AI-washing – when AI hype becomes a litigation risk
Championing the spirit of teamwork with the ParalympicsGB
Supporting the ParalympicsGB with legal support and guidance as a Gold Partner and Official Legal Services Provider.
ParalympicsGB has trusted us for legal support and guidance for more than a decade as its Gold Partner and Official Legal Services Provider – a relationship that predates Beijing 2008. As part of our commitment to ParalympicsGB, legal advice, secondments, and volunteers have been provided across a variety of areas, including commercial contracting advice, branding protection, and assistance to teams and athletes with classification and sport-specific challenges.
Over the years, ParalympicsGB has gained a reputation for excellence among the world's leading sporting nations, achieving historic results in London 2012, Sochi 2014, Rio 2016, PyeongChang 2018, Tokyo 2020, and Beijing 2022. We will continue to support the team as it prepares for, and competes at, the LA28 Paralympic Games.
Between 2015-21, Paralympic, World, European and Commonwealth Champion swimmer Ollie Hynd MBE was appointed as the firm’s Paralympic Ambassador. Since 2018, we’ve also provided bursaries to offer financial support to more than 75 incredible athletes. The bursaries help athletes with any aspect of their sporting development, including additional coaching, transportation to training camps and competitions, nutrition and equipment.
GB Wheelchair Rugby, World Wheelchair Rugby, Boccia UK and the International Boccia Federation have also received pro bono support from us as part of our commitment to para-sport.
Championing the spirit of teamwork with the ParalympicsGB
The legal support we provide
Ollie Hynd MBE, ParalympicsGB Ambassador (2015 – 2021)
Para Athlete Bursary Recipients (2018-2025)
The legal support we provide
Ollie Hynd MBE, ParalympicsGB Ambassador (2015 – 2021)
Para Athlete Bursary Recipients (2018-2025)
The legal support we provide
Richard Welfare, Hogan Lovells partner, leads the work we do for ParalympicsGB. As a commercial lawyer, he advises ParalympicsGB on their contractual arrangements, whether with their athletes, other partners, suppliers, or their Games-time agreements.
As you can imagine, Games-time is a particularly busy period for ParalympicsGB. Their resources are pushed to the limit. This is when we work closest with them, with senior lawyers supporting them on the ground and teams of lawyers in our London office, ensuring ParalympicsGB has all resource it needs. Throughout this time, we'll help with everything from clarifying the rulebook to IP infringements.
Ollie Hynd MBE, ParalympicsGB Ambassador (2015 – 2021)
We supported Ollie from June 2015 until his retirement in 2021, and he remains a treasured friend of Hogan Lovells. Ollie started swimming at a young age, but it was watching his brother, Sam, compete in the Beijing Paralympic Games in 2008 that inspired him to become a ParalympicsGB athlete. Since then, Ollie has become one of the greatest Paralympians in British swimming history – as one of the few athletes to hold the titles Paralympic, World, European and Commonwealth Champion simultaneously.
Name: Ollie Hynd
Length of career: 9 years competing internationally
Top 3 accolades:
1) Paralympic gold at London 2012 2) Double Paralympic gold at Rio 2016 3) Double world record at Rio 2016
How you got into your sport: I got into the sport due to my parents wanting me to learn to swim. I always loved being in the water and was very competitive at a young age, so this lead to me joining my local swimming club. I gradually built my way up, until I was selected to train with Nova centurion swimming squad, who I still train with today. I started off competing at regional level until I had progressed all the way to representing GB in 2011.
Your proudest moment in sport: My proudest moment in sport would be winning two gold medals at the Rio 2016 games.
Favourite/iconic moment in sporting History: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scoring the winning goal for Manchester United in the 99’ Champions league final.
Your most inspiring sporting hero/figure: Michael Phelps and Cristiano Ronaldo
Para Athlete Bursary Recipients (2018-2025)
Now in its ninth year, the bursary will provide financial support to athletes aspiring to be selected for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.
Championing the spirit of teamwork with the ParalympicsGB
The legal support we provide
Ollie Hynd MBE, ParalympicsGB Ambassador (2015 – 2021)
Para Athlete Bursary Recipients (2018-2025)
The legal support we provide
The legal support we provide
Richard Welfare, Hogan Lovells partner, leads the work we do for ParalympicsGB. As a commercial lawyer, he advises ParalympicsGB on their contractual arrangements, whether with their athletes, other partners, suppliers, or their Games-time agreements.
As you can imagine, Games-time is a particularly busy period for ParalympicsGB. Their resources are pushed to the limit. This is when we work closest with them, with senior lawyers supporting them on the ground and teams of lawyers in our London office, ensuring ParalympicsGB has all resource it needs. Throughout this time, we'll help with everything from clarifying the rulebook to IP infringements.
Ollie Hynd MBE, ParalympicsGB Ambassador (2015 – 2021)
Ollie Hynd MBE, ParalympicsGB Ambassador (2015 – 2021)
We supported Ollie from June 2015 until his retirement in 2021, and he remains a treasured friend of Hogan Lovells. Ollie started swimming at a young age, but it was watching his brother, Sam, compete in the Beijing Paralympic Games in 2008 that inspired him to become a ParalympicsGB athlete. Since then, Ollie has become one of the greatest Paralympians in British swimming history – as one of the few athletes to hold the titles Paralympic, World, European and Commonwealth Champion simultaneously.
Name: Ollie Hynd
Length of career: 9 years competing internationally
Top 3 accolades:
1) Paralympic gold at London 2012 2) Double Paralympic gold at Rio 2016 3) Double world record at Rio 2016
How you got into your sport: I got into the sport due to my parents wanting me to learn to swim. I always loved being in the water and was very competitive at a young age, so this lead to me joining my local swimming club. I gradually built my way up, until I was selected to train with Nova centurion swimming squad, who I still train with today. I started off competing at regional level until I had progressed all the way to representing GB in 2011.
Your proudest moment in sport: My proudest moment in sport would be winning two gold medals at the Rio 2016 games.
Favourite/iconic moment in sporting History: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scoring the winning goal for Manchester United in the 99’ Champions league final.
Your most inspiring sporting hero/figure: Michael Phelps and Cristiano Ronaldo
Para Athlete Bursary Recipients (2018-2025)
Para Athlete Bursary Recipients (2018-2025)
Now in its ninth year, the bursary will provide financial support to athletes aspiring to be selected for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.
Nicholas Cheffings Para Athlete Bursary Recipients 2026
This is our ninth year supporting para athletes with a bursary. The 2026 bursary will provide financial support to para athletes.
The bursary is intended to help athletes with any aspect of their sporting development, including additional coaching, transportation to training camps and competitions, nutrition and equipment. Each of our recipients have an amazing story to share. Find out more about them, their career and their sporting triumphs here:
Azeem Amir
Sport: Blind Football
Length of career: Made his senior England debut in March 2018 at the IBSA World Grand Prix.
Top 3 accolades:
1) IBSA Nations Cup 2025 (India) – Gold Medal
2) IBSA World Grand Prix – Silver Medal (2018 & 2019)
3) IBSA European Championships – Bronze Medal (2019 & 2022)
How you got into your sport: I was introduced to blind football through a “Have A Go Day” Paralympic event while I was at school. It was the first time I’d ever been able to play football on a truly level playing field, having grown up in a mainstream environment. That experience changed my life and set me on the path I’m on today.
Your proudest moment in sport: Winning gold at the IBSA Nations Cup 2025 in Kochi, India. Helping my team score the winning goal and secure a historic victory the first time an England para football team had achieved this in more than 20 years is something I’ll never forget.
Favourite / iconic moment in sporting history: Watching Usain Bolt break the 100m world record at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Your most inspiring sporting hero: Wayne Rooney. He was my idol growing up and had a huge influence on my love for football.
Instagram: @azeem_amir99
Website: https://www.learnwithess.com/
Fabienne André
Sport: Athletics, Wheelchair Racing
Length of career: Seven years
Top 3 accolades:
1) Double European Champion in the T34 100m and 800m in 2021, winning both titles at my first internationally selected event.
2) An England 1–2–3 in the debut inclusion of the T34 100m at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
3) A GB 1–2–3 at the 2023 World Championships in Paris and have since become a Double Paralympian.
How you got into your sport: I transitioned into athletics from swimming. My physiotherapist first introduced athletics to support my rehabilitation after an operation. I originally aimed to complete a triathlon, but I have not yet done so because I found a stronger connection with athletics and chose to focus fully on it.
