News & Insights

ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, GO: A Playbook for Launching and Protecting a Brand

In an article for Women Leaders in Sports, partner Kate Sherlock explains that a trademark is a powerful business asset—protecting your brand identity, strengthening your legal rights through registration with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and creating long-term competitive value when chosen and managed strategically. ...read more

NCAA Eligibility Battles Take to the Courts

In the brave new world of Name Image and Likeness (“NIL”) payments to college athletes, the inevitable question arises – do the NCAA’s eligibility rules violate federal antitrust laws? Those legal issues have taken center stage in courts around the country with mixed results. ...read more

Can a University Outsource its Title IX Responsibilities?

A poster in a higher education forum on Reddit recently posed the question, “People who work in Title IX positions: do you like your jobs?” While a few respondents offered modestly positive feedback, the overwhelming majority were negative, describing the work as a “tough gig,” “extremely difficult,” “not rewarding at all,” and even stating that “there is NO happiness connected to any position with Title IX.” Those responses reflect what many institutions already know: Title IX compliance is complex, resource-intensive, and often fraught with institutional risk. Which raises an important question for colleges and universities—can a higher education institution outsource its Title IX obligations? ...read more

Archer Expands Sports and Entertainment Practice in Philly

In an interview with Law360 Pulse, Stephen Pina, partner in Archer’s Sports & Entertainment practice, shared his thoughts on his decision to join the firm and the future of his practice. With over 20 years of experience representing athletes, artists, and entertainment companies, Stephen brings unparalleled experience in areas like talent agreements, intellectual property strategy, and navigating the complex world of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals. ...read more

College Sports’ Multibillion-Dollar House Settlement Has Been Approved, But What Happens Now?

As college sports enter a transformative period with the official rollout of revenue sharing and stricter Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) enforcement, Archer attorney Patrick Afriyie, a former NFL and Colgate football player spoke to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about the legal and institutional implications of this shift. The NIL clearinghouse, which opened June 11, sets off a 30-day window for athletes to log qualifying endorsement deals. By July 1, the revenue-sharing era begins, officially marking a new chapter in college athletics where the traditional amateur model is being replaced by a more professionalized system. “There’s just been a major change,” Patrick told the Post-Gazette. “I think when the NCAA lost the lawsuit that allowed players to start capitalizing on their [NIL], that was when they started to lose a lot of their control that they've had and relied upon for decades.” He notes that the NCAA’s power structure, once built on the principle of amateurism, has been fundamentally eroded, with schools now obligated to navigate a regulatory environment shaped by new compliance systems like the College Sports Commission (CSC) and NIL Go, the digital platform for deal oversight. ...read more

Thomson Reuters Recognizes Deborah Hays and Stuart Goldfarb as 2026 Stand-out Lawyers

Archer is pleased to announce that Thomson Reuters named partners Deborah A. Hays and Stuart R. Goldfarb as Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyers, an honor awarded to independently-rated attorneys who demonstrate exceptional client service. ...read more

Archer Expands Sports & Entertainment Practice with Addition of Partner Stephen Pina

Archer is pleased to announce that Stephen A. Pina has joined the firm as a Partner in its Sports & Entertainment Practice Group in the Philadelphia office. Stephen brings more than two decades of experience representing artists, creators, athletes, and companies across the film, television, music, digital media, and live entertainment sectors. ...read more

Archer Adds Leading Sports, Media, Technology & Entertainment Attorneys Stuart Goldfarb and Robert Auritt

Archer is pleased to announce that industry-leading sports, media and entertainment lawyers Stuart Goldfarb and Robert Auritt have joined the firm as partners in its Sports & Entertainment Practice Group. Both formerly with Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard LLP, Stuart and Robert each bring over 25 years of national experience representing high-profile clients across the sports, media, and entertainment industries. Their arrival marks a strategic expansion of Archer’s practice and expands its presence in key markets, with Stuart based in the firm’s New York office and Robert in Philadelphia. ...read more