House v NCAA Settlement Awards $515M Legal Fees, Raises Total Potential to $750M+

U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken approved $520 million in legal fees for attorneys representing athlete plaintiffs in the $2.8 billion NCAA antitrust settlement, with the possibility of an additional $200 to $250 million in fees over the next decade for monitoring and enforcing compliance. The settlement addresses claims that athletes were not compensated for the use of their names, images, and likenesses, and allows colleges to pay players directly for the first time. Lead attorneys Steve Berman and Jeffrey Kessler secured approval for fees that represent about 37% of the settlement fund, a figure that has sparked significant public backlash for its size, as it reduces the amount that former student-athletes ultimately receive. Judge Wilken defended the fees, citing the extraordinary results, risks, and efforts by the lawyers who worked on contingency. The settlement also includes annual revenue-share payments to athletes, projected to grow each year, with the attorneys authorized to seek annual fees tied to those payments. The legal battle, spanning two decades, marked a significant shift in collegiate athletics compensation rules and concluded with substantial financial awards to both athletes and their legal representatives.