Kutak Rock is pleased to announce the formation of its College Athletics and Private Capital Focus Group, a multidisciplinary team within the firm’s College Athletics Industry Practice Group, designed to help colleges and universities navigate the rapidly changing landscape of collegiate athletics. The firm also has welcomed attorney John Long, a nationally recognized college athletics attorney, to spearhead this initiative.

John joins Kutak Rock after spending his career representing universities, coaches, conferences and media entities in NCAA and collegiate athletics matters. For more than a decade he has been a leading voice in NCAA infractions, Title IX issues, conduct investigations, and high-stakes compliance challenges. As massive antitrust litigation has reshaped the industry and restricted the NCAA’s enforcement authority, his practice has evolved to address the unprecedented legal and operational challenges now confronting institutions.

“College athletics is in the midst of a significant shift,” John explained. “Litigation and legislation have destabilized traditional structures, forcing universities to rethink how athletic departments operate. Schools now face urgent questions about budgets, reorganization, employment status for athletes, collective bargaining, labor law implications, media rights, and the possibility of privatizing athletic operations. Universities need a coordinated legal partner more than ever and Kutak Rock is built for exactly this moment.”

Recent developments, including the University of Utah’s announcement that it will shift management of its sponsorships, NIL, revenue share, ticket sales and other business-side items to private ownership, underscore the accelerating pace of change. This trend was anticipated but arrived far sooner than expected.

To meet these emerging needs, Kutak Rock’s new focus group brings together attorneys with proven experience in various practice groups, including: 

• John Long
• Mike Alvano
• JR Carroll
• Buck Heim
• Ryan Hinderliter
• Hilary Jackler
• Fred Marienthal
• Lisa Sarver
• Anthony Scioli
• Joel Wiegert
• Brett Bruneteau  

This team will provide universities with an integrated, one-stop resource for evaluating and executing new athletic department models, including potential privatization, IP and licensing considerations, financing strategies, and operational transitions.

“What makes Kutak Rock uniquely suited to help universities is the combination of my college athletics background with the firm’s depth in finance, IP, public-private partnerships, labor law, and real estate,” said John. “These are exactly the areas universities must navigate if they choose to modernize their athletic departments or explore private-ownership models. By assembling this focus group, we want schools to know: if you’re considering transformative change, we are ready to help.”

Kutak Rock plans to introduce the focus group to colleges and universities nationwide and will offer strategic guidance for institutions now evaluating their options in the fast-shifting collegiate athletics environment.