Husch Blackwell LLP

PRACTICE AREAS

Arbitration \& Dispute Resolution Athlete Representation & Contract Negotiation Immigration \& Visa Matters NCAA Compliance & Investigations NIL Rights (Name, Image, Likeness) Schools & Education Sports Facility & Real Estate Title IX & Gender Equity

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Overview

Led by a former NCAA investigator, our team of athletics-focused and NCAA compliance attorneys helps colleges and universities navigate this sea of ever-changing regulations, carefully tracking potential rule changes and advising clients on how the current status of the rules applies to their policies. In addition to general college sports law advice and NCAA regulatory counsel, we offer comprehensive counsel on Name, Image, and Likeness matters and NIL collectives; transfer portal questions; culture and climate reviews and compliance assessments; advice on vendor, gameday, and coaches’ contracts; independent investigations on issues related to coaches conduct and student-athlete well-being; and representation during NCAA enforcement investigations and alleged infractions cases. While our primary focus is NCAA legal counsel, we are also experienced with the NJCAA, NAIA, and other similar associations. Alongside our work with schools, we assist college athletes with a variety of issues including potential infractions, eligibility, sponsorship agreements, and NIL. We also work with business and other entities on athletics issues like the best manner with which to engage in NIL agreements with athletes.

We bring diverse perspectives to these legal and regulatory issues: all of our college athletics attorneys have worked at the NCAA as well as in the compliance offices of Division I schools, and we now represent a variety of educational institutions. We’ve seen NCAA rules in action within the association, on campuses, and through the eyes of our clients, giving us a 360-view and an uncommon diversity of thought. We also practice in the midst of a broader Higher Education team of 40+ attorneys who serve more than 250 colleges and universities in a wide array of matters. Unlike many standalone sports law teams, we have immediate access to a deep bench of education-focused attorneys with centuries of collective education-specific experience. Our colleagues include former Department of Education attorneys, as well as lawyers who focus their practice on Title IX and who are well prepared to handle sensitive campus matters that also arise in athletics. The broader Husch Blackwell team draws not only on NCAA experience, but also DOE and DOJ experience.

Select Experience

Counseled NCAA Division I, II, and III and NAIA member institutions on issues related to Name, Image, and Likeness, including NCAA Interim Policy and multiple state laws.

Represented NCAA Division I and Olympic athlete in issues related to application of NCAA rules and negotiation of contract for the use of athlete’s Name, Image, and Likeness.

Represented Division I member institution before Division I Committee on Infractions in contested case and successfully defended institution against charge of lack of institutional control.

Conducted Title IX gender equity review for NCAA Division I institution and counseled institution on compliance issues.

Conducted independent review on behalf of Big 10 university of potential NCAA violations involving head coach’s provision of extra benefits to student-athlete, self-reported violations to NCAA and worked with NCAA enforcement staff on behalf of university to resolve infractions case with Division I Committee on Infractions utilizing negotiated resolution process.

Conducted multiple reviews of Division I member institutions athletics compliance systems to identify areas of potential vulnerability and provide proactive solutions.

Served as outside counsel and NCAA regulatory affairs advisor to NCAA Division I Conference addressing a variety of legal and NCAA issues, including the effects of NCAA v. Alston; NCAA Name, Image, and Likeness Interim Policy; Intellectual Property; Conference Bylaws; and NCAA compliance matters.

Represented Division III college in NCAA investigation related to impermissible financial aid awards provided to student-athletes and successfully resolved case on behalf of college with Division III Committee on Infractions.

Successfully advocated for multiple student-athletes through NCAA waiver and student-athlete reinstatement processes addressing issues related to transfer eligibility, medical hardships, seasons of competition, and penalties for violations, among other issues, through collaboration with student-athletes and their families, and NCAA member institution.

Consulted with student-athletes and their families regarding the application of NCAA rules in their unique circumstances.

Represented Circuit of the Americas (Austin, Texas) in a $500 million mixed-use project consisting of over 1,300 acres surrounding the venue where the only American Formula 1 Grand Prix is held. The project will include two new entertainment venues, a USL soccer stadium, high-rise and mid-rise multi-family residential, two luxury hotels, and a luxury resort.

Represented City of St. Louis in the development of Ballpark Village, a master-planned neighborhood that would include retail, entertainment, and office spaces, with a baseball stadium at its center. Represented the city in negotiations with the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cordish Co. to develop the $600 million project. Our attorneys also assisted the city with $18 million of Missouri Downtown Economic Stimulus Act (MODESA) bonds for the first phase of the project.

Represented Legacy Sports Partners in its acquisition of Vendsyssel FF, a professional football club based in Hjørring, Denmark.