Your proudest moment in sport: My proudest moment was winning bronze at the Commonwealth Games, which was my first event in front of a crowd and the debut of the T34 100m, completing an England 1–2–3. Another defining moment was contributing to a GB 1–2–3 at the 2023 World Championships.
Favourite / iconic moment in sporting history: My favourite moment in sporting history is the GB 1–2–3 at the World Championships in Paris in 2023.
Your most inspiring sporting hero: The athlete who inspires me most is Catherine Debrunner.
Instagram: @fabienne_1996
X: @fabs_andre
Abbie Breakwell
Sport: Wheelchair Tennis
Length of career: Wheelchair tennis for 11 years and played professionally for seven years.
Top 3 accolades:
1) Representing my country at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.
2) Representing my country at World Team Cup, this is the equivalent to Davis Cup/Billy Jean King Cup.
3) Winning over 80 national and international titles.
How you got into your sport: I was introduced to wheelchair tennis at age 13, when I had the opportunity to serve as a ball crew member at the Nottingham British Open. It was the first time I had experienced disability sport in person, and I was immediately struck by how welcoming and inspiring the environment was. I was then invited to a “come‑and‑try‑it” session, which became the start of my wheelchair tennis journey and has since had a profound impact on my life.
Your proudest moment in sport: My proudest moment was stepping onto Suzanne‑Lenglen Stadium at Roland‑Garros in front of 8,500 spectators, representing Great Britain on my debut at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. I had never felt so excited and nervous at the same time, and it was an opportunity to show how much I love my sport and to demonstrate that anything is possible.
Favourite / iconic moment in sporting history: My favourite moment in sporting history is watching the London 2012 Paralympic Games, where the world saw what athletes with disabilities can achieve on a global stage.
Your most inspiring sporting hero: The athlete who inspires me most is Sarah Storey. She has competed in nine Paralympic Games and won 17 gold medals, and she is now training for her tenth. She remains humble despite her achievements and continues to show extraordinary drive and determination. I could not have asked for a more inspiring neighbour at the Paralympic Village.
Instagram: @abbiebreakwell
X: @abbiebreakwell
LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/abbie-breakwell-ply-56051b330
Facebook: @abbiebreakwellply
Matt Bush
Sport: Taekwondo
Length of career: 10 years
Top 3 accolades:
1) 2019 world champion
2) 2023 world champion
3) Paralympic gold medalist Paris 2024
How you got into your sport: I transitioned from javelin after sustaining an injury ahead of Rio.
Your proudest moment in sport: Holding my daughter after winning gold in Paris.
Favourite / iconic moment in sporting history: Nate Diaz defeating Conor McGregor.
Your most inspiring sporting hero: I don’t have a single sporting hero, but I’m inspired by many MMA fighters.
X: Mattbush1
Instagram: matt.bush1
TikTok: Bushmawr
Ryan Henry
Sport: Para Table Tennis
Length of career: 10 years
Top 3 accolades:
1) European Para Youth Games 2022 (Finland) – u23 Class 8 Singles Bronze Medallist
2) European University Championships 2022 (Poland) – Men’s Class 8 Singles Silver Medallist
3) USA Para Open 2023 (Fort Worth, Texas) – Men’s Class 8 Singles Silver Medallist
How you got into your sport: I got into my sport after attending a training night at North Ayrshire Table Tennis Club. I then formally joined the club and went on to compete in both regional and national competitions.
Your proudest moment in sport: My proudest moment was being selected to represent Great Britain at the 2025 European Championships in Sweden, which was my first major championship.
Favourite / iconic moment in sporting history: My favourite moment in sporting history is Andy Murray winning Wimbledon in 2013, becoming the first British male to win the tournament since Fred Perry in 1936.
Your most inspiring sporting hero: Mo Farah
Instagram: @_ryan_henry
X: @_ryan_henry
Luke Jamieson
Sport: Paraclimbing
Length of career: Joined GB climbing in 2023 and now successfully preselected to compete for my 4th season on the team.
Top 3 accolades:
1) IFSC World Championships South Korea Finalist (5th)
2) IFSC Euro Champions Villars podium ( 3rd )
3) British Paraclimbing Championships podium (1st )
How you got into your sport: In 2018, when I started university to study IT, I saw a poster at the freshers’ fair of someone climbing. I initially thought it would be amusing for a wheelchair user to show up to a session, but from the moment I got on the wall, I was hooked. Climbing gave me a level of freedom I had never experienced. Toward the end of university, I began working at a local climbing wall, where I met my current coach. He introduced me to Paraclimbing as a sport and told me about that year’s British Championships giving me just five weeks to prepare. From that moment, I wanted nothing more than to become the best climbing athlete I could be.
