Empowering Athletes, Colleges, and Organizations in the Modern Sports Industry.

Our Sports Law Practice Group is built by attorneys who bring an exceptional combination of legal expertise and genuine sports experience. Our team includes former collegiate athletes, certified sports agents, and legal professionals with hands-on roles in athletic programs and competitive sports environments. This authentic understanding of athletic competition—from the playing field to the boardroom—enables us to represent clients with the strategic insight and credibility that only comes from having competed at the collegiate and professional levels ourselves.

Each member of our team has cultivated deep expertise in sports law through rigorous legal training, industry-specific certifications, and meaningful involvement in athletic programs and organizations. From coaching and competing in collegiate sports to managing athlete representation and navigating NCAA compliance frameworks, our attorneys combine personal athletic achievement with sophisticated legal knowledge. This dual foundation allows us to anticipate the unique challenges athletes, institutions, and sports organizations face, and to counsel our clients with both tactical precision and genuine empathy for the athletic experience.

Our Services

For Colleges, Universities & Athletic Departments

DeCotiis serves as trusted counsel to educational institutions on all facets of NIL compliance, governance, and litigation risk. We provide:

• NIL Program Design & Oversight: Policy drafting, disclosure management, and compliance reviews under National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), and state law.
• Collective Structuring & Donor Engagement: Formation and governance of NIL collectives, including tax and sponsorship considerations.
• Educational Programming: Seminars for athletes, coaches, and administrators on brand management, contracts, and financial literacy.
• Litigation Prevention & Response: Guidance on employment, discrimination, or contractual disputes involving athletic staff or student-athletes.

For Student-Athletes and Professionals

We represent athletes across all levels, high school, collegiate, and professional, in developing, negotiating, and protecting their careers and personal brands. Our services include:

• NIL Contract Review & Negotiation: Ensuring fairness, clarity, and compliance in endorsement, sponsorship, and appearance deals.
• Brand and Image Protection: Safeguarding publicity rights, social-media content, and digital assets (including avatars and merchandise).
• Athlete Representation: Advising on agency relationships, professional contracts, and overseas opportunities.
• Business Formation & Tax Planning: Establishing LLCs or non-profits to manage NIL income, charitable ventures, and liability exposure.
• Risk Management: Counseling on social-media policies, public reputation, and crisis-response strategies.

For Teams, Leagues & Agencies

Our attorneys handle the full spectrum of sports-related business and regulatory matters, including:

• Player & Coaching Contracts
• Employment Classification and Wage-and-Hour Issues
• Sponsorships, Licensing, and Intellectual Property
• Arbitration and Mediation in Sports Disputes
• Compliance with International and League Regulations

Why NIL Legal Representation Matters

The NIL marketplace presents both opportunity and risk. Contracts can contain exclusivity, commission, or compliance pitfalls that jeopardize eligibility or future earnings. We help clients:

• Protect their eligibility under NCAA, NJCAA, and NJSIAA rules.
• Avoid predatory or overreaching contracts and ensure fair compensation.
• Maintain compliance with evolving state and institutional NIL laws.
• Structure deals for long-term sustainability and financial success.

Representative Experience

• Negotiated and reviewed over 500 NIL, NBA, and FIBA contracts for athletes and agents.
• Advised higher-education clients on NCAA/NJCAA NIL policy integration and risk mitigation.
• Drafted and structured athlete representation and endorsement agreements for professional basketball players.
• Counseled institutions on employment and compliance disputes involving athletic departments and staff.

Why Choose DeCotiis

At DeCotiis, FitzPatrick, Cole & Giblin, LLP, our Sports Law attorneys do not just understand the law, we understand the game. Our first-hand athletic experience, combined with the firm’s depth across litigation, employment, higher education, and business law, allows us to provide tailored counsel that protects both performance and reputation.

We combine strategic vision with legal precision, helping clients seize opportunities while staying compliant in a rapidly shifting industry.