In the high-stakes ecosystem of international football, few roles are as complex or as scrutinized as the management of player agents. It requires a diplomatic touch, a rigorous legal mind, and an understanding of regulations that span continents. For Patricio Varela, LL.M. ’24 in Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law, it is the new reality.
In September 2025, Varela was appointed head of agents at FIFA, the governing body of world football. The promotion marks a rapid ascent for the Miami-based attorney, who previously served as FIFA's senior legal counsel for Disputes & Litigation starting in August 2024, shortly after his graduation from the University of Miami School of Law’s LL.M. Program.
Varela’s trajectory is a textbook example of the successful legal pivot. Before he was managing the regulatory landscape of the world’s most popular sport, he was entrenched in the heavy-hitting world of international commercial arbitration.
A dual-licensed attorney admitted to practice in both Chile and Texas, Varela spent the early years of his career navigating multimillion-dollar investment claims. As a Latin America Fellow at White & Case LLP, he represented major corporations in disputes against sovereign states, focusing on volatile industries like oil, gas, and energy. Before that, he served as a foreign law clerk at Hogan Lovells, handling ICC arbitrations involving power purchase agreements and the construction of massive infrastructure projects in different countries.
However, the allure of the sports world beckoned. His background as a professional soccer player, seeking to translate his dispute resolution skills into the sports sector, Varela enrolled in Miami Law’s renowned LL.M. in Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law. His academic performance was commanding; he earned the Director’s Award in Legal Communication and Research Skills I, a distinction reserved for the top-performing student.
"Patricio’s rapid ascent is a testament to exactly what we teach in this program: practical transactional skills through the lens of the sports industry, with strong connection to industry leaders surrounded by a unique and supportive alumni and practitioner community," said Greg Levy, director of the program. "He took a formidable background in high-stakes international arbitration, leaned into all the opportunities provided, and successfully pivoted to the pinnacle of football governance, proving that there is no substitute for practical experience."
While pursuing his degree, Varela wasted no time applying theory to practice. During his LL.M., he completed his required practicum with the Miami Sharks, South Florida’s professional rugby union team. There, he moved away from the adversarial nature of litigation to the transactional side of sports, drafting agreements for broadcasting rights, intellectual property, and corporate sponsorship.
This unique blend of experiences—the rigor of high-stakes international arbitration combined with the commercial realities of franchise management—made him an ideal candidate for FIFA.
Operating out of Coral Gables, a growing hub for global football administration, Varela now oversees the department responsible for the licensing and regulation of, and disputes related to football agents worldwide. “We are grateful to count FIFA as an outstanding industry partner of our Program teaching classes, serving on our advisory board, supporting student internships and post-graduate opportunities,” said Levy.
“When I made the decision to transition into the sports industry, UM’s Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law program immediately stood out as the best option on the market—not only in the U.S. or Florida, but worldwide,” said Varela. “Completing this program proved to be the best decision I could have made, enabling my transition into the sports industry through practical experience, top-level lessons from some of the most renowned sports professors and attorneys, and with countless meaningful networking opportunities.
“Not surprisingly, it was through this program —and particularly through the annual Global Entertainment and Sports Law + Industry Conference —that I had the opportunity to introduce myself to FIFA’s Chief Legal Officer, Emilio García Silvero. That initial introduction later evolved into an interview process and, ultimately, the privilege of joining FIFA.”
As the legal landscape of sports continues to evolve, Varela’s journey from the energy, construction and infrastructure sectors to the epicenter of FIFA highlights the power of specialized legal education and the growing influence of Miami Law alumni in the global sports arena.
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