K Altman Law helps student athletes protect their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights when things get complicated. NIL deals move fast, and disputes with collectives, brands, agents, or promoters can escalate quickly. Our education-focused team represents high school and college athletes in contract conflicts, eligibility challenges, and reputational issues such as defamation or social media misuse.
We also intervene when schools or conferences impose unfair restrictions or violate due process. From the first call, we assess leverage and map strategy to meet your goals, whether that’s getting paid, restoring eligibility, or exiting a one-sided deal.
Because NIL sits at the crossroads of contract law, school policy, and athlete rights, our background in student defense and Title IX ensures your academic standing and eligibility remain protected.
If you’re facing a payment dispute, eligibility concerns, contract pressure, or just want a clean, compliant deal, K Altman Law is here to help.
What NIL Really Means and Why It’s Complicated
Since 2021, student-athletes have been able to profit from their Name, Image, and Likeness, or NIL. That means you can be paid for sponsorships, social media posts, appearances, or merchandise featuring your name or likeness.
That all may sound very simple but NIL contracts can be full of tricky language and hidden obligations. Some common deal terms include:
- Exclusivity clauses (you can’t work with other brands).
- Morality clauses (you must avoid certain types of behaviors online).
- Performance requirements (you must meet appearance or social media posting quotas).
- Intellectual property clauses (the company might own your image from the campaign).
Without accurate legal advice, a single clause could limit your opportunities or even affect your NCAA (National College Athletic Association) eligibility. That’s why having an experienced NIL lawyer is so valuable. You don’t need someone just to fix your problems but to prevent them entirely.
When NIL Deals Go Wrong
Most NIL partnerships start out with lots of excitement for the athletes. With new income and new exposure come new opportunities. But sometimes, things don’t go as planned.
K Altman Law often helps athletes handle situations like these:
1. Payment Disputes
You deliver on your end, such as posting on social media or attending an event but the sponsor or collective doesn’t pay up as agreed. Maybe payments are delayed, reduced, or denied altogether. Our attorneys help enforce NIL contracts, recover unpaid compensation, and protect your rights without putting your eligibility at risk.
In one of the most talked about NIL cases, a student athlete was forced to file a lawsuit against prominent individuals (head coach and boosters) associated with the university’s football for a deal that never materialized. Their experience highlights how unclear agreements, broken promises and pressures during recruitment can turn NIL opportunities into worrisome legal battles.
2. Eligibility and Compliance Problems
Because every school and state has its own NIL policies, even legitimate deals can sometimes create headaches in terms of compliance. What’s allowed in one state or school may not be allowed in another. A single misstep, such as using the wrong school’s logo, can create a big issue which might trigger investigations or suspensions. We help student athletes carefully navigate these rules, manage the details, such as communication with compliance offices and disputing unfair penalties.
3. Reputation and Social Media Issues
In the NIL era, your biggest asset is your personal brand. But you must be careful because a single inappropriate post or misleading information shared by you or on your behalf can cost you a deal. Our attorneys assist athletes in addressing defamation, managing online crises, and setting clear boundaries in contracts to protect their image.
4. Misleading Agents or Advisors
Unfortunately, not every “agent” or “advisor” is looking out for your best interests. Some agents will overpromise, take excessive fees, or create conflicts of interest. K Altman Law helps identify when an agent is violating state rules or your trust and assists you in terminating one-sided agreements without any fallout.
Why You Need a Lawyer
You might be tempted to think a deal is simple and you don’t need legal advice but, you must bear in mind, NIL deals are still legal contracts. Once you sign on that dotted line, you are bound by every word.
Here’s how having a lawyer early in the process can save you time, stress, and money:
- Spotting unfair terms before you sign.
- Protecting your intellectual property (your name, photos, and videos).
- Clarifying payment schedules and performance expectations.
- Avoiding clauses that could end your eligibility or hinder future deals.
- Ensuring tax compliance so you don’t face penalties later.
