HARRISBURG, Pa. — (April 22, 2024) McNees has established a Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) team to optimize its resources designed to support student-athletes, colleges, universities, businesses and other stakeholders through the highly evolving legal area of business partnerships in collegiate sports.
Keynotes:
- Tapped from McNees’ deep bench of legal talent, the Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) team includes seven attorneys experienced and respected in the higher education, intellectual property, corporate, tax and data protection fields.
- McNees’ NIL professionals leverage their skill and established connections within college athletics, higher education and the business community to help clients navigate challenges and proactively identify opportunities as the NIL industry continues to expand and evolve.
- Attorney Phil Petrina serves as the lead of McNees’ new NIL Group. He brings a unique perspective as a former college athlete to his work guiding clients through the legal complexities of NIL and NCAA regulations.
Tapped from McNees’ deep bench of legal talent, the seven NIL team members serve student-athletes, colleges, universities, corporations, businesses, NIL collectives and other stakeholders. Their work has included negotiating endorsements, sponsorship deals and contracts; drafting NIL policies and procedures for institutions of higher education; and counseling clients on compliance with state NIL laws and other regulations.
“As a full-service law firm, McNees has a wealth of resources and collective knowledge to address legal questions about this new and evolving industry, and we are well-positioned to help current and future clients capitalize on opportunities,”
Petrina said. “I’m pleased to team up with key attorneys from around the firm to guide clients through this rapidly evolving landscape and bring them solutions.”
About the Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) Team
While the firm’s NIL clients have access to a full team of attorneys who are experienced in their respective legal fields, the core team of attorneys joining Petrina on the firm’s Name, Image and Likeness team include:
Kimberly Colonna is an education law attorney who represents universities, colleges, school districts, charter schools and other providers of educational services. She regularly provides counsel on policy development and contract review and represents higher education clients in disputes.
Clayton Davidson is a financial services attorney who represents investors, working with clients on the acquisition of sports properties and compliance with endorsement guidelines prescribed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). As part of McNees’ NIL team, Davidson has assisted in the negotiation of NIL deals for clients.
Brian Gregg, co-chair of the Intellectual Property Law Group, advises clients on the protection and monetization of their intellectual property, including trademarks, copyrights and name/likeness. He guides clients through the process of brand development, protection and commercialization through merchandising and licensing agreements, sponsorships, endorsements and influencing.
Brian Honness focuses his practice on tax and estate planning for high-net worth clients. He drafts a range of trust agreements and regularly assists clients in business succession planning.
Jordan Nittinger Polce is a corporate attorney who is enthusiastic about collegiate sports and brings experience with drafting and negotiating terms for complex contracts and legal transactions.
Adam Santucci, co-chair of the Labor and Employment Group, collaborates with businesses, non-profits and government entities to solve the problems that arise in today’s workplace. His experience and connections working across the public and private sectors benefit the firm’s NIL clients.
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McNees is a multidisciplinary law firm founded in 1935 with more than 150 attorneys representing businesses, associations, institutions, municipalities and individuals. The firm serves clients worldwide from offices in Devon, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Pittsburgh, Scranton, State College and York, Pa.; Columbus, Ohio; Frederick and Towson, Md.; and Washington, D.C. McNees is a member of the ALFA International Global Legal Network.
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