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Frieser Legal
February 16, 2023
Frieser Legal Joins the NIL Verified Network
The membership program represents a critical step forward in creating a more equitable and trustworthy NIL landscape for college athletes
MILWAUKEE, FEBRUARY 16, 2023. Frieser Legal, a pioneering law firm in the NIL space, announced today that they are one of the inaugural members of the NIL Verified Network.
The NIL Verified Network, established by NIL Network, is a membership program made up of service providers dedicated to ensuring transparency, honesty, and fairness within the emerging NIL industry. The initial businesses were chosen due to their consistent display of athlete-focused business practices.
As college athletes navigate the NIL landscape, it has become increasingly important for them to be able to differentiate between trustworthy service providers and those that seek to exploit the lack of regulation in the field.
Michelle Meyer, founder of NIL Network and former NIL Coordinator at San Diego State University, started building the NIL Verified Network program in May of 2022 after witnessing firsthand the frustrating reality that’s happening on the ground floor, well outside any NIL headlines.
“Bad actors are thriving in the wild west landscape right now,” Meyer explained. “Social media allows these opportunists to directly access the athletes, where they exaggerate their credentials, over promise their services, and will say pretty much anything to gain the athlete’s trust. Then, they pressure these young adults to sign horribly one-sided contracts, knowing that most college athletes don’t have the support to fully understand what they’re agreeing to. I’ve seen it too many times already. Enough is enough.”
NIL Network is striving to eliminate these bad actors by bringing together the athlete-centered NIL businesses, supporting their efforts, and amplifying their brands.
Meyer continued, “Frieser Legal was a clear choice when I was extending the first invitations to join the NIL Verified Network. Josh has built an innovative practice and thoroughly understands collegiate athletics and the NIL landscape. He is always selflessly contributing to the betterment of this new industry by sharing insights for all NIL stakeholders and I’m excited to continue working with him!”
To join the network, businesses must become NIL Verified™, the first NIL service provider standard in the industry. Developed with the expertise of former Power 5 compliance director and current Freeman┃Lovell partner Patrick Stubblefield, NIL Verified™ aggregates and vets information about a business’ registration, employees, business practices, and compliance with NIL laws, NCAA interim policies, and institutional policies. Additionally, it includes a review of the company’s terms to ensure they include all of the expected clauses and fair language for college athletes.
“The NIL Verified Network is crucial to the betterment of the NIL industry,” shared Josh Frieser, Principal Attorney of Frieser Legal. “I am proud to be able to work with NIL Network and the other NIL Verified Network members to provide more clarity and trust to college athletes. Michelle Meyer and I share the goal of a marketplace where college athletes can connect with trustworthy companies and service providers for their extensive NIL needs.”
NIL Verified™ and the resulting network provide a crucial layer of protection for college athletes, making it easier for them to navigate the complex world of NIL partnerships. The network also offers peace of mind to administrators, who can now differentiate between businesses in a crowded market and feel confident in their choices and recommendations, knowing that NIL Verified businesses have been vetted by a third-party.
LEARN ABOUT THE NIL VERIFIED NETWORK
ABOUT FRIESER LEGAL
Frieser Legal is a pioneering law firm that is the first of its kind. We are a full-service law firm, dedicated to meeting the needs of athletes, agents, entrepreneurs, sports industry start-ups, and small businesses. We strive to understand the unique and complex legal challenges that our clients face and assist them in navigating the dynamic sports marketplace.
Frieser Legal Principal Attorney Joshua M. Frieser has broad experience representing college athletes for NCAA regulatory proceedings, NIL contracts, and agency contracts. He also advises athletes on trademarks and intellectual property, business entity formation, tax law, and hosting camps and giving lessons. Additionally, Josh serves as outside general counsel to multiple entrepreneurs and sports industry start-ups.
ABOUT NIL NETWORK
NIL Network was founded in 2020 as a free resource to help athletes, coaches, and administrators understand the NIL changes that were coming the following summer.
Today, NIL Network is a platform that equips athletes, administrators, and other early adopters with industry leading databases, objective resources, and trustworthy connections so they can succeed in the nascent name, image, and likeness era of collegiate sports.
Media Contact:
Joshua Frieser
Principal Attorney, Frieser Legal
josh@frieserlegal.com