Nicoleas Mayne
Partner / Co-Leader, Entertainment and Sports Team
- New York City +1 212.940.3035
- nmayne@nixonpeabody.com
Introduction
Nic Mayne is a partner in Nixon Peabody’s Corporate practice group and co-leader of the firm’s Entertainment & Sports Team. Recognized by Variety as a top entertainment lawyer, he represents some of the most recognizable global creators, athletes, and influencers. In addition, he serves as a go-to advisor for celebrity-backed consumer packaged goods (CPG) ventures and consumer product ventures.
Drawing on extensive experience working with A-list talent and valuable IP, Nic also advises prominent investors, brand marketers, agents and managers, NIL (name, image, likeness) rights holders, and other stakeholders interacting with the sports and entertainment industries.
My focus
Deal Structuring & Commercial Transactions
Applying my unique experience working with entertainment, sports, and influence-focused businesses, I am well-versed in structuring a wide variety of deals, including creator brand deals and NIL (name, image, likeness) licenses; venture capital and private equity investor agreements; complex consulting, advisory, and marketing service agreements; and M&A transactions.
Creator Economy, CPG & Entertainment
I am a go-to resource for talent, incubators, and investors seeking to launch consumer products, enter into creative content production and distribution ventures, or produce or finance traditional entertainment projects, helping clients build and protect valuable businesses.
With a specific focus on the creator economy, CPG brands, and entertainment and sports ventures, I have worked as lead counsel on multimillion-dollar financing rounds for venture capital and private equity-backed companies and advised established clients throughout the M&A process, in each case at company valuations ranging from the low millions to over one billion dollars.
Ongoing Business & Legal Advisory
In addition to large-scale transactions, I provide responsive day-to-day business legal counsel to a notable roster of prominent creators, management companies, CPG brands, NIL collectives and rights holders, and entertainment networks.
Representative experience
- Dropout Companies: a consumer products house building modern food brands designed to become long term category leaders. Its portfolio includes JAMS, a high protein frozen PB&J brand sold nationwide at major retailers; BRONCO, a modern frozen breakfast sandwich brand; and additional emerging consumer food ventures. We assist Dropout Companies and their portfolio brands with creator and athlete talent deals, as well as sports licensing partnerships
- Jogo Studios, Inc: video game development company founded by leading content creator Andre “Typical Gamer” Rebelo on strategic growth initiatives, including formation and financing, commercial transactions, licensing, clearance matters for its in-game concert event with XXXTentacion and intellectual property protection
- Night Labs: a creator-economy venture studio and incubator operated by Night Media, across matters relating to its Series A investment and operating partner agreements with Kylie Jenner’s Sprinter vodka soda brand
- Night Media: advise leading digital talent management company Night Media across a wide range of matters and consumer product incubations, including advising in connection with their role as a founder of Feastables, MrBeast’s creator led consumer snack brand
- Source Golf: a YouTube-first golf creator network across matters relating to its launch and creator-driven content aggregation and monetization strategy, including advising on its founding talent partnership with Bryson DeChambeau and related talent and commercial agreements supporting advertising sales and distribution on YouTube
- Tone: a modern personal care brand backed by Kai Cenat and digital streaming group AMP, with its formation, founder, and talent partnerships, and seed financing, supporting the company from launch through early growth
- Unspeakable: a leading creator brand, advising on all business and merchandising agreements, including multiple content licensing agreements with Spotter and distribution agreements with FilmRise, Amazon Kids, and other partners, and several merchandising agreements
- Youshaei Studios: a Los Angeles-based media production and consulting studio founded by Jon Youshaei on its Amazon Prime docuseries The Making of Beast Games. The docuseries showcases a production effort filmed over 45 days across multiple countries and sets, earning a Guinness World Record for largest behind the scenes crew.
- Roost Network: the number one podcast network for creators, advising on partner agreements, privacy policies, website terms, and employment matters. Advised on a range of network partner and integration deals, including with talent such as Theo Von, Trisha Paytas, and the Try Guys.
- Danny Duncan, a YouTuber, actor, comedian, and creator known for his brand, Matador Energy, an energy shot brand, in connection with talent licensing and corporate matters
Looking ahead
YouTube and social media platforms will continue to command a growing share of consumer attention, with user-generated and in-platform IP offering additional opportunities for innovative creators to build and monetize their personal brands. Athletes, artists, and brands that understand and regularly interact with these platforms will be positioned for growth, and a new era of college athletics will bring even more influencer stakeholders into this space.
/Insights
- “Representing the Professional Athlete,” Harvard Law School’s Sports & Entertainment Law Symposium, May 2025
- “College Football: The Day After–What Have We Done?” HLSA of LA Virtual Event, January 21, 2025
- “ Protecting Your Student Athletes:” NIL Summit, June 2022
- “Contract Drafting,” Lewis and Clark Law School, fall 2023
- “College Football: The Day After–What Have We Done?” Harvard Law School Association of LA Virtual Event, January 21, 2025
In the news
- Sports Business Journal
Sports Business Daily: Executive transactions
April 17, 2026The following article features the selection of New York City Corporate partner Nic Mayne and Los Angeles Community Development Finance partner Sonia Nayak as leaders of NP’s Entertainment & Sports team, and also the NP arrivals of Los Angeles Corporate associates Loren Shokes and Sam Wainaina. Nic is quoted on the strategic goals for the team, and Albany partner and Corporate practice group leader Todd Tidgewell is quoted from the firm’s press release.
