Collegiate Sports Law

Overview

Clients trust us to navigate the complex legal landscape of college athletics, ensuring higher education institutions can focus on building and sustaining a thriving campus – both on and off the field.

Our higher education sports law team believes that the best defense is a good offense. Our team of higher education attorneys and former campus administrators helps colleges, universities, and athletic conferences navigate today’s changing landscape in college athletics.

Compliance is at the heart of our practice, and our multifaceted team can help assess your obligations, identify potential gaps in your day-to-day operations, develop appropriate policies and procedures, and train those employees who are close to your program. Additionally, our team provides services focused on policy review and development, NIL, misconduct investigations, compliance audits, NCAA waiver assistance, strategic planning, and more.

Services

Title IX Compliance: Our team helps higher education clients with gender equity reviews, the implementation of the NCAA Policy on Campus Sexual Violence, and training and education for administrators, coaches, staff, and student-athletes.

Policy Review and Development: We regularly assist clients with review and development of athletics policies including student-athlete handbooks, drug testing policies, facilities and operations guidelines, and the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act.

Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL): We work with higher education institutions to ensure their overall NIL strategy is both practical and compliant. Our team assists clients by drafting NIL and House Settlement (revenue sharing) contracts, reviewing and developing NIL policies, training coaches, staff, and student-athletes on NIL, and monitoring NIL activity to ensure compliance with NCAA policy and state laws.

Intellectual Property: We work with clients to develop and manage intellectual property portfolios, as well as assist with trademark registration.

NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA Compliance Audits: Our team performs program audits to ensure compliance with bylaws, guidance and best practices, providing practical solutions and guidance through implementation.

NCAA Waiver Assistance: Navigating NCAA waiver requests can be complex and time‑sensitive. Our team provides clear, strategic guidance to help institutions pursue NCAA eligibility, transfer, and other waivers with confidence for current and former student-athletes. From evaluating waiver viability to preparing comprehensive submissions and supporting documentation, we streamline the process and help position your request.

Misconduct Investigations: We regularly conduct impartial, thorough investigations into misconduct involving student-athletes and coaches, including hazing, Title IX violations, sports wagering, and more. We partner with institutions to ensure compliance with NCAA, Title IX, and state/federal laws while protecting student safety and institutional integrity.

Employment and Compensation: We support colleges and universities with negotiating athletic department employment contracts, managing the hiring and separation of coaches and athletic staff, and defending employment-related litigation within athletics departments.

Feasibility Studies: We help institutions evaluate whether a proposed athletics initiative – such as adding or discontinuing sports, transitioning divisions, expanding facilities, or enhancing competitive offerings – is practical, sustainable, and aligned with an institution’s mission and resources. Our studies analyze financial impact, Title IX compliance, conference affiliation considerations, enrollment and recruiting impact, facilities and staffing needs, and association regulatory requirements (e.g., NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA) to provide a clear picture of risks, costs, and long-term viability.

Strategic Planning: We partner with institutions to develop athletics strategic plans that provide a clear, long-term roadmap for advancing an athletics department mission, priorities, and competitive objectives. Our process assesses current operations, resources, compliance obligations, and institutional goals, then establishes focused strategies for governance, finances, facilities, staffing, student-athlete success, compliance, and competitive positioning. The final strategic plan aligns athletics with the broader institutional mission and delivers actionable goals, timelines, and measures to support sustainable growth and accountability.

Interim Athletics Director Services: Leadership transitions in athletics demand more than a placeholder: they require experience, credibility, and immediate impact. Our Interim Athletics Director services provide colleges and universities with proven executive leadership to ensure stability, momentum, and confidence during times of change.

Training and Education: Our team regularly provides trainings and educational sessions to higher education staff, coaches, and student-athletes on a variety of topics. To ensure each training meets the needs of the institution, we regularly tailor sessions, customizing topics, length, audience, and location. Training topics we often cover include: