In this episode of the California Sports Lawyer® Podcast, host Jeremy Evans examines why the next major challenge facing college athletics is not athlete compensation, but the governance and enforcement of name, image, and likeness (NIL).

Jeremy discusses the rapid development of NIL, the role of the NCAA and College Sports Commission, and the growing need for consistent oversight, compliance, and dispute-resolution mechanisms. As NIL opportunities continue to expand, questions surrounding enforcement, deal valuations, recruiting, and institutional accountability have become increasingly important.

The episode also explores the legal and business implications of NIL governance and why the future of college sports may depend on who creates, interprets, and enforces the rules.

(Season 8, Episode 24).

Listen in as award-winning attorney and industry leader Jeremy Evans navigates the fine print on the biggest topics and most interesting legal angles in entertainment, media, and sports law. The top entertainment, media, and sports podcast is streaming on all major platforms!

You can listen to the podcast, HERE.

About Jeremy M. Evans:

Jeremy M. Evans is the Chief Entrepreneur Officer, Founder & Managing Attorney at California Sports Lawyer®, representing entertainment, media, and sports clients in contractual, intellectual property, and dealmaking matters. An award-winning attorney and industry leader, Evans is based in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. He can be reached at Jeremy@CSLlegal.com. www.CSLlegal.com.

About Bleav:

Bleav (pronounced believe) is a sports and entertainment studio and nationwide sports network. From athletes who played for the teams to passionate experts on topics you want to hear, Bleav is the #1 podcast network for professionals and fans. With 500 shows, 800 hosts with a combined 50M followers, 1000 hours of original content per month, and networks covering NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAAF, NCAAB, SEC, NHL, soccer, pop culture and more, Bleav is your destination for creators and fans of sports, teams and topics. Every Team. Every Topic. Everywhere! We Bleav in our teams, topics, and professionals. #DoYouBleav!?

Copyright © 2026. California Sports Lawyer®. All Rights Reserved.

In this week’s column, California Sports Lawyer® CEO and Managing Attorney Jeremy M. Evans discusses why the current battle in college athletics is not athlete compensation, but the enforcement and governance systems that will ultimately determine the future of NIL.

The NCAA is not an entrepreneurial entity that can take more risk and move swiftly. Expecting the NCAA to act as something it is not is without reason and unrealistic.

You can read the full column below. (Past columns can be found, here).

~

Name, image, and likeness (“NIL”) is here stay. For better, worse, and best, NIL (pronounced “N” “I” “L”, not nil, the word for no goals in soccer), is not going away. Pandora’s box has been opened and it will be nearly impossible to take back the pay system.

What remains is the enforcement of NIL, college student-athletes, coaches, recruiters, athletic departments, and sponsors/brands/advertisers. The question around enforcement is the most important topic and question in college sports. Most have accepted the idea that NIL is a permanent system.

However, much like the point in history when free agency was gained by professional athletes for the first time, the essential idea became not free agency, but how free agency would be managed. What are the rules and responsibilities for each side? What are the policies? What are the consequences and remedies? Most importantly, who enforces the rules, laws, and policies?

In NIL’s current phase, there is much debate around not only the rules of business, but also who enforces violations of the rules. Recent disputes involving NIL deal valuations, transfer portal recruiting, and booster involvement demonstrate the difficulty. The challenge is often not determining whether a rule exists, but deciding who investigates, who decides, and what penalties apply. Without a settlement of the rules and enforcement, litigation will continue at an unsustainable rate. Litigation causes confusion and inconsistency before a court decision and sometimes a decision after as well.

In the past, this column addressed the need of a centralized entity and commissioner beyond the NCAA to handle NIL and money management as a business system. The NCAA was created as a nonprofit entity to enforce rules with an importance on education. To ask the NCAA to now become a central clearinghouse or enforcement entity on a much large scale is not only unwise, it is unfair to the NCAA, athletic institutions, athletes, coaches, and fans.

Remember, the NCAA was once tasked to enforce a no tolerance policy: no money or value going to athletes for any reason outside of scholarships and health benefits and no hiring of an agent. To go from that to essentially pay for play through both NIL and the House settlement (providing a share of school revenue with the athletes of a minimum of $20.5 million dollars and rising over the next decade) is the complete opposite mission. The NCAA is not an entrepreneurial entity that can take more risk and move swiftly. Expecting the NCAA to act as something it is not is without reason and unrealistic.

Relying on Congress although helpful, might not be the best decision. Much like taxes and federal regulation: once it gets introduced and implemented, it is more likely to be increased, and less likely decreased, and even less likely, removed all together. Federal legislation may provide clarity, but it could also create additional layers of regulation and unintended consequences. It may be self-regulation through the creation of policy, process, and enforcement that is best pathway forward. The College Sports Commission or some CSC+ entity, to follow Hollywood’s love for adding a plus (“+”) to an existing, but renewed streaming platform, needs to be given teeth and power to review and possibly enforce. It is possible that rules agreed to by the universities and conferences could be reviewed or investigated by the CSC and enforced by the NCAA that would also allow for dispute resolution and appeals.

