C.J. Cox knows a thing or two about overcoming challenges and rising to the highest level of competition. As a sophomore, the two-year starting guard for the Purdue men’s basketball team played a critical role in helping propel the Boilermakers to a Big 10 Championship and an Elite Eight appearance in the NCAA Tournament last March.
Off the court, Cox faced a different challenge: negotiating the evolving landscape of the post-House settlement Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) era. As a player who also knows a thing or two about assists, he turned to Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP.
“Navigating the new and complex world of the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) era has been challenging,” said Cox. “With so much at stake, I turned to Hunton for help, guidance and counsel on a range of legal matters, including the formation of my limited liability company, NIL opportunities and agreements, and advice on a wide range of personal and business issues. NIL and the business side of college athletics can be a lot to manage while juggling my studies and the entire educational experience. My Hunton team of Gerry Leone, Brigid Harrington, Austin Maloney and Nate Jones took the time to walk me and my father through every step, answer my questions, and make sure I felt comfortable with the decisions I was making. They were always insightful, thoughtful, responsive, and supportive, and I’m truly appreciative of the guidance they provided. As my business aspirations grow, I know I can count on the legal and business affairs support from my team at Hunton.”
Hunton’s representation of Cox reflects the breadth of the firm’s higher education practice, which has included involvement in NIL-related concerns from all angles – not just the representation of student athletes, but also universities themselves and related entities, such as foundations. Hunton has been a thought leader in how NIL impacts athletes and college campuses from a financial, risk-management, student well-being, and institutional mission angles. For example:
- Campus Risk Playbook Series: Sidelines, Setbacks, and Bracket-Busting: How Booster Insurance Safeguards NIL Deals
- Key NIL-Related Considerations for Institutions That Do Not Pay Their Athletes
- The New Era of College Athletics – Navigating NIL and Collectives
- What Insurance Means for Stakeholders in the NIL Era
- Top Tips for Employers – NIL and Student Athletes: Is It Work?
- Challenges for International Student-Athletes Navigating the NIL Landscape
- Top Tips for Employers – House Rules: Guidelines for the University/Student-Athlete Relationship in the Age of Compensation
- Navigating Insurance in the NIL Era: What It Means for Universities, Athletes, Brands, and Families
- Focus Areas for Institutions of Higher Education to Navigate the Revenue Share and NIL Era
- With Student Athletes’ Individual “Brands” Becoming a Commodity, Here’s What Universities Should Consider
- Important Considerations for Universities Awaiting House Settlement Approval
Hunton’s approach to NIL-related issues benefits from the practical value of the team’s deep collective understanding of the evolving legal and regulatory and compliance landscape facing colleges, universities, and those connected to them. The firm regularly counsels institutions of higher education on governance, regulatory, ethical compliance, investigations, athletics, and other complex legal issues. By working across the higher education ecosystem, Hunton is well positioned to help clients navigate emerging issues at the intersection of athletics, regulation, business, and institutional policy.
The Hunton team representing Cox included Gerry Leone, Austin Maloney, Brigid Harrington, and Nate Jones.
