Sandberg Phoenix is pleased to announce that Ben Chase has joined the firm to lead its growing NIL, Sports and Entertainment practice, further expanding the firm’s capabilities at the intersection of sports, branding, media, and business while strengthening its presence in the Florida market.
Chase advises athletes, brands, influencers, and organizations navigating the evolving name, image, and likeness (NIL) landscape. His practice focuses on helping clients identify strategic opportunities, structure partnerships, and maximize the value of their intellectual property and personal brands in an increasingly complex sports and media environment.
“The NIL era has fundamentally reshaped how athletes, brands, and institutions interact,” said Ben Chase. “Sandberg Phoenix recognizes the tremendous opportunity in this space, and I’m excited to help build a practice that supports athletes and organizations with thoughtful strategy, strong legal guidance, and long-term brand development.”
Before joining Sandberg Phoenix, Chase served as Director of NIL Strategy at the University of Florida, where he worked with more than 500 student-athletes across 21 sports to develop and execute NIL opportunities. In that role, he helped position athletes and programs to capitalize on emerging NIL markets while maintaining compliance and long-term brand strategy.
The addition reflects Sandberg Phoenix’s continued investment in high-growth practice areas and strategic markets. “Ben brings a rare combination of legal experience, NIL strategy, and deep relationships within the collegiate and professional sports ecosystem,” said Bhavik Patel, CEO at Sandberg Phoenix. “His leadership allows us to expand our NIL, sports, and entertainment capabilities while continuing to grow our presence in Florida and key markets.”
Chase will focus on advising athletes, sports organizations, collectives, brands, and media partners on NIL strategy, brand partnerships, licensing, intellectual property, compliance, and business development opportunities. Chase will be based in the firm’s Gainesville, Florida office.