Power in college sports requires money and resources. The CSC has issues with reviewing NIL deals because it does not have the resources (or arguably the enforcement power) to do the work completely and thoroughly. The challenge is that enforcement requires both authority and resources. Any successful system must be viewed as independent, transparent, and consistent by universities, athletes, conferences, and fans alike. The rules agreed to must address Title IX, the transfer portal, contracts, financial valuations and limitations, and employment law. Some of these rules decisions and enforcement will of course invite litigation, but it would be much better to fight for a cause unified as one as opposed to divided.

Every mature industry eventually develops compliance, enforcement, and dispute-resolution mechanisms. NIL is simply entering that stage. The debate is no longer whether athletes should be compensated. The debate is whether college sports can create a credible and durable system to govern that compensation. If it cannot, courts, legislators, and outside stakeholders will continue filling the void. The universities, NCAA, and athlete leadership would be wise to meet and host meetings and conferences to solve the issues facing its business immediately as opposed to relying on time to pass, litigation, or legislative efforts to solve its problems.

~

About Jeremy M. Evans:

Jeremy M. Evans is the Chief Entrepreneur Officer, Founder & Managing Attorney at California Sports Lawyer®, representing entertainment, media, and sports clients in contractual, intellectual property, and dealmaking matters. An award-winning attorney and industry leader, Evans is based in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. He can be reached at Jeremy@CSLlegal.com. www.CSLlegal.com.

Copyright © 2026. California Sports Lawyer®. All Rights Reserved.

In this episode of the California Sports Lawyer® Podcast, host Jeremy Evans examines the rapid rise of the creator economy and its growing influence across the sports and entertainment businesses. As athletes, entertainers, teams, leagues, media personalities, and content creators increasingly build direct relationships with audiences through digital platforms, traditional models of media, marketing, and brand engagement continue to evolve.

Jeremy discusses how content creators, social media platforms, and emerging technologies have expanded opportunities for individuals and organizations to control their own narratives, develop personal brands, and generate new revenue streams. The episode explores the shifting dynamics between traditional media companies and independent creators, as well as the growing importance of audience engagement in a digitally connected marketplace.

The discussion also addresses the business implications of creator-driven content, including sponsorship opportunities, intellectual property considerations, influencer marketing, athlete and entertainer entrepreneurship, and the changing expectations of consumers. As the creator economy continues reshaping sports, entertainment, and media, stakeholders throughout these industries may need to consider how innovation, authenticity, and audience connection will influence the future of content creation, commerce, and fan engagement.

(Season 8, Episode 23).

Listen in as award-winning attorney and industry leader Jeremy Evans navigates the fine print on the biggest topics and most interesting legal angles in entertainment, media, and sports law. The top entertainment, media, and sports podcast is streaming on all major platforms!

You can listen to the podcast, HERE.

About Jeremy M. Evans:

Jeremy M. Evans is the Chief Entrepreneur Officer, Founder & Managing Attorney at California Sports Lawyer®, representing entertainment, media, and sports clients in contractual, intellectual property, and dealmaking matters. An award-winning attorney and industry leader, Evans is based in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. He can be reached at Jeremy@CSLlegal.com. www.CSLlegal.com.

About Bleav:

Bleav (pronounced believe) is a sports and entertainment studio and nationwide sports network. From athletes who played for the teams to passionate experts on topics you want to hear, Bleav is the #1 podcast network for professionals and fans. With 500 shows, 800 hosts with a combined 50M followers, 1000 hours of original content per month, and networks covering NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAAF, NCAAB, SEC, NHL, soccer, pop culture and more, Bleav is your destination for creators and fans of sports, teams and topics. Every Team. Every Topic. Everywhere! We Bleav in our teams, topics, and professionals. #DoYouBleav!?

Copyright © 2026. California Sports Lawyer®. All Rights Reserved.

In this week’s column, California Sports Lawyer® CEO and Managing Attorney Jeremy M. Evans examines how the creator economy is reshaping the sports business and why the future of sports media may belong to those who connect most directly with their audiences.

The truth is, the current market for ideas has never been bigger. The age of today is one of massive amounts of information. The problem is setting aside the time to research versus scrolling aimlessly.

You can read the full column below. (Past columns can be found, here).

~

The creator economy is comprised of 200+ million individual social media influencers, former or active professional athletes, actors, and in general, people with a following that help drive or share the news, products, and advertising. These influencers, as a broad title, can also work for major companies, distributors, and news networks, but because of social media can have individual reach into their digital communities beyond the employer or brand partner. Social media, in other words, has leveled the playing field on how news is distributed and consumed.

Entertainment, media, and sports organizations historically relied on hired broadcasters, newspaper distribution, and radio to get the message out to people. Today, the creator economy may consist of writers, podcasters, and other personalities that are often independent and without oversight. The people themselves are the newsmakers.

One result of the individual as the newsmaker or news sharer is that it has created a fragmented environment for fans and the general public. People cannot access information in one or three places, but many places. A person could hear the news from X, Instagram, Facebook, or some other social media platform, while also watching the news on one of those platforms or a streaming platform.

People today often trust personalities of the newsmakers and news sharers more than institutions and in many ways the trusted personalities that were once the face of a traditional network or business have separated themselves to become independent. There is now a further step occurring where professional sports teams, college athletic departments, and other established businesses have partnered with trusted personalities to reach targeted audiences. It is a reversal of power where the personality drives the engagement that the network craves.

