Last Updated on October 29, 2025 by John Jackson
The Texas sun was beating down on the fields at the National Soccer Hall of Fame complex, and I was sitting across from a young FC Dallas academy player and his parents. They held a “standard” representation agreement from an outofstate agent, and the father kept pointing to a clause about international transfer fees. “This seems okay, right?” he asked. I had to lean forward and tell him the truth: that clause could cost his son tens of thousands of dollars if he ever moved to a European club. It was a classic Frisco story—incredible talent right here in our backyard, but contracts written for a different world entirely.
That was back in 2019, but the core issue hasn’t changed. After practicing sports law here for over a decade, I’ve seen Frisco transform from a quiet suburb into a national sports epicenter. And with that growth comes a unique set of legal challenges for athletes, from the pros at The Star to the rising stars at the PGA headquarters. Honestly, the legal landscape here is as specific as the Texas heat.
What a Sports Lawyer Actually Does in Frisco
Most people think we just negotiate salaries. And sure, that’s a big part of it. But in a corporateheavy sports environment like ours, the job is way more nuanced. We’re dealing with endorsement deals with the legions of tech and finance companies that have set up shop along the Dallas North Tollway. We’re navigating name, image, and likeness (NIL) contracts for local college athletes now that the rules have changed. And we’re structuring postcareer financial planning because an athlete’s earning window is short, but life in Frisco is long and, let’s be real, not cheap.
You know what’s funny? I probably spend as much time explaining what a “force majeure” clause is as I do actually negotiating them. For a local hockey player, that clause became everything during the pandemic when seasons were paused. It’s the boring stuff in the back of the contract that usually matters most.
The Frisco Sports Ecosystem: It’s Not Just the Cowboys
Look, everyone knows The Star. But the ecosystem is so much deeper. We’ve got:
- Major League Teams: Dallas Cowboys, FC Dallas, Frisco RoughRiders (Texas Rangers affiliate).
- Major Facilities: The Star, Toyota Stadium, Comerica Center, Dr Pepper Ballpark.
- Governing Bodies: The PGA of America headquarters is literally here. That means we work with a lot of golfers and golfadjacent businesses.
This concentration creates a specific kind of sports law practice. It’s not just about the player anymore. I’ve represented coaches, trainers, even a local physical therapist who wanted to contract with a team. The web of relationships is intense, and everyone needs a good contract.
Why a Local Frisco Lawyer Makes All the Difference
I got a call once from a family in the west Frisco area. Their son was being recruited by a bigtime agency based in California. The agency had sent a 40page representation agreement. Buried on page 27 was a stipulation that all disputes would be handled through arbitration in Los Angeles. Can you imagine? A family from here having to fly to LA and pay California lawyers every time there was a problem? It was a predatory clause designed to make it too costly for the athlete to ever dispute anything.
A local lawyer knows the Texas laws that govern these agreements. We know the Texas courts and the judges at the Collin County Courthouse. We have relationships with the front offices here. That doesn’t mean we get special treatment, but it does mean we understand how they operate, what their pressures are, and what language they’ll actually agree to. It’s the difference between a theoretical contract and one that works on the ground.
Anatomy of an Athlete Contract: The Clauses That Matter Here
Let me pull back the curtain. When you’re reviewing a player agreement for someone at, say, Dr Pepper Ballpark, you’re not just looking at the signing bonus. You’re looking for:
- Termination Clauses: Under what conditions can the team let the player go? Texas is an atwill employment state, but pro sports contracts are a different beast.
- Injury Protections: What happens if a player gets hurt during training at The Star? Who pays? For how long?
- Bonus Structures: Are the performance bonuses actually achievable? I’ve seen bonuses based on statistical milestones that were literally impossible for the player’s position. It’s a shell game.
- Local Marketing Agreements: This is a big one in a commercial hub like Frisco. Does the contract allow the player to do local endorsements for a car dealership or a restaurant in the downtown area without the team taking a huge cut?
Wait — actually, let me rephrase that more clearly. The biggest issue I see is a lack of guaranteed money. Especially for younger players. They see a big number at the top of the offer sheet, but it’s not guaranteed. If they get cut, they get nothing. My job is to fight to get as much of that money guaranteed as possible. It’s boring, unsexy work, but it puts food on the table.
