The NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) & Creator Lab at the University of Miami, or “Creators and NIL Lab” for short, brings together University of Miami student-athletes, content creators, and law students to develop brand and business opportunities that drive real-world impact. Our goal is to empower student-athletes and emerging creators through hands-on legal and business strategy, helping them build sustainable success beyond the playing field and social media platforms.
Mission
Our mission at the Creators and NIL Lab is to ensure student athletes, content creators, and law students maximize their potential through education, collaboration, and empowerment.
What We Do
The Creators and NIL Lab consists of University of Miami School of Law students working under the guidance of supervising attorneys. Each team, typically 2-3 law students, partners with a University of Miami student-athlete or content creator to offer holistic, pro-bono support that includes:
- Personalized brand-building and business development,
- Legal protection and guidance for agreements, sponsorships, and appearances,
- Entity formation and legal structuring,
- Brand protection and intellectual property support, and
- Pitching and monetizing NIL opportunities.
At the Creators and NIL Lab, we build strategies that help creators and athletes leverage their NIL rights and creative assets to launch and grow their personal brands, while learning business, legal, and life skills.
Who YOU Are
You are a student athlete or content creator at the University of Miami interested in:
- Seeking or navigating NIL opportunities,
- Building or strengthening your brand,
- Exploring entrepreneurial business opportunities,
- Getting legal guidance on contracts, business formation, brand protection, or development of NIL opportunities.
If you'd like to learn more, please reach out to us via NILCreatorLab@law.miami.edu.
Why This Matters
Since June 2021, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has allowed student-athletes to monetize their NIL through endorsements, partnerships, and social media campaigns.
Simultaneously, the rapid growth of the creator economy and in content creators, including athletes and others, on and off campus, underscores a need for legal guidance, strategic branding, and business support. Many creators and athletes are building platforms without the tools or protections needed to sustain their growth.
The Creators and NIL Lab fills this gap by:
- Supporting student-athletes and creators in developing their brands,
- Aligning creative work with business opportunities,
- Ensuring strong legal protections for their ventures, and
- Equipping both creators and law students with practical, real-world skills.
- Together, athletes, creators, and law students develop professional skills through building and monetizing personal brands.
More Information
- Contact: Greg Levy, Co-Director, NIL and Creator Lab, Associate Dean and Director, Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Program, Miami Law School – glevy@law.miami.edu
- Supervising Lawyer: Jaime Vining, Co-Director, NIL and Creator Lab, and Adjunct Faculty, Miami Law School – jrv@friedlandvining.com
