As name, image and likeness opportunities reach high school and college athletes in Bridgewater, Basking Ridge, Bernardsville, Bedminster and beyond, Lyons & Associates, P.C. helps families protect the athlete, the opportunity and the future.
Name, image and likeness has changed the game for student-athletes.
What once sounded like something reserved for elite college players and national brands now reaches high school standouts, rising recruits, local athletes and families trying to make smart decisions in real time.
A brand reaches out. A sponsor offers a deal. Someone asks for a social media post, an appearance, an autograph signing or a long-term agreement.
It sounds exciting because it is.
It is also legal, financial and personal.
"NIL is exciting. It is also a contract."
For families across Somerset County, NIL can feel exciting, confusing and very easy to get wrong. A local athlete may be asked to promote a business, appear at an event, sign autographs, partner with a brand or enter into a longer-term endorsement agreement.
Before anyone signs, posts or commits, Lyons & Associates helps families understand what is actually on the table.
The firm works with high school and college athletes, parents, guardians, coaches and advisors throughout Bridgewater, Somerville, Martinsville, Basking Ridge, Bernardsville, Bedminster, Warren, Watchung, Far Hills and Peapack-Gladstone.
At Lyons & Associates, P.C., the NIL team helps athletes and families slow the process down just enough to protect what matters. The firm assists with contract review and negotiation, eligibility considerations, sponsor and agent concerns, fair compensation, business structure and tax planning before income starts moving.
That matters because a deal is not just a deal when it involves a student-athlete. It can affect eligibility, future earning potential, brand control, scholarship questions, taxes and the athlete’s ability to say yes to better opportunities later.
Lyons & Associates brings something different to the table: attorneys who understand both sides of the pressure. Not just from the bleachers. From real life.
Meet the NIL Team
Theresa A. Lyons, Esq., MSW
Managing partner and firm owner Theresa Lyons brings the judgment of an experienced attorney with the perspective of a parent who understands competitive athletics. Her background in law, social work and family advocacy gives families a steady voice when opportunity, pressure and emotion all show up at once.
For parents trying to help their athlete make the right decision without getting swept up in the excitement, Theresa offers practical guidance grounded in both legal experience and real-world family perspective.
Matthew A. Skinner, Esq.
A former Division I football player at Clemson University, Matthew Skinner understands the athletic environment from the inside. He brings courtroom experience, a competitive mindset and a clear understanding of how quickly one contract, one representative or one compliance issue can shift an athlete’s future.
For football players, high-profile recruits and athletes navigating fast-moving opportunities, Matthew brings the perspective of someone who has lived the structure, pressure and discipline of collegiate athletics.
Alexis Kopcienski, Esq.
A former Division I softball player at Saint Joseph’s University, Alexis Kopcienski advises clients on the review, negotiation and amendment of agent and endorsement agreements. As both an attorney and former collegiate athlete, she understands the discipline, timing and pressure student-athletes carry.
For families evaluating endorsements, social media promotions, appearance agreements or agent relationships, Alexis helps clarify the terms before an athlete puts their name on the line.
Together, the NIL team supports athletes in all sports, including football, basketball, baseball, soccer, softball, wrestling, gymnastics and emerging NCAA programs.
NIL opportunities are growing.
So are the risks.
The right agreement can create income, visibility and opportunity. The wrong agreement can limit an athlete’s future, create eligibility concerns, invite tax issues or tie a young person to terms they do not fully understand.
For Bridgewater, Somerset Hills and families across New Jersey, Lyons & Associates offers a local place to start before an athlete signs, posts, promotes or commits.
Because payday is exciting.
Protecting the future is the grown-up part.
Have a high school or college athlete in Somerset County exploring NIL?
Call Lyons & Associates, P.C. at 908-575-9777 or email NIL specialist Nikita.Wilber@LyonsPC.com.
Local office in Somerville, with additional offices in Morristown and Freehold.