In an article published by IndyStar on July 6, Burr & Forman's Bill Lawrence shared his insights on the transformative impact of NIL changes in college sports.

This month, college sports marked the second year of the Name Image and Likeness (NIL) policy change that transformed college athletics and the NCAA. As the policy causes widespread reforms, the NCAA has tried to resist the power of collectives, which act as a clearinghouse for fans and boosters wanting to contribute money that can be pooled to fund NIL deals between athletes representing a given school and third parties.

"Schools effectively need the collectives now," said Bill Lawrence, a partner at the Birmingham-based law firm Burr & Forman, which deals extensively with sports law. "Without the collectives, I don't see how a school's athletics department can field competitive teams."

Collectives have helped facilitate substantial deals between athletes and partners. And while a lot of the numbers thrown around in recruiting circles in particular are probably fishing stories, exaggerated for effect, there's a growing list of athletes with confirmed seven-figure compensation packages across the country.

Click here to view a pdf of the full article.

 

About Burr & Forman LLP

For more than a century, Burr & Forman LLP’s experienced legal team has served clients at the intersection of business and government. With 350 attorneys and 19 offices across Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, Burr & Forman draws from a diverse range of industry experience and practice knowledge to help clients address their legal needs and achieve their goals. For more information, visit the firm’s website at www.burr.com.