arbiticonArbitration is a form of dispute resolution. Arbitration is the private, judicial determination of a dispute, by an independent third party. An arbitration hearing may involve the use of an individual arbitrator or a tribunal. Arbitration is an alternative to court action and generally just as final and binding.

Arbitration

Anthony is an accredited arbitrator, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and registered in the Australian Register of Practising Arbitrators as a Grade 1 Arbitrator.  He is also registered by the National Court of Justice of Papua New Guinea as an international and domestic arbitrator and as an arbitrator in Dubai.

He has been recognised by Doyles Guide to the Australian Legal Profession in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 as one of the country’s leading Arbitration Silks, notably for his work as arbitrator.

International Arbitral Panel Appointments

Court of Arbitration for Sport (General and Football Lists)
London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA)
Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC)
Abu Dhabi Global Markets Arbitration Centre (ADGM)
Qatar International Commercial Centre for Arbitration (QICCA)
Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC)
Thailand Arbitration Centre, Distinguished Panel of Arbitrators (THAC)
Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC)
Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC)
Korea Commercial Arbitration Centre (KCAB)
Japan Commercial Arbitration Association (JCAA)
Shanghai Arbitration Commission (SHAC)
Australian Centre for International Arbitration (ACICA)
National Court of Justice of Papua New Guinea, Register of International and Domestic Arbitrators

National Arbitral Panel Appointments

Resolution Institute, Australia/NZ (Grade 1 Arbitrator)
National Sports Tribunal, Australia
Football Federation Australia (FA) Appeals Committee
FA Dispute Resolution Chamber (Deputy-Chair)
FA Disciplinary and Ethics Committee (Co-Chair)
Basketball Australia, Hearing Panel and Appeals Tribunal
Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) register of bargaining code arbitrators

State Arbitral Panel Appointments

District Court of NSW
Racing Appeals Tribunal, NSW
FNSW Appeals Tribunal (Chair)

Experience

Having regard to his experience in international arbitration, in June 2016, Anthony was appointed a Fellow of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in 2020. Also, in 2020, Anthony’s professional credentials were recognised by his Honour Deputy Chief Justice Kandakasi of the National Court of Papua New Guinea as an international arbitrator and included in the Court’s Register of International and Domestic Arbitrators.

In recognition of his specialist knowledge of arbitration and sports law:

– in January 2016, Anthony was appointed by the International Council of Arbitration for Sport (ICAS) as an arbitrator of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and his name appears on both the general list and the football list;

– in January 2019, he was appointed as the Acting Racing Appeals Tribunal (NSW);

– in February 2019, he was appointed to the International Panel of Arbitrators maintained by Sport Resolutions (UK);

– in March 2020, he was appointed as one of the inaugural part-time members of the National Sports Tribunal;

– in September 2021, he was appointed to The FA (England) Judiciary Panel; and

– in June 2023, he was appointed to the Basketball Australia Hearing Panel and Appeals Tribunal.

He has sat as both a sole and panel arbitrator including as Chair in over 100 domestic and international arbitrations involving commercial, disciplinary and governance disputes.

CAS

Anthony is regularly appointed as President, Sole Arbitrator and as Co-Arbitrator in CAS procedures involving eligibility, selection/non-selection, disciplinary, regulatory, commercial and employment issues in the ordinary and appeal divisions.

He has also been appointed to the CAS ad hoc panels for the Commonwealth Games, Gold Coast, Australia (2018), Asian Games, Jakarta, Indonesia (2018), the FIBA World Cup, Beijing, China (2019), the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Australia and New Zealand (2023) and the Asian Games, Hangzhou, China (2023).

Sport Resolutions (UK) (2019-2022)

In 2019, Anthony was appointed as a member of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) International Panel for the Davis Cup and in 2020 to the same panel for the Fed Cup.

In 2020, Anthony was appointed as Chair of an ITF Independent Tribunal Panel to determine a dispute between the ITF and a Member Federation.

The FA Judicial Panel (2021-2022)

Anthony chaired several hearings concerning safeguarding issues.

National Sports Tribunal

As an inaugural member of the National Sports Tribunal, Anthony has acted as conciliator and as the Chair of an arbitral panel concerning a member protection policy issue.

Football Australia

As a member of the FA Appeals Committee since 2008, Anthony has determined both disciplinary and non-disciplinary disputes that have arisen between the FA, Member Federations, Clubs, and Players mostly involving players and coaches of international repute.

As a member of the FA Dispute Resolution Chamber since 2008, Anthony has determined commercial disputes and appeals that have arisen between the FA, Member Federations, Clubs, and Players under the FA Grievance Resolution Regulations, some of which have involved players and coaches of international repute. In 2023, he was appointed a Deputy Chair of the Chamber.

As a member of the FA Disciplinary and Ethics Committee also since 2008, he has determined disciplinary issues arising from on-field incidents involving players and coaches of international repute competing in the A-League, Australia’s Premier National football league. He became Co-Chair of that Committee in 2021.

Football NSW

As the Chair of the Football NSW Appeals Tribunal since 2012, Anthony has determined appeals involving both disciplinary and non-disciplinary disputes that have arisen between FNSW, Members of FNSW, Clubs and Players under the FNSW Grievance and Disciplinary Regulations.

Racing Appeals Tribunal

As the Acting Racing Appeals Tribunal, Anthony has determined appeals heard on a de novo basis from first instance decisions in the thoroughbred, harness racing and greyhound racing industries.

Other Arbitral Appointments

Anthony has been nominated by the President of Resolution Institute as a sole arbitrator in domestic commercial disputes, by parties to conveyancing and commercial disputes, by Surf Life Saving New South Wales to preside over a Judiciary Committee hearing in a code of conduct matter and by Australian Sailing in relation to a member protection policy complaint.

 

ENDORSEMENTS

“Mr Lo Surdo is a valued and important senior member of … [the Football Federation Australia] dispute resolution bodies and FFA is very pleased to have someone of Mr Lo Surdo’s experience, professional standing and dispute resolution acumen involved in the sport of football.” (FFA Head of Legal, Business Affairs and Integrity).

“Mr Lo Surdo is a valued and well respected member of the Football NSW Appeals Tribunal and has brought a high level of professionalism and experience to the role of Chairman…he has implemented a system of issuing directions to parties in an effort to distil the main issues and reduce the length of hearings.”  (Chief Executive Officer, FNSW)