- Sportico
Sportico transactions: Moves and mergers roundup
April 17, 2026The following article features the selection of New York City Corporate partner Nic Mayne and Los Angeles Community Development Finance partner Sonia Nayak as leaders of NP’s Entertainment & Sports team, and also the NP arrivals of Los Angeles Corporate associates Loren Shokes and Sam Wainaina. Nic is quoted on the strategic goals for the team, and Albany partner and Corporate practice group leader Todd Tidgewell is quoted from the firm’s press release.
- Law360
Nixon Peabody names entertainment and sports team heads
April 16, 2026The following article features the selection of New York City Corporate partner Nic Mayne and Los Angeles Community Development Finance partner Sonia Nayak as leaders of NP’s Entertainment & Sports team, and also the NP arrivals of Los Angeles Corporate associates Loren Shokes and Sam Wainaina. Nic is quoted on the strategic goals for the team, and Albany partner and Corporate practice group leader Todd Tidgewell is quoted from the firm’s press release.
- Variety
Variety’s Legal Impact Report 2026: Meet Hollywood’s top entertainment attorneys
April 8, 2026This article features New York City Corporate partner Nic Mayne, a member of NP’s Entertainment & Media and Sports & Stadiums teams, for being named to the publication’s 2026 Legal Impact Report. The report recognizes trusted attorneys of Hollywood’s top talent and companies for helping them navigate a fast-changing landscape.
- Law.com
How I Made Partner: ‘Treat your clients’ legal issues the same way you would treat your own,’ says Nicoleas Mayne of Nixon Peabody
March 30, 2026This article profiles New York City Corporate partner Nic Mayne, a member of NP’s Entertainment & Media and Sports & Stadiums teams, for his elevation to partner. Nic discusses his career trajectory, practice strengths, and focus on delivering exceptional client service, as well as his deep experience across the entertainment and sports industries.
- New York Law Journal
Attorneys ‘on the move’
March 10, 2026This roundup article of recent promotions and moves across the state highlights the appointment of Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner Matt Carrigg as Rochester office managing partner. It also features the partner elevations of Corporate partners Lena Gionnette of Rochester, and Nic Mayne and Shaziah Singh of New York City; Albany Healthcare partner Justin Pfeiffer; New York City Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner Richard Shore; and Rochester Project Finance & Public Finance partner Terance Walsh. New York City Global Finance counsel Max Ferullo and Albany Project Finance & Public Finance counsel Eric Brenner are also highlighted for their counsel promotions.
- Portland Business Journal
People on the move: Nicoleas Mayne
Feb 10, 2026This article features New York City Corporate partner Nic Mayne, a member of NP’s Entertainment & Media and Sports & Stadiums teams, for his promotion to partner.
- Sportico
Sportico transactions: Moves and mergers roundup
Feb 6, 2026The following article mentions New York City Corporate partners Nic Mayne and Shaziah Singh, both members of the Sports & Stadiums team, for their promotions to partner.
- Sports Business Journal
Sports business daily
Feb 5, 2026The following article mentions New York City Corporate partners Nic Mayne and Shaziah Singh, both members of the Sports & Stadiums team, for their promotions to partner
- The Ankler’s Like & Subscribe
The NIL gold rush: How 499,000 college athletes are becoming creators
Oct 1, 2025This article quotes New York City Corporate counsel Nic Mayne, a member of the firm’s Entertainment and Sports & Stadiums teams, on the NIL and college sports landscape, and how that intersects with the rise of student athletes as creators. Nic discusses the opportunity for collegiate athletes to leverage their audiences to build long-term careers as influencers.
- Portland Business Journal
Portland attorney brings ‘sneaker law’ class to Lewis & Clark College
July 12, 2024Corporate counsel Nic Mayne, a member of the firm’s Entertainment and Sports & Stadiums teams, is profiled in this article. Nic discusses the concept for his “Sneaker Law” course at Lewis & Clark Law School, which incorporates elements of his existing contract drafting course to give students a hands-on negotiating and drafting experience in the heart of the sneaker industry in Portland, Oregon.
- Sportico
Sportico transactions: Moves and mergers roundup for April 5
April 5, 2024This roundup of personnel, partnerships, and products across the sports business industry includes the NP arrival of Corporate counsel Nic Mayne, a member of the firm’s Entertainment and Sports & Stadiums teams.
Admitted to practice
Oregon
Washington
New York
Texas
Education
Harvard Law School, J.D.
The Master's University, B.A.
Professional activities
- Adjunct Faculty, “Licensing and Collaborations,” University of Oregon Summer Sports Law Institute, summer 2024, summer 2025, summer 2026
- Adjunct Faculty, “Sneaker Law,” Lewis and Clark Law School, fall 2024, fall 2025
- Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Board of Directors, Vice President
- Sports Lawyers’ Association, Regional Captain
Recognition
- Recognized in Variety’s Legal Impact Report 2026
- Selected, through a peer-review survey, for inclusion in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch 2026 Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Corporate Governance and Compliance Law, Corporate Law, Entertainment and Sports Law, and Mergers and Acquisitions Law (listed in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch since 2024)
- Oregon Super Lawyer. "Rising Star" 2023–present
Insights And Happenings
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Professionals in the Practice Area
View AllSonia A. Nayak
Partner / Co-Leader, Entertainment and Sports Team / Office Managing Partner, Los Angeles- Los Angeles
- Los Angeles +1 213.629.6072
- snayak@nixonpeabody.com
-
David L. May
Partner / Co-Lead, IPPG Sports & Sporting Goods Team- Washington, DC
- Washington, DC +1 202.585.8220
- dmay@nixonpeabody.com
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Robert A. Weikert
Partner / Office Managing Partner, San Francisco- San Francisco
- San Francisco +1 415.984.8385
- rweikert@nixonpeabody.com
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