engagement with Asia, and promoting gender equality. Brendan is recognized as one of four 'PFA Champions' and was inducted into the Football Australia Hall of Fame in 2022, marking him the first player unionist in Australian sport to receive this prestigious honor. Additionally, Brendan's commitment to human rights in sport led to landmark commitments, campaigns, and cases, including the development of the Universal Declaration of Player Rights adopted by over 130 player associations across 60 countries and almost 20 major sports.