Sports provides several examples of this shift. Athlete-led podcasts, creator-driven sports brands, and independent digital media companies have demonstrated that audiences increasingly follow trusted personalities as much as they follow leagues, teams, and networks. What began as alternative programming has evolved into a meaningful part of the sports media landscape. The result is that creators are no longer simply covering sports. They are becoming influential participants in the sports media ecosystem.

The fragmentation is a concern for consumers, but the cost is still less than cable and watching habits have changed. People purchase cable less, but stream more live sports, movies, and series. The result is that there is a lower-cost for audience acquisition and greater engagement than traditional advertising. There are also new sponsorship and revenue opportunities because social media, podcasting, and streaming platforms have created new opportunities in their ecosystems. The personalities become strategic partners rather than marketing vendors, which creates more trust between the “promoter” or “sponsor” and the consumer.

Creators taking on the news making and news sharer roles comes with its challenges as well. For example, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines require disclosures and added responsibilities for influencers. There are also intellectual property considerations involving the use of league footage, team trademarks, athlete likenesses, and sponsored content. As creators become businesses unto themselves, contractual rights and ownership of content become increasingly important. Second, there is the concern of being first with less thought towards being right. However, the creator economy independent personalities are not without guardrails. "Community Notes" on various platforms along with fact-checking, and in general the public and other feedback and commentary does create a fairer environment to news, ideas, and sponsorships.

The truth is, the current market for ideas has never been bigger. The age of today is one of massive amounts of information. The problem is setting aside the time to research versus scrolling aimlessly.

The future of sports media may be defined less by who owns the broadcast rights and more by who connects directly with the audience, authentically. Success will belong to organizations and talent that understand audience behavior, consumer interests, and legal risk. Networks have never needed talent more than they do today as creators continue to build independent businesses and communities. In today's sports economy, audience trust may be one of the most valuable assets of all.

~

About Jeremy M. Evans:

Jeremy M. Evans is the Chief Entrepreneur Officer, Founder & Managing Attorney at California Sports Lawyer®, representing entertainment, media, and sports clients in contractual, intellectual property, and dealmaking matters. An award-winning attorney and industry leader, Evans is based in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. He can be reached at Jeremy@CSLlegal.com. www.CSLlegal.com.

Copyright © 2026. California Sports Lawyer®. All Rights Reserved.

In this episode of the California Sports Lawyer® Podcast, host Jeremy Evans is joined by Sahzad Banth, Principal Commercial Counsel at Medallion and a technology attorney whose experience includes leadership roles at Braze, Sumo Logic, and Yext.

Jeremy and Sahzad discuss the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence and its growing impact on businesses, legal departments, sports organizations, and professional services. The conversation explores how organizations are implementing AI tools, evaluating emerging technologies, and balancing innovation with privacy, governance, and regulatory compliance.

The discussion examines the differences between leading AI platforms, including ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, Gemini, and Perplexity, while also addressing the practical realities of AI adoption, data protection, contract management, and enterprise risk. Jeremy and Sahzad also consider how AI is transforming legal operations, commercial transactions, sports analytics, and workplace productivity.

As artificial intelligence continues reshaping industries around the world, organizations, professionals, and students are increasingly challenged to understand both the opportunities and responsibilities associated with these technologies. This episode provides practical insights into how businesses can approach AI strategically while remaining focused on governance, confidentiality, and long-term value creation.

(Season 8, Episode 22).

Listen in as award-winning attorney and industry leader Jeremy Evans navigates the fine print on the biggest topics and most interesting legal angles in entertainment, media, and sports law. The top entertainment, media, and sports podcast is streaming on all major platforms!

You can listen to the podcast, HERE. 

About Jeremy M. Evans:

Jeremy M. Evans is the Chief Entrepreneur Officer, Founder & Managing Attorney at California Sports Lawyer®, representing entertainment, media, and sports clients in contractual, intellectual property, and dealmaking matters. An award-winning attorney and industry leader, Evans is based in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. He can be reached at Jeremy@CSLlegal.com. www.CSLlegal.com.  

About Bleav:

Bleav (pronounced believe) is a sports and entertainment studio and nationwide sports network. From athletes who played for the teams to passionate experts on topics you want to hear, Bleav is the #1 podcast network for professionals and fans. With 500 shows, 800 hosts with a combined 50M followers, 1000 hours of original content per month, and networks covering NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAAF, NCAAB, SEC, NHL, soccer, pop culture and more, Bleav is your destination for creators and fans of sports, teams and topics. Every Team. Every Topic. Everywhere! We Bleav in our teams, topics, and professionals. #DoYouBleav!?

Copyright © 2026.  California Sports Lawyer®.  All Rights Reserved.

In this week’s column, California Sports Lawyer® CEO and Managing Attorney Jeremy M. Evans discusses how executive leadership in sports and entertainment continues to evolve as organizations increasingly operate as media companies, technology companies, and global brands.

The most successful organizations may not simply have the best executives, but the right mix of executive roles.

You can read the full column below. (Past columns can be found, here).

~

Professional sports organizations, including those at the collegiate level through athletic departments, are no longer homegrown sporting endeavors led by one owner and limited staff. Sports organizations are no longer just community institutions either. Sports organizations are clearly financial assets that require investment of not only on-the-field talent to win, but highly-skilled and varied front office talent. The talent in front offices for both sports organizations and entertainment organizations (sometimes one in the same) require a series of c-suite executives that includes a: Chief Technology Officer, Chief Information Officer, Chief Data Officer, Chief Content Officer, Chief Revenue Officer, Chief Legal Officer, and Chief Strategy Officer.

