Lawyers Behind the Legal Earthquake
The settlement’s complexity is reflected in the dense roster of attorneys involved. Representing the athletes were Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP, Winston & Strawn LLP, and Spector Roseman & Kodroff PC. Co-lead counsel Steve Berman called the agreement “a monumental shift” that brings the NCAA “into the modern age.”
On the defense, a phalanx of legal powerhouses stood by the NCAA and each of the conferences. Wilkinson Stekloff LLP, ArentFox Schiff LLP, Mayer Brown LLP, Sidley Austin LLP, and others helped shape the deal under heavy scrutiny.
Unanswered Questions and the Road Ahead
Despite the victory for athletes, the ruling leaves some unresolved legal clouds. The NCAA still faces ongoing antitrust lawsuits, and the settlement doesn’t preempt future litigation or state-level challenges. Notably, issues regarding gender equity in compensation, particularly for women athletes, remain areas of concern raised by critics.
Nonetheless, the approved settlement marks the end of an era—one where college athletes could generate billions in value for their schools without seeing a dime themselves.
With money now flowing and policy lines finally drawn, the true impact of the NCAA’s $2.8B settlement may only just be beginning to unfold—on court, on field, and in courtrooms still to come.
