Sports Law

Foster Swift provides an innovative approach to the complexity of representing the modern-day athlete. Our lawyers work closely with high school, collegiate, and professional athletes to help manage their careers and related business endeavors successfully.

Our management team includes attorneys that help high school and division one collegiate athletes navigate NIL, the transfer portal, and eligibility, as well as professional athletes domestically and abroad, including NBA Hall of Fame members Magic Johnson and Dominique Wilkins. As such, Foster Swift lawyers provide unparalleled full-service representation, including:

• Outside General Counsel services to sports teams, schools, and athletic charities.
• Formation, planning, and deal services for athlete-sponsored brands and start-ups.
• Counsel athletes and organizations on the current name/image likeness (NIL) landscape.
• Plan, draft, and negotiate athletic contracts, endorsement agreements, and public engagements.
• Advise universities regarding labor, employment, and federal anti-discrimination laws and disputes
• Form, qualify, and counsel public charities and private foundations regarding tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
• Advise athletes and organizations on tax planning strategies and charitable giving.

At Foster Swift, we view the relationship with our prospective clients as a long-term partnership built on a foundation of trust, integrity and honesty. Long after the client's playing days are over, we fully anticipate continued joint success.

Foster Swift Sports Talk Podcast

Listen to all episodes on Spotify. Below are the YouTube recordings 

• Episode 1 - The House Settlement’s Impact on NIL and Non-Revenue Sports
  • Guests: MSU Baseball Head Coach Jake Boss Jr. and Dr. Tom Dieters, Founder and President of Charitable Gift America
• Episode 2 - The Future of NIL in High School Athletics
  • Guest: MHSAA Executive Director, Mark Uyl
• Episode 3 - Navigating NIL, College Recruiting, and Pro Sports
  • Guests: Co-owner and a founder of Conquest Fitness and member of the MSU Basketball's 2000 National Championship team, Andre Hutson, along with his son Cam Hutson, a rising talent committed to Saint Louis University Basketball team.

Publications & Alerts

• A Summary of House v. NCAA NIL Litigation Settlement, Foster Swift Business & Tax Law News, March 31, 2025
• Federal Judge Rules NCAA Can’t Bar Student-Athletes from Negotiating NIL Money with Collectives & Sponsors, Foster Swift Business & Tax Law News, April 23, 2024
• NIL Timeline: The Events That Transformed College Sports, April 21, 2023
• NCAA vs. Alston: The Case That Changed College Athletics Forever, April 7, 2023

Events

• NIL Shift: Legal Insights and Future Trends in College Sports, Second Wednesday Sessions, April 9, 2025

News

• Podcast Focuses Legal Insights on NIL and Changing Dynamics of College Sports, EIN Presswire, May 7, 2025
• Four Newly Sworn-In Associates Join Foster Swift, Legal News, November 27, 2024
• Attorney Russell Appointed as Litigation Practice Group Co-Leader, January 29, 2018
• Foster Swift Attorneys Named to Leadership Positions with State Bar of Michigan ACES Section, Southfield Chamber of Commerce, October 12, 2017
• Kamins elected chairman of ACES section of the State Bar, October 18, 2010

Media

2nd Wednesday Lunch Break

NIL Shift: Legal Insights and Future Trends in College Sports