Your proudest moment in sport: I’ve had many high points over the years, but this past season’s World Championship was truly special. I went into the event having put a lot of pressure on myself, after spending countless hours on the wall and in the gym preparing. I proved to myself that the hard work had paid off that I could perform alongside some of the best athletes in the sport and that I really could build a career in this.
Your most inspiring sporting hero: Since I began climbing, I’ve loved following the professional scene. I used to stay up late with my flatmates watching World Cups at 2 a.m. Molly Thompson‑Smith was one of the athletes I followed, and she happened to be training locally at the same gym as me. She has faced significant adversity, coming back from multiple injuries yet always showing up, giving everything, and doing so with a smile. She’s someone I aspire to be like to inspire the next generation of climbers and future Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
Instagram: @luke.paraclimbing
Danielle Khan MBE, Pilot – Para Cycling
Sport: Para-Cycling
Length of career: 20 years
Top 3 accolades:
1) Paralympic Gold 1km TT- Paris 2024 (with Lizzi Jordan)
2) 5x World Champion (with Lizzi Jordan)
3) Double Junior World Champion 2013
How you got into your sport: My sporting journey began in Short Track Speed Skating at age 8, and by 14 I was representing Great Britain internationally. I became Junior European Champion and a five‑time British Champion. A recurring knee injury (Osgood–Schlatter disease) disrupted my goal of competing at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, which led me to explore cycling as a low‑impact training option. What started as rehabilitation quickly became a genuine passion for Track Cycling. I progressed rapidly, winning two National titles and earning a place on the GB Olympic Development Programme. After committing fully to cycling for 18 months, I became a Double Junior World Champion and represented Team England at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. This journey has played a defining role in shaping my sporting path and where I am today.
Your proudest moment in sport: My proudest moment came in November 2023, when I won the Scratch Race in the final round of the UCI Track Champions League at the London Olympic Velodrome. Racing alongside some of the world’s best track riders, with my family watching after years of training and competing unfunded, was incredibly special. Beyond marking my track comeback, it also marked the beginning of my journey as a Tandem Pilot.
Favourite / iconic moment in sporting history: Steven Bradbury winning gold at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City.
Your most inspiring sporting hero: Sir Chris Hoy
Instagram: @danniellekhan1995
X: @DanniKhan
Lottie McGuinness
Sport: Para Powerlifting
Length of career: Six and a half years
Top 3 accolades:
1) Qualifying for my first Paralympic Games in Paris and placing 4th
2) Achieving my first top-eight world ranking
3) Qualifying for my first Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this summer
How you got into your sport: I was first inspired to pursue sport by Ellie Simmonds, which initially led me into swimming and competing for many years with the goal of becoming a Paralympian. Through Ellie, I was introduced to the Dwarf Sports Association, which runs the National Dwarf Games, a sporting and social event that brings together people with all forms of dwarfism. One of the sports included was para powerlifting.
During my second attempt at powerlifting at the Games, two coaches from British Weightlifting were in attendance. After watching me compete, they invited me to Loughborough University, the base of British Para Powerlifting, to take part in a trial. I attended the trial, immediately connected with the sport, and was placed on the Talented Athlete Development Programme. Within ten months, I was representing Great Britain at a World Cup.
I often say that I did not choose para powerlifting it chose me. As my dream of reaching the Paralympics through swimming became less realistic, powerlifting emerged unexpectedly. By 2024, after competing at two World Championships, a European Championship, and multiple World Cups, I represented Great Britain at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in para powerlifting, achieving my dream of becoming a Paralympian.
Your proudest moment in sport: My proudest moment was competing at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games and finishing fourth, completing a journey that began with inspiration at the London 2012 Games.
Favourite / iconic moment in sporting history: My favourite sporting moment is Ellie Simmonds’ gold medal at the London 2012 Paralympics, which transformed my understanding of what was possible. More recently, Lindsey Vonn’s comeback has stood out to me for the resilience, belief, and courage it demonstrated.