The titles may change from organization to organization, league to league, and country to country, but the principle of good and modern sports and entertainment management is still the same. The sports and entertainment business is always changing and so must the skills of leadership. Specifically, what talents are needed and why.

Historically, sports organizations were focused on competition, operations, and revenue. The movie and television business has followed much of the same process, except in entertainment it is competition for content as opposed to sport and the fight is among studios not franchises. Although, a good studio and team require the same things for success: great talent and great content (e.g., product on the field or screen) and sometimes good content is a franchise, pun intended.

The titles and talents needed in sports and entertainment has changed because of media fragmentation (more streamers), technology integration (artificial intelligence (“AI”) and the platforms that make up streamers), data-driven decision-making through the use of AI and analytics, and new forms of capital and investment where franchises are clearly a vehicle for financial gain and growth.

Today, skills like strategic thinking, cross-functional leadership, technology fluency, media and content understanding, and partnership development are required for competency and success. A sports and entertainment connoisseur or causal fan or even professional expert must recognize that there was far less competition in the past, fewer reasons to be distracted, and less access to public knowledge. The internet and social media have changed the way people socialize and engage with each other and content. There are more streamers and sports and content now than ever before. You might argue with the value or level of such content or talent, but nonetheless there is more. Sports and entertainment organizations are now media companies as much as they are content and talent cultivators.

Looking ahead, the most successful organizations may not simply have the best executives, but the right mix of executive roles. The definition of a sports executive will likely continue to evolve alongside sports, entertainment, and media businesses. The modern sports organization and or entertainment studio (even agents, lawyers, and law firms) resemble diversified business structures of people and entities rather than pure sports operations. As an example, the author negotiated an investment deal five years go with a well-known sports organization for an investment into a new league in a completely different sport, which is not something that the industry would consider normal twenty or even ten years ago.

Traditional leadership roles such as owner, president, commissioner, athletic director, and general manager are now being added to with other roles or the people in those roles have cross-functionality, knowledge, and skill. In college athletics, many of the professional sports roles are being adopted by the colleges because of NIL and the House settlement. AI has only increased the competition in entertainment and thus more skills and acumen are needed. As sports and entertainment organizations increasingly resemble media companies, technology companies, and global brands, the question is no longer whether executive roles are changing, but which roles will matter most in the years ahead and who will manage the future landscape best.

~

About Jeremy M. Evans:

Jeremy M. Evans is the Chief Entrepreneur Officer, Founder & Managing Attorney at California Sports Lawyer®, representing entertainment, media, and sports clients in contractual, intellectual property, and dealmaking matters. An award-winning attorney and industry leader, Evans is based in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. He can be reached at Jeremy@CSLlegal.com. www.CSLlegal.com.

Copyright © 2026. California Sports Lawyer®. All Rights Reserved.

In this episode of the California Sports Lawyer® Podcast, host Jeremy Evans examines the growing professionalization of youth sports and the increasing financial, time, and emotional investments being made by families in youth athletics. As travel teams, private coaching, year-round competition, specialized training, and expanded opportunities continue reshaping the youth sports landscape, families are facing new questions about participation, expectations, and long-term value.

Jeremy discusses the evolution of youth sports from primarily community-based activities into a highly competitive and increasingly commercialized environment. The episode explores the factors driving rising costs, including expanded programming, greater competition, and the growing visibility of athletic pathways at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels.

The discussion also addresses the balance between parental involvement and independence, the realities of athletic development, and the importance of approaching youth sports with intention. As youth athletics continue evolving, families, coaches, and sports organizations may need to consider how opportunity, accessibility, and the original purpose of sports can coexist in an increasingly competitive environment.

(Season 8, Episode 21).

Listen in as award-winning attorney and industry leader Jeremy Evans navigates the fine print on the biggest topics and most interesting legal angles in entertainment, media, and sports law. The top entertainment, media, and sports podcast is streaming on all major platforms!

You can listen to the podcast, HERE.

About Jeremy M. Evans:

Jeremy M. Evans is the Chief Entrepreneur Officer, Founder & Managing Attorney at California Sports Lawyer®, representing entertainment, media, and sports clients in contractual, intellectual property, and dealmaking matters. An award-winning attorney and industry leader, Evans is based in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. He can be reached at Jeremy@CSLlegal.com. www.CSLlegal.com.  

About Bleav:

Bleav (pronounced believe) is a sports and entertainment studio and nationwide sports network. From athletes who played for the teams to passionate experts on topics you want to hear, Bleav is the #1 podcast network for professionals and fans. With 500 shows, 800 hosts with a combined 50M followers, 1000 hours of original content per month, and networks covering NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAAF, NCAAB, SEC, NHL, soccer, pop culture and more, Bleav is your destination for creators and fans of sports, teams and topics. Every Team. Every Topic. Everywhere! We Bleav in our teams, topics, and professionals. #DoYouBleav!?

Copyright © 2026.  California Sports Lawyer®.  All Rights Reserved.

In this week’s column, California Sports Lawyer® CEO and Managing Attorney Jeremy M. Evans discusses the professionalization and pricing of youth sports and how families can navigate the growing investment of time, money, and expectations in youth athletics.