You wouldn’t compete professionally without a coach and, similarly, you need a legal advisor for entering legal contracts.
How K Altman Law Supports Student-Athletes
Our approach is built around catering to your goals, whether that’s resolving disputes, staying eligible, or ensuring that the contract you sign is fair.
Step 1: Strategy and Assessment
We start by listening. We’ll review your deal or situation, identify your options, and create a plan that fits your priorities, whether that means negotiating quietly or taking formal legal action.
Step 2: Contract Review and Negotiation
We do a thorough study of NIL agreements to ensure everything is clear and compliant. We help you understand:
- What you’re promising
- What you’re being paid
- What rights you’re giving up (if any)
- How to exit the deal if things change
Our goal is to protect your leverage while keeping you open for potential future opportunities.
Step 3: Crisis Management and Legal Action
Whenever there’s a dispute or an incident that may endanger your eligibility, we are quick to action. Our attorneys handle communications with schools, brands, and governing bodies, and if needed, we take every measure to pursue emergency relief or litigation to restore your standing.
Step 4: Ongoing NIL Guidance
Not only do we fix your problems, but we also help to create a sustainable NIL strategy for you. This includes what the disclosure rules are, what taxes are to be paid, and how to keep a good balance between your academic and athletic responsibilities.
Protecting Both Your Career and Education
When you’re a student-athlete, there’s more to consider than just NIL law. Contract issues can easily overlap with student conduct, Title IX investigations, or university policy violations. That’s why K Altman Law’s background in student defense is so valuable, because we understand how athletic, academic, and disciplinary systems intersect.
If your NIL situation leads to disciplinary action, defamation claims, or eligibility hearings, our team knows how to navigate every part of the process. We protect your rights during internal investigations, hearings, and appeals, ensuring that your education and eligibility remain intact.
Our goal is always to safeguard both your athletic career and your academic reputation, so one issue doesn’t derail your future. Whether it is NIL contract disputes or disciplinary proceedings at your school, our expert team provides a comprehensive legal support system for student athletes and their families so they can move forward with confidence.
How Parents and Families Can Support Their Athlete
Parents and families play a vital part in helping young athletes make smart NIL choices. However, the legal side can be confusing, especially when the rules can change every season.
We help families stay informed and proactive by:
- Understanding conflicts of interest between schools, collectives, and brands, so you know who will represent your athlete’s best interests.
- Reviewing deals together, so you know what your athlete is agreeing to, ensuring everyone understands their commitments, the payment structures and exclusivity clauses.
- Clarifying taxes and disclosures, so no one gets caught off guard later. We assist families in how to plan for reporting income so they can avoid compliance issues that may arise later down the road.
- Guiding communication with coaches and compliance officers, and all advisors to make sure everyone is on the same page.
We believe transparency builds trust for both your NIL relationships and within your family.
Taking Control of Your NIL Future
Since the advent of the NIL era, student athletes have had incredible opportunities, but they’ve also come with their own set of complications and risks. The most common problems we come across are:
- Signing deals too quickly
- Relying on verbal promises
- Ignoring compliance rules
- Not understanding or considering long-term rights
With K Altman Law, you’ll get more than just a lawyer. You’ll get a partner who understands the needs of college athletics, education law and the pressures that come with trying to manage everything simultaneously.
With our attorneys by your side, you can rest easy that we’ll take care of your rights and reputation at every step.
Schedule a Confidential Consultation
If you find yourself in an NIL deal that doesn’t feel right or fair to you, if you’re dealing with denied or ignored payments, or just need someone to guide you for an upcoming opportunity, K Altman Law is ready to help you out.
We will do a thorough review of your situation, give you a clear list of options available to you, and help you move forward with confidence – weather that means negotiating on your behalf, resolving disputes, or ensuring that the deals you engage in are fair and compliant.
Schedule a conference with us today to protect your rights, your reputation and secure your future in the world of athletics.
