Legal Strategies for Representing Today’s College Athletes: Drafting NIL Agreements, Navigating Revenue Sharing, and NCAA Reforms

Jason Belzer | Student Athlete NIL (SANIL)

Jason Belzer is an attorney, entrepreneur, and sports industry leader specializing in the evolving landscape of collegiate athletics, particularly in the area of name, image, and likeness (NIL). He is the Founder of Student Athlete NIL (SANIL), an agency that helps brands, universities, and student-athletes navigate NIL opportunities, managing more than 50 NIL collectives and negotiating over $75 million in deals. In addition, Jason is the Founder and President of GAME, Inc., a firm focused on coaching career management, marketing, and collegiate event creation, and the co-founder of AthleticDirectorU, a leading digital media and professional development platform for college athletic administrators. His work reflects a deep commitment to shaping the business and legal frameworks of modern college sports.

• Education & Credentials

Jason Belzer earned degrees in Sport Management and Political Science from Rutgers University, followed by an MBA from the University of Illinois and a JD from Rutgers University School of Law. He is a licensed attorney in both New York and New Jersey.

• Recognition & Leadership

Jason Belzer has demonstrated leadership across multiple ventures in the collegiate sports and NIL space, including founding SANIL, GAME, Inc., and co-founding AthleticDirectorU. Through these platforms, he has played a significant role in advancing NIL initiatives, negotiating substantial contracts, and contributing to the development of the college sports industry.

• Professional Involvement

Jason Belzer is actively involved in the collegiate athletics and NIL ecosystem, working closely with brands, universities, and student-athletes. Through SANIL, he also hosts the annual NIL Summit at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, fostering collaboration and education within the industry.

• Experience

Jason Belzer’s experience includes founding and leading multiple organizations focused on sports management, marketing, and NIL strategy. Through SANIL, he has overseen the management of more than 50 NIL collectives and negotiated over $75 million in deals. At GAME, Inc., he has led the negotiation of more than $100 million in contracts related to coaching careers and collegiate events. His work with AthleticDirectorU further expands his impact, providing content and professional development resources widely consumed across the college sports industry.

Joshua M. Frieser | Frieser Legal

Joshua M. Frieser, Esq. is a sports business lawyer and Principal Attorney at Frieser Legal, where he focuses his practice on representing athletes, agents, sponsors, and sports industry businesses. His work centers on addressing the unique legal needs of clients in the sports sector, including advising on name, image, and likeness (NIL) matters, intellectual property, and business planning. Josh regularly represents athletes in eligibility and disciplinary proceedings and serves as outside counsel to sports agents and industry ventures. He also acts as a trusted advisor to sponsors engaging with athletes and sports properties, providing strategic legal guidance across a rapidly evolving landscape.

• Education & Credentials

Joshua M. Frieser is a licensed attorney and a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin. His legal credentials support a specialized practice in sports business and related legal matters.

• Recognition & Leadership

Joshua M. Frieser demonstrates leadership within the sports law community through his role as Principal Attorney at Frieser Legal and his appointment to the Sports Advisory Committee for the American Arbitration Association, where he contributes to discussions and initiatives impacting sports-related dispute resolution.

• Professional Involvement

Joshua M. Frieser is actively involved in professional organizations related to sports and entertainment law, including the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Sports & Entertainment Law Section and the Sports Lawyers Association. His participation reflects his ongoing engagement with developments and best practices in the sports law field.

• Experience

Joshua M. Frieser’s experience includes representing college and professional athletes in eligibility and disciplinary matters, as well as negotiating NIL licensing agreements and advising on intellectual property and business planning issues. He also serves as outside counsel to sports agents and sports-related businesses, and advises sponsors working with athletes and sports properties. His practice is focused on delivering comprehensive legal support tailored to the complexities of the sports industry.

