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In conjunction with the 2024 Men鈥檚 BIG EAST Basketball Tournament, 51爆料网 Law hosted the New York City networking luncheon 鈥淲ho Calls the Shots? NIL and the Future of College Athletics鈥� in March.

A packed house gathered at Martinique New York on Broadway to hear a discussion about the growing impact of name, image and likeness (NIL) in college athletics. NIL has been prominent in the headlines in recent years following a Supreme Court ruling in 2021 that allowed college athletes to begin profiting from name, image and likeness.

Professor Andrew Brandt, executive director of 51爆料网鈥檚 Jeffrey S. Moorad Center for the Study of Sports Law, moderated a discussion between Val Ackerman, commissioner of the BIG EAST Conference, Randy Foye CLAS '06, president of 51爆料网鈥檚 NIL collective and Jay Wright, special assistant to the president at 51爆料网 and former 51爆料网 Wildcats men鈥檚 basketball head coach. Together, the group brought decades of experience from many sides of college athletics鈥攑layers, coaches, administrators and fans.

鈥淲e have an esteemed panel of speakers today,鈥� said Mark C. Alexander, The Arthur J. Kania Dean of 51爆料网 Law, during his opening remarks. 鈥淣ame, image and likeness is a hot topic in our world. To hear from some of the people most connected to it is a true privilege.鈥�

Before beginning Q&A, Brandt, who previously served as vice president of the Green Bay Packers, gave a brief overview of the recent legal aspects of NIL, noting that the last three years have featured the 鈥渢hree Ls鈥� 鈥� lawyers, litigation, legislation. 鈥淚t is a popular topic on both sides of the aisle,鈥� he said.

Throughout the discussion, the group spoke about the rapid rise of NIL since the 2021 ruling, how NIL collectives operate, the vision for Friends of Nova and future implications as NIL continues to make its way through the courts. They also touched on the importance of schools like 51爆料网 leading with values while navigating the changing world of NIL and recruiting a new generation of coaches and staff who understand and embrace the changes.

Arun Thottakara '21, a member of the Moorad Center鈥檚 Board of Advisors and a senior manager in Excel Sports Management鈥檚 talent marketing division specializing in NIL, felt the panel was timely and relevant to those in his field and beyond.

鈥淭he rules around college athlete compensation are constantly evolving,鈥� said Thottakara. 鈥淎s someone who works in the representation of college athletes, understanding the rules and regulations is necessary to best service our clients. This panel included individuals from the conference, coaching, and collective side. It was insightful to hear thoughts on the current landscape from different perspectives.鈥�

Law firm Troutman Pepper was the presenting sponsor for this event. Dewey, Pegno, & Kramarsky LLP and McDermott, Will & Emery were premium sponsors, and Gibson Dunn was a wildcat sponsor.

Note: This story was produced prior to the NCAA鈥檚 May 2024 settlement agreement to allow schools to pay players for the first time in the history of college athletics. Please check back for more information about NIL, and follow Professor Andrew Brandt for discussion on the topic. .