In a landmark settlement reshaping college athletics, law firms are seeking an eye-popping $515 million in legal fees after negotiating a $2.8 billion deal with the NCAA. The agreement, which allows schools to compensate student-athletes for the first time, resolves claims that NCAA policies violated antitrust laws.
The settlement spans three lawsuits: one targeting restrictions on payments for athletes’ names, images, and likenesses; another addressing compensation tied to academic achievements; and a third focusing on service-related payments. Schools are expected to disburse nearly $20 billion over the next decade under the settlement terms.
While athletes are set to benefit significantly, the plaintiffs’ attorneys stand to collect substantial compensation as well. Over the next ten years, continued payments to athletes could generate an additional $200 million in legal fees, pushing the total payout to nearly $750 million.
Law firms Winston & Strawn and Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro, spearheading the case, defended their fee petition, citing the “transformative results” achieved for college athletes and the substantial resources invested. The firms claimed their fee request is below the standard benchmark for class action settlements in California.
Hourly rates for the attorneys range from $800 to nearly $2,000, with Winston contributing over 40,400 hours and Hagens Berman more than 35,900 hours to the case.
The settlement, one of the largest in U.S. class action history, now awaits approval from U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken, who will evaluate its fairness at a hearing in April.
While the NCAA denied wrongdoing, this settlement marks a monumental shift, signaling a new era of compensation for college athletes.
The legal saga continues to capture attention as discussions around the future of student-athlete rights unfold.