The decision is not to stop playing youth sports, but rather to participate in sports, and anything else in life, with intention.

You can read the full column below. (Past columns can be found, here).

~

Parents have the equally difficult but fantastic role of raising children. When their children are blessed with athletic talent, there is an opportunity to train and eventually have a professional career. However, most youth sports participants, just like most high school and college athletes, do not make it to the professional level. Most professional athletes do not have lengthy careers, become an All-Star, win a championship, or get inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The point of sports is to compete and win. However, the process of getting to victory and staying victorious in sport is just as important. Sports also provide community, test one’s abilities, and foster physical, mental, and social development.

At what point do youth sports become too expensive and/or produce diminishing returns? Parents often wrestle with how involved they should be, how much they should encourage their children to compete, and which sports their children should pursue. Parents of course want to see their children become successful in all of their endeavors.

There is, however, a balance between guidance and independence. Parents, coaches, and advisors often observe that the line between support and overinvolvement can become blurred when significant time, money, and emotion are invested in a child's athletic development. Push too hard and children will resent the insistence. If parents do not encourage or discipline enough, then the child has little direction. There is hope in the area between encouragement and discipline where the child has to make choices and strive for things they want. A mistake in all of this would be to assume that children can live the dreams of their parents, but the child does not want to take a predetermined path willingly.

Youth sports were once primarily community activities where children learned social skills, competition, teamwork, and had fun. Today, youth sports often require significant financial commitments, extensive travel, and year-round participation, while presenting a broader view of what athletic achievement may be possible. This is not an indictment of youth sports programming, particularly private programs, but rather an opportunity for parents and their children to reflect on why youth sports matter and what role they should play in family life.

According to a Project Play report by the Aspen Institute from March 2025, American families spend approximately $40 billion per year on youth sports, with 54-56% of children aged 6 to 17 participating. The cost to play youth sports per family increased 46% from 2019 to 2025. One explanation for this increase is that many families placed renewed value on sports participation and community engagement following the government restrictions imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic. The argument is that parents wanted to reinforce the community and competition of sports that government restrictions had shut down, which is understandable.

The spending increase may also be influenced by the growing visibility of name, image, and likeness (“NIL”) opportunities in high school and college athletics. While only a small percentage of high school athletes will benefit financially from NIL, its prominence has increased awareness of the potential economic opportunities associated with athletic success. That perception can further intensify competition and investment among families participating in youth sports, creating a trickle-down effect throughout the youth sports ecosystem.

Parents want more for their children, but often at an increased expense of money and time. Families and coaches should remember that talent, effort, and opportunity remain the primary drivers of athletic success. The athletes who ultimately reach and sustain professional careers are exceptionally rare, regardless of the amount of money spent on training, travel, or competition. Talent, effort, and perseverance are often the qualities that make athletic careers successful and sustain achievement in any profession.

The decision is not to stop playing youth sports, but rather to participate in sports, and anything else in life, with intention. Participation should be driven by development and enjoyment, not merely the pursuit of future opportunities. Parents making decisions for their children in sports should also consider the impact it has on the family, budget, time, and influence. A child’s interests and talents should be pursued, whether that is playing the piano, baseball, or pursuing acting. However, pursuit should not be at the expense of soundness, like a family’s financial stability, time commitments, other children, and overall well-being.

~

About Jeremy M. Evans:

Jeremy M. Evans is the Chief Entrepreneur Officer, Founder & Managing Attorney at California Sports Lawyer®, representing entertainment, media, and sports clients in contractual, intellectual property, and dealmaking matters. An award-winning attorney and industry leader, Evans is based in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. He can be reached at Jeremy@CSLlegal.com. www.CSLlegal.com.

Copyright © 2026. California Sports Lawyer®. All Rights Reserved.

California Sports Lawyer® is pleased to introduce The CSL Briefing, a new weekly publication from Jeremy M. Evans covering developments across entertainment, media, sports, business, technology, and law.

The CSL Briefing covers developments across entertainment, media, sports, business, technology, and law through commentary and analysis from Jeremy M. Evans, CEO & Managing Attorney of California Sports Lawyer®.

New editions will be delivered weekly with perspective on notable developments shaping the marketplace.

Subscribe to The CSL Briefing.

About Jeremy M. Evans:

Jeremy M. Evans is the Chief Entrepreneur Officer, Founder & Managing Attorney at California Sports Lawyer®, representing entertainment, media, and sports clients in contractual, intellectual property, and dealmaking matters. An award-winning attorney and industry leader, Evans is based in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. He can be reached at Jeremy@CSLlegal.com. www.CSLlegal.com.

Copyright © 2026. California Sports Lawyer®. All Rights Reserved.

In this episode of the California Sports Lawyer® Podcast, host Jeremy Evans explores how entertainment attorneys are increasingly becoming key players in negotiating technology-driven business deals across the sports and entertainment industries. As media, content distribution, artificial intelligence, streaming platforms, and digital rights continue evolving, attorneys are navigating a rapidly changing landscape where legal strategy and business innovation are more connected than ever.

Jeremy examines how technology agreements are reshaping traditional entertainment and sports business models, including licensing, intellectual property protection, NIL opportunities, sponsorships, media rights, and data monetization. The episode also discusses the growing role of attorneys in structuring partnerships involving emerging technologies, digital platforms, and global content distribution.

