Ward & Smith started a name-image-matching (NIL) practice focused on business

Ward & Smith, PA recently launched the Name, Image and Similarity or “NIL” practice group.

Team attorneys focus on NIL collections, marketing agencies, software platform providers, financial advisors, and businesses that work with individual athletes specifically to promote products or services.

Comprised of lawyers experienced in commercial and intellectual property matters, including business formation, intellectual property registration, licensing and enforcement, drafting and negotiating commercial agreements, and regulatory compliance, the team already has impressive experience in several key aspects of NIL’s practice.

Until last summer, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) prohibited college student-athletes from making money from licensing their name, image or likeness. The new NCAA policy, explained further here, and various state laws allow businesses to license a collegiate athlete’s name, image and likeness for commercial or promotional purposes.

“We assist businesses with matters involving NIL rights. The NIL practice group adds an NCAA overlay to the services we already provide,” said Erika Rogers, an intellectual property attorney and leader of Ward & Smith’s NIL practice group.

“Recently, we were discussing the NCAA guidelines, and we realized that we have a lot of experience in business and intellectual property issues that we can offer in this area, especially because our offices are close to the top universities in North Carolina. New doors will be opened for all athletes. For gender and college sports, attention is traditionally For those who haven’t, we are thrilled to have front row seats to the action.