Arkansas Razorback football players got a detailed look at how to start a business and navigate the "name, image and likeness" landscape thanks to the Entrepreneurial Law Project, a joint venture between the U of A's Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, a unit of the Sam M. Walton College of Business, and the U of A School of Law.

"NIL can be overwhelming for college students to comprehend, and student athletes will be well served to hire an attorney to help them in this process," said Jeb Joyce and Scott Lar, attorneys at Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC, who teamed up with the Entrepreneurial Law Project to lead the session.

Joyce and Larr said students had questions about forming for-profit and non-profit entities and how to utilize NIL funds. They also spoke on when to hire an attorney and the benefits of different entity forms, like LLCs. 

The QGT attorneys joined faculty Michael Cummings, Will Foster and Rachel Sullivant to meet one-on-one with players to discuss their questions about working with attorneys and to address the legal aspects of players' individual business and charitable interests.

"We were most impressed by many athletes' desire to use NIL funds in a manner to give back to the community," they said.

But for Danny Wheeler, football's director of player development, the "real win" was helping the players understand the nuances of NIL and "setting them up for success long after football."

"For me, it's about preparing our guys for life both on and off the field," Wheeler added. "The NIL era has created a whole new world where our players are not just athletes but also young entrepreneurs and brands."

Wheeler said the players realized the relevance of the information, but noted that "the business side of sports doesn't stop at football."

"Every athlete, no matter their sport, can benefit from understanding how to manage their brand, read a contract and think about their future like a business," Wheeler said.

"If we can give that kind of education across all Razorback sports, we're raising the bar for the entire Athletic Department."

One of the primary barriers for early-stage entrepreneurs is cost, and the Entrepreneurial Law Project seeks to remedy that by cultivating a communal legal ecosystem to support founders across the state while also providing opportunities for law students to gain hands-on experience working with businesses and startups, said Rachel Sullivant, managing director of the program.

Since June 2024, the Entrepreneurial Law Project has assisted nearly 300 entrepreneurs across Arkansas — including communities in Mena, Little Rock, Helena, Jonesboro, Morrilton and Fayetteville. Attorneys and law students have contributed more than 480 volunteer hours for educational workshops, one-on-one consultations and pro bono projects.

The Entrepreneurial Law Project expanded its offerings in January with the Entrepreneurial Law Checkups — a series of business law office hours — to provide brief consultations with pro bono attorneys. The sessions are designed to address short, targeted legal questions and review essential business documents.

Those checkups will return for fall 2025 and are slated to begin Aug. 29 and run bi-weekly through November.

"Our goal with the Entrepreneurial Law Project is to make legal support accessible for anyone stepping into entrepreneurship — whether that's a Razorback football player navigating NIL or a founder in the Delta starting their outdoor rec business," Sullivant said.

"We want every Arkansas entrepreneur to feel equipped with the tools and knowledge they need to move forward with confidence."

The Entrepreneurial Law Project is funded through grants from the state and the United States Economic Development Administration. Sullivant said the project will continue its bi-weekly Entrepreneurial Law Checkups this fall and launch new self-service legal forms and video resources, offering more services to supplement its "road show," which brings attorneys to entrepreneurs across Arkansas. If you're interested in learning more about the Entrepreneurial Law Project and upcoming services, visit elp.uark.edu.

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About the U of A Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation: The Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation creates and curates innovation and entrepreneurship experiences for students across all disciplines. Through the Brewer Family Entrepreneurship Hub, McMillon Innovation Studio, Startup Village, and Greenhouse at the Bentonville Collaborative, the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation provides free workshops and programs — including social and corporate innovation design teams, venture internships, competitions and startup coaching. A unit of the Sam M. Walton College of Business, the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation also offers on-demand support for students who will be innovators within existing organizations and entrepreneurs who start something new.

About the School of Law: The law school offers a competitive J.D. as well as an advanced LL.M. program, which are taught by nationally recognized faculty. The school offers unique opportunities for students to participate in pro bono work, externships, live client clinics, competitions, and food and agriculture initiatives. The school strives to identify, discuss, and challenge issues of race, color, ethnicity, and the impact(s) they have on students, faculty, and staff members in an effort to achieve a diverse, inclusive, and equitable community. From admitting the Six Pioneers who were the first African American students to attend law school in the South without a court order to graduating governors, judges, prosecutors, and faculty who went on to become President of the United States and Secretary of State, the law school has a rich history and culture. Follow us at @uarklaw.