NIL: The Future of the Business of College Sports

Steve is a partner and the Chair of the Private Equity Practice Group at Taft. He has over 25 years of corporate law experience, having handled hundreds of M&A and financing transactions representing billions of dollars in transaction value. He was previously a partner in the corporate group of another leading law firm, then associate general counsel for St. Jude Medical, then General Counsel of Secure Computing, a publicly held software company, through its sale to McAfee, and has been with Taft since 2009.

When starting IFA in 2009, Baratz had one mission in mind for his clients. Educating them. 

Having experienced all sides of the professional sports business earlier in his career, to him, it was clear what was truly missing. Guiding a young man and his family through all the different facets of life, something much bigger than football, is always the most important objective. 78% of all NFL players either leave the game bankrupt, or are bankrupt within three years of their final NFL game. Building a sustained life beyond the football field has and always will be the ultimate goal. If a player is wildly successful he may play football for 8-10 years, but will live for another 60-70 years, and that is where the consistent disconnect has prevailed.

Creating an environment where his clients and their families are constantly educated and prepared for every aspect of life after football is what separates Baratz and IFA from other agencies.

A true leader, Baratz is an ally and always at the forefront advocating for the rights and best interests of his clients.

In addition to IFA, Baratz is the Founder of Brick x Mortar, a members-only social club and shared workspace in Downtown Minneapolis, serves on the Executive Board of the Thielen Foundation, and is actively involved in many different philanthropic endeavors in and around the Twin Cities.

As an NIL consultant with Dinkytown Athletes, Katie connects amazing people to outstanding female student-athletes at the University of Minnesota to create win-win partnerships. A long-time supporter of University of Minnesota athletics, Katie and her husband raised three former female athletes—including a D1 All American and professional volleyball player—who are now business executives. Katie also works with builders, designers, architects and homeowners to create functional spaces within homes and offices. She is the co-host of The View in Your Mirror Podcast available on most podcast platforms.

Cale founded ClickSWITCH in 2014, a fintech company that revolutionized how banks, credit unions, and neobanks automate direct deposit and automatic payment switching. Under his leadership, ClickSWITCH served over 600 financial institutions, including 3 of the top 15 U.S. banks. With a deep background in venture capital, Cale successfully raised multiple funding rounds before the company was acquired by Q2 [QTWO] for $70 million in an all-cash transaction in April 2021.

Cale has earned recognition as a 40 Under 40 honoree in 2021, Top 50 Financial Technology CEO in 2021, and one of the Top 100 People to Know in 2020. Following his successful exit, he founded Roy, Inc., a platform that allows fans to contribute directly to their favorite college athletes.

Mr. Szerda is a managing director for AB CarVal, responsible for managing high-yield investments. Prior to joining AB CarVal in 2015, he was managing director of Macquarie Credit Investment Management where he focused on the healthcare, equipment rental, auto supply and gaming sectors. Mr. Szerda received his B.S. in Accounting from the University of Maryland.