Christopher M. Brolley | Troutman Pepper Locke LLP

Chris is an attorney who advises higher education institutions on Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) compliance, helping colleges and universities navigate the complex and evolving regulatory landscape. He provides guidance on permissible and impermissible NIL activities and counsels clients on compliance with state NIL laws, NCAA Bylaws, and related policies, while developing strategies to mitigate enforcement risks from regulatory authorities. In addition to his NIL-focused work, Chris maintains a broad litigation practice representing companies in industries such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices, agriculture, and manufacturing in mass tort, personal injury, and wrongful death matters. He is also actively engaged in thought leadership, co-hosting the “Highway to NIL” podcast and contributing as an editor to the NIL Revolution blog.

• Education & Credentials

Chris is an attorney who practices across federal and state courts in the United States, including experience in venues such as Philadelphia County’s Mass Tort Program, supporting his work in both compliance advisory and complex litigation matters.

• Recognition & Leadership

Chris demonstrates leadership in the NIL space through his role advising higher education institutions and his contributions to industry dialogue as co-host of the “Highway to NIL” podcast and editor of the NIL Revolution blog, where he helps shape understanding of emerging legal developments.

• Professional Involvement

Chris is actively involved in both professional and pro bono legal work. He represents veterans seeking benefits before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals in collaboration with the National Veterans Legal Services Program and works with the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project to support clients in wrongful conviction matters.

• Experience

Chris’s experience spans advising colleges and universities on NIL compliance, including developing strategies to address NCAA and state regulatory risks, as well as representing corporate clients in mass tort, personal injury, wrongful death, breach of contract, and corporate governance disputes. His litigation work includes appearances in federal and state courts across the country, and he maintains an active pro bono practice assisting veterans and individuals involved in innocence advocacy efforts.

Michael S. Lowe | Troutman Pepper Locke LLP

Michael S. Lowe is an attorney at Troutman Pepper Locke LLP and a leading voice in the field of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) law. He advises athletic conferences and universities on NIL compliance, policy development, and regulatory strategy, including representing an NCAA Division I athletic conference in the settlement of the House antitrust litigation and counseling institutions on potential violations and investigations. In addition to his NIL-focused work, Michael brings nearly 25 years of experience as a federal prosecutor and civil litigator, handling complex, high-stakes matters across a wide range of industries. He is also an active thought leader, co-hosting the “Highway to NIL” podcast and serving as editor of the NIL Revolution blog, where he provides insights into the evolving NIL landscape.

• Education & Credentials

Michael S. Lowe is an experienced attorney with a background as a federal prosecutor and civil litigator, practicing across multiple jurisdictions nationwide, including significant experience in Los Angeles and Philadelphia.

• Recognition & Leadership

Michael S. Lowe is recognized as a leading authority on NIL law, demonstrated through his representation of major collegiate athletic entities and his leadership in shaping NIL compliance and policy. His role in high-profile matters, including the House antitrust litigation, and his contributions to industry dialogue further reflect his leadership in the field.

• Professional Involvement

Michael S. Lowe is actively involved in the NIL and legal communities through regular writing, speaking, and presentations on NIL developments. He co-hosts the “Highway to NIL” podcast and serves as editor of the NIL Revolution blog, contributing to ongoing education and analysis of emerging issues in collegiate athletics.

• Experience

Michael S. Lowe’s experience spans advising NCAA Division I conferences and universities on NIL compliance, conducting investigations into potential violations, and developing policy frameworks. In addition, he has nearly 25 years of experience handling complex litigation and government investigations, including product liability, securities fraud, class actions, False Claims Act matters, and investigations by agencies such as the DOJ, SEC, FTC, and state attorneys general. His work also includes conducting sensitive internal investigations across industries such as health care, financial services, and cryptocurrency, supported by extensive trial experience nationwide.