As technology continues transforming entertainment and sports, the intersection of law, business, and innovation may become one of the defining forces shaping the future of the industry.

(Season 8, Episode 20).

Listen in as award-winning attorney and industry leader Jeremy Evans navigates the fine print on the biggest topics and most interesting legal angles in entertainment, media, and sports law. The top entertainment, media, and sports podcast is streaming on all major platforms!

You can listen to the podcast, HERE.

About Jeremy M. Evans:

Jeremy M. Evans is the Chief Entrepreneur Officer, Founder & Managing Attorney at California Sports Lawyer®, representing entertainment, media, and sports clients in contractual, intellectual property, and dealmaking matters. An award-winning attorney and industry leader, Evans is based in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. He can be reached at Jeremy@CSLlegal.com. www.CSLlegal.com.

About Bleav:

Bleav (pronounced believe) is a sports and entertainment studio and nationwide sports network. From athletes who played for the teams to passionate experts on topics you want to hear, Bleav is the #1 podcast network for professionals and fans. With 500 shows, 800 hosts with a combined 50M followers, 1000 hours of original content per month, and networks covering NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAAF, NCAAB, SEC, NHL, soccer, pop culture and more, Bleav is your destination for creators and fans of sports, teams and topics. Every Team. Every Topic. Everywhere! We Bleav in our teams, topics, and professionals. #DoYouBleav!?

Copyright © 2026. California Sports Lawyer®. All Rights Reserved.

In this week’s column, California Sports Lawyer® CEO and Managing Attorney Jeremy M. Evans discusses how advances in AI and technology are changing entertainment and sports law practices and reshaping the modern practice of law.

The pace of the practice of law is also changing. Contracts are evolving faster than traditional legal standards.

You can read the full column below. (Past columns can be found, here).

~

The practice of law is changing and has changed much already. Advances in communication, technology, and generative artificial intelligence (“AI”) are providing opportunities for attorneys to be focused more on strategic and novel ways of practicing law. Time will always be important, but more important on how time is spent.

Generative AI through large language models ("LLMs") and AI agents have become assistants to lawyers and law firms and in many ways have made research and learning much easier. The question is not whether there is information available to learn, but again whether the time spent is valuable and geared towards learning and application. Governments and companies using AI technology is also making its way into contracts, policies, and in proprietary development.

Specifically in entertainment and sports law practices, contracts being negotiated now include AI provisions that simultaneously deal with streaming platforms, data, and digital rights. Talent agreements and union negotiations and deals now include AI and likeness protections. Clients now expect attorneys to understand AI, data privacy, platform monetization, streaming business models, advertisement revenue, and algorithms.

Legal practices are also beginning to blend together. Entertainment, media, sports, privacy, and technology law increasingly overlap. For example, a sponsorship deal may now involve name, image, and likeness ("NIL") rights, content licensing, and AI-generated marketing.

The pace of the practice of law is also changing. Contracts are evolving faster than traditional legal standards. The time in which projects are being completed are also faster. Attorneys are essentially negotiating AI clauses and intellectual property (“IP”) ownership before courts and laws have fully defined the rules.

Entertainment and sports attorneys are no longer contained to contract and IP law. Attorneys are advising on technology, business strategy, digital risks, and risk management. Technology and AI specifically have not only changed entertainment deals, it has changed the practice of law.

AI has changed and will continue to change how attorneys practice law. An attorney is no longer operating only as a legal technician. The role is becoming more strategic and interdisciplinary. In many ways, attorneys are becoming more what they were meant to be: advisors, counselors, and strategy partners.

AI and technology are dissolving the traditional boundaries between legal practice areas. AI and technology are accelerating the pace of legal adaptation itself. Attorneys need to be educated and trained in interpreting AI inputs and outputs. Attorneys also need to know how to use AI and how it can affect their clients.

~

About Jeremy M. Evans:

Jeremy M. Evans is the Chief Entrepreneur Officer, Founder & Managing Attorney at California Sports Lawyer®, representing entertainment, media, and sports clients in contractual, intellectual property, and dealmaking matters. An award-winning attorney and industry leader, Evans is based in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. He can be reached at Jeremy@CSLlegal.com. www.CSLlegal.com.

Copyright © 2026. California Sports Lawyer®. All Rights Reserved.

In this episode of the California Sports Lawyer® Podcast, host Jeremy Evans examines the growing legal and business tension between college athletics revenue sharing and Title IX compliance. As universities prepare for a new era of direct athlete compensation, schools and conferences are facing major questions surrounding institutional risk and the future structure of college sports.

Jeremy discusses how emerging revenue-sharing models could reshape athletic departments nationwide, including the potential impact on scholarships, Olympic sports, athlete opportunities, and long-term financial planning. The episode also explores how ongoing litigation, NIL expansion, and media rights growth are accelerating change across collegiate athletics.

As college sports continue evolving, the intersection of revenue sharing and Title IX along with athlete employment status may become one of the most significant legal and business challenges facing the industry. 

(Season 8, Episode 19).

Listen in as award-winning attorney and industry leader Jeremy Evans navigates the fine print on the biggest topics and most interesting legal angles in entertainment, media, and sports law. The top entertainment, media, and sports podcast is streaming on all major platforms!

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Listeners should consult counsel regarding their specific circumstances.

