On September 14, students Brooke Gordon and Ricky Panayoty from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School participated in a discussion on the evolving Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights landscape at the 2024 HBCU Classic. The event was held during the game between Morehouse College and Howard University.
The event was organized by Professor Earl N. Caldwell, an Adjunct Professor at Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Caldwell is known for founding the Different STEM Conference and NIL Competition at AJMLS. The competition combines sports, entertainment, law, business, branding, and marketing to help students navigate the changing NIL environment.
Gordon and Panayoty joined a discussion led by Traci Bransford at MetLife Stadium. Bransford is a notable attorney leading the Sports & Entertainment Industry Team at Parker Poe with a focus on transactional law for clients in sports and other entertainment fields.
The conversation revolved around the NCAA’s policy change in 2021 that allowed college athletes to earn money from their name, image, and likeness through endorsements and sponsorships. Bransford provided insight into how this change has impacted college athletics legally.
Gordon and Panayoty discussed the varied regulatory landscape caused by different state laws and institutional policies regarding NIL rights. They emphasized the need for a federal standard to ensure consistent opportunities across states.
The HBCU Classic served as a platform for Gordon and Panayoty to represent AJMLS while discussing future developments in college sports NIL rights with peers, prospective law students, attorneys, business professionals, and industry leaders.
Both students expressed their honor in participating in such an event while representing their law school. Their involvement highlights AJMLS’s dedication to preparing legal professionals ready to tackle complex issues like those surrounding NIL rights today.
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