The NIL Revolution in Our Backyard
When the NCAA rules changed, my phone started ringing off the hook. We have so many highlevel college athletes in and around Frisco, from various schools. Now, a star quarterback can get paid to appear in a local commercial. But these earlyday NIL contracts are a minefield.
I saw a deal for a softball player where a company wanted 50 hours of her time for a social media campaign and was only paying $500. And they wanted perpetual rights to her image! That one still stings. We had to walk her through why that was a terrible deal. The truth is, most of these kids and their families have no framework for understanding the value of their time and likeness. They’re just excited to get paid. It’s our job to make sure they don’t get exploited.
What to Look For (and Run From) When Hiring Representation
If you’re searching for sports lawyers in Frisco, here’s my blunt advice from over a decade in the trenches:
- Look for Local Credentials: Are they licensed in Texas? Do they have an office here, or are they just a PO box? Check them out with the State Bar of Texas.
- Ask About Their Network: Do they have relationships with financial planners, CPA’s, and agents? An athlete’s career is a small business, and you need a team.
- Run from Guarantees: If a lawyer promises you they’ll get you a specific dollar amount or a starting position, run. That’s not how this works. We can leverage and negotiate, but we can’t make promises for a team.
- Understand Their Fee Structure: Some work on hourly rates, some on a percentage of the contract. Get this in writing upfront. Always.
To be completely honest, the best referrals in this town still come through wordofmouth. Ask the coaches, trainers, and other athletes you trust. The Frisco sports community is tightknit, and reputations are earned quickly.
Local Sports Law Providers in Frisco
Based on actual local presence, here are some established providers in Frisco:
Cantey Hanger LLP — Offices in Fort Worth with a strong sports law practice serving the North Texas region.
Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP — A major Fort Worthbased firm with expertise in complex contracts and litigation relevant to athletes.
Andrews Myers — While based in Austin, they have a significant presence in Dallas/Fort Worth and handle sophisticated business and contract law.
Winstead PC — A large Texas firm with a Dallas office that handles the corporate and contractual needs of professionals and businesses.
Costs & Realistic Expectations
Let’s talk money. This isn’t New York or LA, but quality legal work isn’t cheap. For contract review and negotiation, many attorneys in the Frisco area charge between $300 and $600 per hour. For a full representation agreement negotiation, you might be looking at a total fee of $2,500 to $10,000, depending on the complexity. Some lawyers will work on a contingency for certain things (like negotiating a pro contract), taking 35% of the value.
Most families I work with in the north Frisco neighborhoods are surprised by the cost at first. But I always explain it this way: paying me $5,000 to secure an extra $50,000 in guaranteed money or to avoid a catastrophic clause isn’t a cost. It’s an investment. I’ve made the mistake myself early in my career of undercharging, and it led to clients not taking the advice as seriously. That was a hard lesson.
Navigating Local Rules and Verifications
Always verify an attorney’s license. You can do that through the State Bar of Texas website. For agents, they must be certified by the respective players’ unions (NFLPA, MLSPA, etc.). It’s a red flag if they aren’t. And for any business dealings, the City of Frisco official website has resources for new businesses, which is often the next step for an athlete building their brand.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should an athlete in Frisco first hire a lawyer?
The second a team or agent hands you a contract or a representation agreement. Don’t sign anything, not even a “standard” form, without having it reviewed. I can’t tell you how many times the “standard” one is the most dangerous.
What’s the difference between a sports lawyer and an agent?
An agent is certified by a players’ union to find you jobs and negotiate contracts. A sports lawyer is a licensed attorney who can do that too, but also handles all other legal matters—lawsuits, business formation, estate planning, and complex contract law. Many agents are lawyers, but not all lawyers are agents.
Do you only work with professional athletes?
Not at all. A huge part of my practice is advising college and even elite high school athletes on NIL deals and preparing for their professional careers. If there’s a contract involved, we can help.
How are fees typically structured?
It’s a mix. For contract negotiation, it’s often hourly or a flat fee. For ongoing representation, it might be a monthly retainer. For securing a pro contract, some work on a percentage (like an agent). You should always get the fee agreement in writing before any work begins.
So, if you’re an athlete or a parent in Frisco sitting with a contract that feels overwhelming, just know you’re not alone. This city is built on sports, but it’s also built on smart business. The two need to go handinhand. Start by talking to someone who’s been in the rooms where these deals get made, right here in town. It makes all the difference.