You can listen to the podcast, HERE.

About Jeremy M. Evans:

Jeremy M. Evans is the Chief Entrepreneur Officer, Founder & Managing Attorney at California Sports Lawyer®, representing entertainment, media, and sports clients in contractual, intellectual property, and dealmaking matters. An award-winning attorney and industry leader, Evans is based in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. He can be reached at Jeremy@CSLlegal.com. www.CSLlegal.com.  

About Bleav:

Bleav (pronounced believe) is a sports and entertainment studio and nationwide sports network. From athletes who played for the teams to passionate experts on topics you want to hear, Bleav is the #1 podcast network for professionals and fans. With 500 shows, 800 hosts with a combined 50M followers, 1000 hours of original content per month, and networks covering NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAAF, NCAAB, SEC, NHL, soccer, pop culture and more, Bleav is your destination for creators and fans of sports, teams and topics. Every Team. Every Topic. Everywhere! We Bleav in our teams, topics, and professionals. #DoYouBleav!?

Copyright © 2026.  California Sports Lawyer®.  All Rights Reserved.

In this week’s column, California Sports Lawyer® CEO and Managing Attorney Jeremy M. Evans writes about potential litigation risk with colleges and Title IX related to athletic department spending.

The answer is legally clear that revenue sharing without Title IX in mind is a lawsuit and more disruption waiting to happen.

You can read the full column below. (Past columns can be found, here).

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The next phase of college sports has begun. The House settlement shifted the conversation from whether athletes will be compensated to how colleges will structure compensation. Colleges are now financial managers through their athletic departments as much as academics are a part of graduating with a degree.

Most colleges have focused on recruiting, NIL competitiveness, and revenue allocation. The less, but equally important issue to financial competitiveness is whether emerging revenue-sharing systems create new Title IX exposure and how to plan governance. The answer is legally clear that revenue sharing without Title IX in mind is a lawsuit and more disruption waiting to happen.

Colleges are moving so quickly toward implementation that they are underestimating the legal and operational risks that follow. Colleges are now giving substantially-weighted budgets to football and men’s basketball because those are the revenue producing sports. In a logical, capitalistic, and free market manner, it makes sense. The sports programs that make the money should have more access to resources.

However, Title IX requires fair treatment to male and female college sports from institutions (e.g., and their athletic programs) that receive federal funding (e.g., grants, etc.). To unhide the proverbial ball, every education institution in the United States, private or public, receives federal dollars, so colleges all are subject to Title IX requirements. Title IX became more directly implicated once colleges moved from third-party NIL structures toward direct institutional compensation through the House settlement framework. Had NIL stayed the original legislative course through market-bearing metrics for individual athletes based on their social media presence, Title IX would almost certainly not have been triggered.

Title IX does not require the athletic numbers to be exact, but how allocation decisions must be justified and documented. Colleges may face questions regarding proportional treatment, participation opportunities, and institutional support structures. The legal concern will stem less from NIL itself and more from athletic department-controlled compensation systems.

House settlement-related roster restructuring may also create unintended consequences because Title IX is generally focused on participation opportunities and if the financial math does not make sense to support a program, it could lead to eliminating or reducing roster spots. The Johnson v. NCAA case and employment-status litigation is separately working its way through the courts. The more athletes resemble employees, the more compensation systems may face broader scrutiny. Federal legislation through Congress and signed by the President for a limited antitrust exemption could be a solution to prevent the employee aspect, but Title IX would still be in effect as it is not an antitrust issue.

In response, colleges should be preparing for a Title IX lawsuit risk. Colleges should be conducting comprehensive risk audits and implementing policies that manage financial spend for athletics. Revenue-sharing models made possible by the House settlement should be analyzed broadly in the context of compensation structures, participation, rosters, scholarships, facilities, and operational soundness. In other words, proactive compliance is good policy.

Under Title IX, compensation models need clear and defensible rationales. This means documented methodology, objective business rationale, and internal consistency, semester-to-semester, and year-over-year. The issue is not necessarily whether football receives more money, but whether the decision-making process is defensible.

Governance in athletic departments now requires legal oversight, compensation planning, HR-style supervision, and integrated-smart compliance operations. Traditional NCAA oversight is no longer enough. Athletic departments are now sophisticated risk-management organizations and have been for some time. Governance discipline now may reduce future legal exposure. The colleges best positioned moving forward may not simply be the most competitive financially, but the ones most prepared structurally and legally for what comes next.

This column is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult counsel regarding their specific circumstances.

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About Jeremy M. Evans:

Jeremy M. Evans is the Chief Entrepreneur Officer, Founder & Managing Attorney at California Sports Lawyer®, representing entertainment, media, and sports clients in contractual, intellectual property, and dealmaking matters. An award-winning attorney and industry leader, Evans is based in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. He can be reached at Jeremy@CSLlegal.com. www.CSLlegal.com.

Copyright © 2026. California Sports Lawyer®. All Rights Reserved.

In this episode of the California Sports Lawyer® Podcast, host Jeremy Evans breaks down how technology is transforming the business of sports venues and live entertainment. Today’s stadiums are no longer just places to watch games, they are becoming fully connected entertainment environments built around data, digital engagement, security, and premium fan experiences.

