Meagan M. McNeely is Of Counsel to Zumpano Patricios and a corporate transactional attorney advising entrepreneurs, student-athletes, and nonprofit organizations. Her practice focuses on entity formation and governance, contract negotiation, sophisticated transactions, and regulatory compliance. She also maintains a sports law practice, representing athletes, agents, and academic institutions in NIL agreements, endorsement deals, and NCAA-related matters. She is licensed in Texas and Washington.

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In addition to her work with the firm, Ms. McNeely manages a Dallas-based transactional practice, where she serves as outside general counsel to businesses at various stages of growth. Her corporate work includes drafting and negotiating operating agreements, employment contracts, asset and stock purchase agreements, franchise disclosure documents, and commercial leases, along with advising on governance and compliance issues.

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Her sports law practice centers on NIL and the evolving regulatory landscape. She co-authored the opening chapter of Paying College Athletes: A Reference Handbook (Bloomsbury Academic 2026) and regularly speaks on NIL and sports law topics for bar associations and professional organizations. She also serves on the planning committee for the ABA Forum on Entertainment and Sports Industries.

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Ms. McNeely represents nonprofit organizations throughout their lifecycle, including formation, governance, bylaw drafting, board disputes, IRS compliance, and dissolution. Her prior experience in social services and management informs a practical approach to advising nonprofit clients.

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She earned her J.D. from Penn State Law on a full academic scholarship, where she received the CALI Award in Contracts and served as lead intern with the Entrepreneur Assistance Clinic, advising startups and small businesses across Pennsylvania, including a client later named to the Forbes 30 Under 30. She holds a B.A. from the University of North Texas and an ABA-approved paralegal certificate from the University of San Diego, completed with honors.

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Ms. McNeely is active in mentorship and bar preparation initiatives. Outside of practice, she enjoys reading, music, Penn State football, and spending time with her cats, Bonnie and Bellatrix.
 

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PRACTICE AREAS 

• Corporate Transactions & Entity Formation

• Sports Law & NIL

• Nonprofit Governance & Compliance

• Contract Negotiation & Commercial Agreements

• Regulatory Compliance

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PUBLICATIONS/MCLE PRESENTATIONS

• 2026 – Robert Boland & Meagan McNeely, Paying College Athletes: How Did We Get to This Point? in Paying College Athletes: A Reference Handbook (Jimmy Sanderson ed., Bloomsbury Academic 2026)

• 2026 – “Taxation in the NIL Space,” Money MGMT

• 2025 – State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting, Entertainment and Sports Law Section: “Highlights from the 2024–2025 Litigation Season”

• 2025 – 32nd Annual Texas Minority Counsel Program: “From Sidelines to Dotted Lines: NIL for the Transactional Attorney”

• 2020 – Meagan McNeely, Day Zero: Blessing the Rains in South Africa, J.L. & Int’l Aff. (2020)​​

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HONORS & AWARDS

• CALI Award – Contracts

• Dean’s Merit Scholarship (Full Academic Scholarship), Penn State Law

• Highest Grade Average, University of San Diego Paralegal Program

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AFFILIATIONS

• American Bar Association (Entertainment, Business, and Corporate Counsel Sections)

• ABA Forum on Entertainment and Sports Industries (Planning Committee)

• Dallas Bar Association (Entertainment Law Committee)

• Penn State Alumni Association – North Texas Chapter (Board Member)

• Sports Lawyers Association

• State Bar of Texas (Entertainment & Sports Law; Business Law; Corporate Counsel Sections)

• Washington State Bar Association (Corporate Counsel Section)
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