Sports Law Stars Score $515 Million Fee Award

Ben Thomson, LawFuel contributing editor

The lawyers who took on the NCAA just hit the jackpot with an award that may be the legal equivalent of hitting a grand slam in the World Series. A federal judge approved $515 million in legal fees for the attorneys who won the massive college athlete pay settlement.

The Big Win

Judge Claudia Wilken signed off on the fee request Friday, July 11. The lawyers from Winston & Strawn and Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro scored this payday from the $2.8 billion NCAA settlement.

But there are additional payments, too. The judge also let the lawyers ask for extra fees each year. These could add up to $250 million over the next decade. Class counsel can apply annually for compensation of up to 1.25 percent of the total pool of college athlete benefits—projected to total at least $1.65 billion per year.

Breaking Down the Numbers

The fee structure looks like this:

• $455.2 million in attorney fees (20% of NIL fund, 10% of compensation fund).
• $9.4 million for litigation costs.
• $20 million “injunctive fee”.
• Annual fees of 0.75 percent to 1.25 percent of what schools spend on athlete benefits.

Steve Berman, the lead lawyer, called it a “monumental case” after 20 years of fighting for college athletes. Jeffrey Kessler from Winston & Strawn was his co-pilot on this legal mission.

The lawyers from Winston & Strawn and Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro took on the NCAA for 20 years. That’s two decades of uncertain outcomes and massive resource investment. Steve Berman called it a “monumental case” – and the massive fees reflect that monumentality.

What This Means for College Sports

The settlement changes everything. Starting July 1, 2025, schools can pay athletes directly for the first time. The lawyers didn’t just win a case – they also rewrote the rules of an entire industry.

The deal includes:

$2.8 billion in back pay for 184,000 former athletes.

Revenue sharing up to $20.5 million per school in 2025-26.

New roster limits instead of scholarship caps.

Who IS Steve Berman, The Star Sports Law Expert?

Steve Berman is the co-founder and managing partner of Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP, one of the nation’s most powerful plaintiffs’ firms. Named one of the 100 most influential attorneys in America by The National Law Journal, Berman has built his career fighting corporate misconduct and securing historic settlements.

Career Foundation

Berman launched his firm in 1993 after his previous firm refused to represent children sickened by E. coli-tainted Jack in the Box food. This defining moment shaped his mission to represent those most in need.

Record-Breaking Results

His career achievements include:

• $316 billion in total settlements across all cases;
• $27 billion in antitrust settlements alone;
• Led the infamous Big Tobacco litigation of the 1990s;
• Secured the $2.78 billion NCAA settlement in June 2025.

Current Focus

Berman specializes in antitrust, consumer protection, and class action litigation spanning technology, college sports, agriculture, and automotive industries.

His recent wins prrior to the current sports law victory include major settlements against Visa/MasterCard, real estate commissions, and automotive defects.

Personal Touch

Beyond the courtroom, Berman is a certified soccer referee and keen cyclist who supports the Hagens Berman Jayco cycling team. He’s also established environmental law clinics at major universities.

Premium Billing Rates Are Justified

The approved hourly rates ranged from $800 to nearly $2,000. Winston & Strawn logged over 40,400 hours, while Hagens Berman contributed more than 35,900 hours. These rates show that specialized sports law expertise commands top-tier compensation.

Unlike typical litigation that ends with a settlement, this case created ongoing revenue streams. The annual fee structure means lawyers will keep earning from their work for years to come. It’s like building a legal annuity.

Validation of Contingency Risk

The 18.3 pecent fee percentage of the $2.596 billion cash settlement is actually reasonable by class action standards. 

Sports Law as a Growth Sector

The NCAA settlement is just the beginning. With college sports now allowing direct athlete payments, expect more litigation around Title IX compliance, employment status, and revenue sharing. The legal work is far from over.

Antitrust Expertise in High Demand

The settlement’s success shows how antitrust law can reshape entire industries. As sports continue to evolve – think professional leagues, NIL deals, and athlete rights – lawyers with this expertise will be in high demand.

The fee award demonstrates that complex class action work can be incredibly lucrative when it succeeds. The court found the fees “reasonable” given the “extraordinary results” achieved for class members.

The Legal Fee Reality Check

Some might think $515 million sounds like a lot. But legal experts say it’s fair. Christine Bartholomew, who studies class action settlements, told the AP the fee could have been higher given how hard this case was.

The lawyers took 18.3% of the $2.596 billion cash settlement67. In the world of class action lawsuits, that’s actually reasonable. Like getting a fair cut of a massive business deal you helped close.

What’s Next

The settlement faces some appeals over Title IX issues, but the main deal is done and schools will start paying athletes in just days.

This case shows how antitrust law can reshape entire industries. The NCAA’s old rules about athlete pay just got thrown out like yesterday’s playbook.

For lawyers watching this space, it’s a reminder that big cases can take years but pay off huge. The attorneys here stuck with it for two decades. Their patience just earned them a fee that would make any BigLaw partner jealous.