Your most inspiring sporting hero: Ellie Simmonds inspires me for the role she played in motivating me at a young age and helping me accept my disability while aiming high. Lindsey Vonn inspires me for her resilience, longevity, and fearless return to competition. Olivia Reeves and Emily Campbell motivate me through the way they have redefined women’s strength sport, and Keely Hodgkinson inspires me for her consistency and performance on the world stage.
Instagram: @lottiemcg_ply
TikTok: lottie_mcguinness
Lauren Steadman MBE
Sport: Paratriathlon
Length of career: 19 years
Top 3 accolades:
1) First Paralympic Games aged 16 - Beijing 2008 and subsequently competed in a further 4 Games
2) Paralympic Gold - Tokyo 2020
3) Semi-finalist of Strictly Come Dancing & Winner of SAS: Who Dares Wins
How you got into your sport: I first entered competitive swimming after volunteering for a school event when no one else stepped forward. Talent scouts from British Swimming identified potential and encouraged me to pursue the sport. Following the London 2012 Games, I transitioned from swimming to triathlon.
Your proudest moment in sport: Earning the Bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. The lead‑up to the Games involved significant challenges, including a long recovery from long Covid, and at times I questioned whether I would even reach the start line. Securing the bronze was in many ways more meaningful to me than my gold; was an extraordinary outcome.
Favourite / iconic moment in sporting history: Dame Kelly Holmes’ double gold medal winning performance at the Athens Olympics. I vividly remember watching her victory from my grandparents’ caravan and feeling deeply inspired.
Your most inspiring sporting hero: Kelly Holmes
Instagram: @laurensteadmann
Xander van der Poll
Sport: Paracanoe (VL2)
Length of career: Three years
Top 3 accolades:
1) 7th place in my debut World Championships
2) Silver Medal - British National Championships
3) 54.88s PB in A Final at Milan World Championships (2025)
How you got into your sport: I was identified through the GB Paracanoe Talent ID Pathway, which introduced me to the sport and set me on my current competitive journey.
Your proudest moment in sport: My proudest moment was qualifying for my first World Championships A Final after my boat seat snapped halfway through the heat. Choosing to continue racing and finish the event despite the setback made the achievement especially meaningful.
Favourite / iconic moment in sporting history: My favourite moment in sporting history is watching Benjamin Pritchard overcome disappointment in the Tokyo Paralympic Final to win gold in Paris 2024 an example of resilience and growth at the highest level.
Your most inspiring sporting hero: The sporting figure who inspires me most is Siya Kolisi, whose leadership, humility, and ability to use sport to unite people extend far beyond the field.
Instagram: Xandervanderpoll & our_chaotic_adventure
Brock Whiston
Sport: Para swimming
Length of career: Being on the para world class programme since 2019
Top 3 accolades:
1) Winning Paralympic gold in SM8 200im in 2024
2)Breaking my first world record SB8 100 breaststroke) in 2019
3) Winning gold in 2025 at the world championships to complete being Paralympic and world champion
How you got into your sport: I first learned to swim because my parents wanted me to develop the skill, and I enjoyed it enough to continue. That early exposure to the water eventually led me toward competitive sport.
Your proudest moment in sport: My proudest moment was standing on the podium at the Paralympics, looking up to see my family and coach in the crowd and then looking to the other side to see Rob Aubry, the Head of Aquatics for Great Britain, smiling at me.
Favourite / iconic moment in sporting history: My favourite sporting moment is being selected for a World Series event in Berlin and having Ellie Simmonds as my roommate, especially as she was my hero growing up.
Your most inspiring sporting hero: Ellie Simmonds
Instagram: @brock_whiston
Facebook: Brock Whiston
Laurie Williams
Sport: Wheelchair basketball
Length of career: 15 years
Top 3 accolades:
1) Under 25 World Champion 2015
2) World Silver medallist 2018
3) European Silver medallist 2025
How you got into your sport: When I was at school, I used to take part in wheelchair racing. I was spotted at the Greater Manchester Youth Games and invited to attend my local wheelchair basketball club, where I fell in love with the sport and the rest is history.
Your proudest moment in sport: Competing at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, with my one‑year‑old daughter in the crowd.
Favourite / iconic moment in sporting history: The London 2012 Paralympic Games, the moment Paralympic sport went mainstream in the UK and was truly put on the map.
Your most inspiring sporting hero: Serena Williams, for challenging expectations around motherhood and elite performance.
Instagram: laurie_williams8