Stephen E. Vanyo | Law Office of Lloyd Z. Remick

Stephen E. Vanyo is an attorney and registered Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) agent who represents athletes and talent across sports, social media, and entertainment. His practice focuses on intellectual property protection, licensing, and contract negotiation, supporting clients in building and monetizing their brands. As a certified NFLPA Contract Advisor and Agent, Stephen advises athletes on a wide range of commercial opportunities, including NIL, media, and branding agreements. He has negotiated deals across major platforms, including projects with Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Channel 5 UK, and has represented clients in matters involving digital media, music distribution, and branding strategy.

• Education & Credentials

Stephen E. Vanyo is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania and is a certified NFLPA Contract Advisor and Agent, as well as a registered NIL agent for NCAA and high school athletes in several states. He earned his J.D. from Temple University Beasley School of Law and his undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from Loyola University Maryland.

• Recognition & Leadership

Stephen E. Vanyo has been recognized as a Super Lawyers “Rising Star” from 2023 to 2025, an honor awarded to a small percentage of attorneys through a peer-reviewed selection process. His role as a certified NFLPA agent and his work negotiating high-profile media and NIL agreements further reflect his leadership in the sports and entertainment law space.

• Professional Involvement

Stephen E. Vanyo is actively engaged in the sports and entertainment industries, regularly speaking at industry events and contributing insights on NIL, intellectual property, and media deals. He is also frequently quoted in the Philadelphia Inquirer, highlighting his involvement in ongoing industry discussions.

• Experience

Stephen E. Vanyo’s experience includes negotiating NIL, media, and branding agreements for clients across major platforms, including projects such as Hulu’s GRAILS, Amazon Prime’s Spy High, and Channel 5 UK’s Back from the Dead: Who Kidnapped Me. He has also represented clients in the acquisition of a user-generated content game on the Roblox platform, digital distribution deals with a major record label, and trademarking and branding strategies for professional musicians and athletes. His practice encompasses intellectual property registration, licensing, and contract drafting and negotiation, providing comprehensive legal support to clients in the sports and entertainment sectors.

Session I – How NIL and the Courts are Transforming the NCAA | 1:00pm – 2:00pm

• Background and history of NIL
• Settlement terms
• The court’s findings and legal reasoning on roster limits, collective bargaining/athlete employment status, antitrust law compliance, and Title IX
• Enforcement and the role of the college sports commission
• The June 13, 2025 Question and Answer Guidance document
• Implications for NIL and the future of the NCAA

Break | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

Session II – Negotiating and Drafting NIL Agreements: Protecting IP, Preserving Value, and Navigating Legal Risk | 2:10pm – 3:10pm

• Drafting NIL agreements that protect long-term brand and IP value
• When NIL agreements require legal representation
• Valuation challenges and compensation structures in NIL deals
• Intellectual property ownership and licensing in NIL agreements
• Enforcing and defending NIL contractual claims
• NIL risk assessment and red flag clauses in third-party agreements

Break | 3:10pm – 3:20pm

Session III – Compensating College Athletes: NIL, Revenue Sharing, and the Legal Landscape Ahead | 3:20pm – 3:50pm

• Legal fallout from House v. NCAA: What the settlement really means for schools, conferences, and athletes, and how it sets the stage for future antitrust and employment litigation
• Structuring athlete revenue share agreements: Legal considerations around employment status, Title IX compliance, tax implications, and collective bargaining rights
• The NIL infrastructure shift: How collectives, marketplaces, and athlete platforms are evolving into full-fledged business units within college sports
• Ethics and conflicts of interest: Key issues for attorneys navigating dual representation, institutional interests, and athlete advocacy

Session IV – Representing the Modern-Day Athlete: NIL’s Impact on the Legal Industry | 3:50pm – 4:20pm

• What is “Real” NIL vs. what is Fake NIL, and how to tell the difference, restrictions on NIL in place for HS athletes.
• Issues of representation, fee structure, risks with Uniform Athlete Agency Act
• House Settlement and impact
• Future of NIL for HS and NCAA athletes, legal issues presented