Sandberg Phoenix is pleased to announce the addition of Toby Baldwin as Counsel, further expanding the firm’s growing capabilities in collegiate sports law, Name, Image and Likeness (NIL), and estate planning. Baldwin will be based in the firm’s newly announced Duncan, Oklahoma office, the 12th location in Sandberg Phoenix’s expanding footprint.
Baldwin joins Sandberg Phoenix following his role as Executive Associate Athletics Director for Name, Image and Likeness and Operational Advancement at the University of Oklahoma. His experience working at the intersection of collegiate athletics, NIL, athlete opportunities, and institutional strategy brings additional depth to Sandberg Phoenix’s growing sports law practice.
The hire comes as Sandberg Phoenix experiences rapid growth in the NIL and collegiate sports law sector. Earlier this year, the firm announced the launch of Algorithm, a DBA of Sandberg Phoenix that provides a full suite of agency services for athletes as the NIL landscape continues to evolve.
At Sandberg Phoenix, Baldwin’s practice will focus primarily on sports law and estate planning, with a particular focus on helping family farms plan for the future and navigate the transition of assets and operations across generations.
“Toby brings a unique combination of knowledge, relationships, and perspective to Sandberg Phoenix,” said Bhavik Patel, CEO of Sandberg Phoenix. “His legal background combined with his experience in collegiate athletics will help us better serve our growing client base.”
Baldwin’s arrival also marks the opening of Sandberg Phoenix’s 12th office, located in Duncan, Oklahoma. The new office strengthens the firm’s presence in Oklahoma and creates additional opportunities to serve clients throughout the region.
“Joining Sandberg Phoenix is an exciting opportunity to build on the work I have done throughout my career while helping clients navigate areas that are changing rapidly. The NIL and collegiate sports landscape continues to evolve, creating new opportunities and new challenges for athletes, institutions, athletic leadership, and the businesses that support them. I am looking forward to bringing my twenty-five-plus years of on-campus experience to the firm’s growing sports law practice, while also helping individuals, families, and family farms plan for the future through thoughtful estate and succession planning. I am especially excited to begin this next chapter with a firm that is continuing to grow and invest in Oklahoma and beyond,” added Baldwin.
Baldwin’s hire reflects Sandberg Phoenix’s continued investment in areas where the legal landscape is rapidly evolving. As NIL, athlete representation, and collegiate sports continue to create new opportunities and challenges for athletes, institutions, businesses, and families, the firm is expanding its team and capabilities to meet the needs of clients across the industry.
With the launch of Algorithm and the continued growth of its sports law practice, Sandberg Phoenix is building an integrated platform designed to support athletes and other participants in the evolving sports economy while continuing to provide the full range of legal services clients expect from the firm.
