Name, image, and likeness (NIL) law has transformed college sports from an amateur activity to a professional moneymaking activity for college (and high school) athletes. Consequently, along with tremendous financial opportunities comes important legal challenges that students, their families, their colleges, and society must understand and grapple with. The recent ABA publication, Game Changer, provides case studies of many of these legal challenges. This discussion group will explore the legal challenges that college athletes face during the lifecycle of an NIL deal. It will suggest the role legal counsel can and should play in NIL dealmaking. Ultimately, it will recommend changes to NIL laws to protect college athletes from exploitation in executing NIL contracts.