Jeremy discusses the growing investment in smart venue infrastructure, including artificial intelligence, mobile integration, biometric systems, enhanced connectivity, and immersive technologies designed to reshape how fans interact with teams and events. The conversation also explores the broader business and legal considerations tied to these innovations, from sponsorship opportunities and media strategy to privacy concerns, financing, and long-term franchise growth.

As teams and leagues compete to modernize the live event experience, the future of sports may increasingly depend on who builds the smartest and most connected venues.

(Season 8, Episode 18).

Listen in as award-winning attorney and industry leader Jeremy Evans navigates the fine print on the biggest topics and most interesting legal angles in entertainment, media, and sports law. The top entertainment, media, and sports podcast is streaming on all major platforms!

You can listen to the podcast, HERE.

About Jeremy M. Evans:

Jeremy M. Evans is the Chief Entrepreneur Officer, Founder & Managing Attorney at California Sports Lawyer®, representing entertainment, media, and sports clients in contractual, intellectual property, and dealmaking matters. An award-winning attorney and industry leader, Evans is based in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. He can be reached at Jeremy@CSLlegal.com. www.CSLlegal.com.

About Bleav:

Bleav (pronounced believe) is a sports and entertainment studio and nationwide sports network. From athletes who played for the teams to passionate experts on topics you want to hear, Bleav is the #1 podcast network for professionals and fans. With 500 shows, 800 hosts with a combined 50M followers, 1000 hours of original content per month, and networks covering NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAAF, NCAAB, SEC, NHL, soccer, pop culture and more, Bleav is your destination for creators and fans of sports, teams and topics. Every Team. Every Topic. Everywhere! We Bleav in our teams, topics, and professionals. #DoYouBleav!?

Copyright © 2026. California Sports Lawyer®. All Rights Reserved.

In this week’s column, California Sports Lawyer® CEO and Managing Attorney Jeremy M. Evans analyzes how the growing stadium technology arms race is transforming sports business, fan engagement, media strategy, and venue development across professional and collegiate athletics.

Venues are assets as much as budgets for NIL have become.

You can read the full column below. (Past columns can be found, here).

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Sports venues were once places where athletes just competed. Benches were wooden or basic metal and scoreboard updates were either changed by hand (e.g., still the case at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts) or in some analog format. Coaching was done by the ancient practice of yelling across the field or through hand signals and signs.

In today’s environment, sports venues are much more than places for athletes to compete. Venues are central to the success of sports franchises. Sports venues are now the lifeblood for maintaining and increasing revenue, advertising exposure, and entertainment events.

For example, the University of Illinois’ $20 million Daktronics video board and display project highlights the size of changes being made not only in the Big Ten conference, but in general in sports. Historic venues like the Rose Bowl are also investing in modernization projects to remain competitive while preserving tradition. FIFA is also working through venue upgrades for the 2026 World Cup across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The Clippers Intuit Dome is one of the most technologically advanced sports venues in the United States. A patron can enter the stadium through advanced facial recognition and without ever needing to use a physical or digital wallet.

Sports venues are also quickly becoming media platforms by proxy. The Sphere in Las Vegas is like many venues that have become social media magnets. The Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, has a halo board creating continuous advertising and content opportunities to keep fans engaged. Social media content created by patrons fuels excitement for both the sporting event and the venue itself. Sports social media reflects the same phenomenon that occurs when friends recommend a great movie or television show to others. Interest spreads quickly and becomes viral.

Commercialization and revenue generation through naming rights and advertising are goals of the upgrades, but possibly more importantly is that patron expectations and interests have changed. Venue internet/Wi-Fi connectivity, safety, and ease of ingress and egress are essential. In the past, the internet did not exist and neither did social media. Public concern surrounding venue safety increased significantly following the Oklahoma City bombing and the September 11 attacks, but technology is a major focus of venues and will continue to be in the future.

Sports betting integration and engagement has also become an important part of venue upgrades and future venues where betting is permitted by state law or increasingly through federally regulated prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket. For example, Wrigley Field has a sportsbook integration with DraftKings. The Capital One Arena and Caesars Sportsbook partnership (an NHL and NBA venue) in Washington, D.C., built in 2021, was the first of its kind to house betting within an American sports venue. Technology and safety are again important, as are interactive mobile and second-screen experiences in venues that help deliver real-time statistics, gaming, fan personalization, and increased engagement.

Lastly, there is increasing competition among sports franchises, leagues, universities, and conferences. Each university, franchise, or venue must remain relevant and much of that is done through meeting fans with their present and growing expectations. Venues are assets in much the same way that NIL budgets have become. Of course, historic venues also need upkeep, as is the case with Fenway, Wrigley, and Lambeau Field.

With these changes to venues, there will be increased concern with safety and privacy. There may also be a time when private funding is not available for upgrades and public funds through bonds and tax dollars are requested from officials and owners. The stadium technology arms race is unlikely to slow as franchises, universities, and leagues continue competing for fan attention, revenue, and relevance.

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About Jeremy M. Evans:

Jeremy M. Evans is the Chief Entrepreneur Officer, Founder & Managing Attorney at California Sports Lawyer®, representing entertainment, media, and sports clients in contractual, intellectual property, and dealmaking matters. An award-winning attorney and industry leader, Evans is based in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. He can be reached at Jeremy@CSLlegal.com. www.CSLlegal.com.  

Copyright © 2026. California Sports Lawyer®. All Rights Reserved.