WE LAUNCH LEGENDS
ALPINE TERRA SEA LAW
Independent legal counsel to high school, college, and action sport athletes
WHAT WE DO
WHY ATS?
FOR AMATEUR ATHLETES
NIL is changing fast. The advice and strategy hasn't kept up.
Revenue sharing and slotted "salary cap" systems now largely determine what the majority of college athletes are now offered. The amounts are mostly pre-set before negotiations even begin. What remains are increasingly complex contracts full of restrictive terms, compliance requirements, and long-term implications that young athletes and their families often sign without proper review.
That's where ATS comes in.
We are lawyers, not agents. We do not take commissions. We have no financial stake in whether an athlete signs or walks away. Our only obligation is to you. That difference matters.
We provide clear, independent counsel on NIL agreements, scholarship deals, transfer contracts, and related matters. Most reviews are handled on a flat-fee basis quoted upfront, so families know exactly what to expect. We review every term, explain what it really means, negotiate where it makes sense, and ensure full compliance with NCAA, conference, high school, and institutional rules before anything is signed.
ACTION SPORTS PROFESSIONALS
We Launch Legends: Amateur, Competitive and Professional Athletes.
Surfers, skiers, snowboarders, skaters, golfers, and other action sports athletes operate in a world of sponsorships, licensing deals, content rights, tour contracts, and international opportunities. These agreements are often written by sophisticated attorneys who know most athletes won't have strong or experienced representation.
Melissa Welebir Kuhn brings nearly three decades of deep experience in the surf, snow, golf, and outdoor industries. From her time as a contributor and editor at SURFER Magazine to serving as legal advisor to a professional beach volleyball organization, she understands how these careers are built and protected.
At ATS, we treat action sports careers like the businesses they are. We handle sponsorships, licensing, endorsements, media rights, partnerships, and cross-border deals with the same independent, athlete-first approach.
WHO WE ARE
FOUNDING PARTNERS
TOM MILLS
FOUNDING PARTNER
Tom Mills is a Founding Partner of ATS, a specialized firm dedicated to providing NIL advisory, contract negotiation, and independent legal counsel to amateur athletes, action sports professionals, and their families.
With over thirty years of experience in complex transactions and athlete representation, Tom brings extensive expertise to athletes navigating NIL contracts, endorsement deals, and the new revenue-sharing landscape in college sports. He previously served as in-house counsel at The Upper Deck Company, where he negotiated high-stakes licensing and commercial agreements with the NBA, MLB, NFL, Marvel, and individual athletes, the precise types of sophisticated deals now reaching high school and college athletes.
Tom also has deep international experience spanning more than twenty years of work across China and Southeast Asia. This background strengthens ATS's ability to support international athletes entering the U.S. market, as well as U.S. athletes exploring opportunities abroad.
Additional in-house counsel roles at American Golf Corporation, Nissan, and as General Counsel of a global tire distributor further honed his ability to negotiate smart, well-structured deals across industries.
A passionate coach and community leader, Tom has coached more than twenty youth sports seasons and served as President of Lunada Bay Little League. He holds a J.D. from Loyola Law School and a B.A. from UCLA.
Email: tom@ats-law.ai
Cell: (310) 347-7011
WhatsApp: 1-310-347-7011
WeChat ID: Tom_Mills
MELISSA WELEBIR KUHN
FOUNDING PARTNER
Melissa Welebir Kuhn is a Founding Partner of Alpine Terra Sea Law (ATS-Law). Her practice focuses on international and sports law, with particular emphasis on global lifestyle industries, athlete and creative representation, media and emerging ventures operating within the worlds of sport, culture, and travel. With nearly three decades of legal experience, Melissa advises athletes, founders, creatives, entrepreneurs, and internationally oriented businesses on legal strategy, brand development, partnerships, sponsorships, licensing, media relationships, and long-term business positioning.
Melissa's work often intersects with the surf, skate, snow, golf, and outdoor industries, as well as the broader cultural and creative communities connected to them. She brings a unique blend of sharp legal strategy and creative insight to her clients.
Globally, as Of Counsel to DFDL (a leading international law firm with a strong presence across Southeast Asia), Melissa works with attorneys and business leaders throughout Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia, along with France, Australia and New Zealand. This gives ATS valuable depth, especially when supporting international athletes navigating the U.S. market and American athletes exploring opportunities abroad.
Melissa has also served as legal advisor to a professional beach volleyball organization, where she helped elevate the sport through sponsorships, media deals, and growth initiatives.
Before becoming an attorney, Melissa was a musician and also enjoyed her time as a contributor/editor at SURFER Magazine (during the influential Steve Hawk era). And, this experience continues to shape how she sees the world of action sports, where storytelling, authenticity, and culture matter just as much as the contract.
A lifelong skier, traveler, waterwoman and musician, Melissa remains deeply connected to surf and mountain culture through writing, travel, athlete relationships, and environmental advocacy, along with all things music. She is an active member of the Surfrider Foundation and Protect Our Winters and brings that same spirit of stewardship and adventure into her legal work. She holds a Juris Doctorate and a Master's in International Relations from the University of Southern California, along with a B.A. in History.
Email: Melissa@ats-law.ai
OUR SERVICES
SERVICES FOR COLLEGE & HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES
NIL Deals & Agreements
Review, negotiation, and structuring of endorsement contracts, collective agreements, social media deals, and brand partnerships. Full compliance with NCAA, conference, high school, and school policies.
International Athlete Support
Immigration-related NIL restrictions, credential evaluations, and eligibility for athletes from Australia, New Zealand, China, Africa, and other countries.
Scholarship, Revenue Sharing & Financial Agreements
Review and negotiation of scholarship offers, Letters of Intent (NLI), revenue-sharing contracts, and slotted compensation packages under the new House settlement model.
High School Athlete Planning
Pre-college NIL education, showcase event support, early contract reviews, and transition guidance to college programs.
Eligibility & Amateurism Compliance
Guidance on eligibility and amateur status.
Contract Reviews & Negotiations
Coaching contracts, compensation packages, insurance, housing, equipment deals, and dispute resolution.
SERVICES FOR ACTION SPORTS PROFESSIONALS
Sponsorships & Endorsement Deals
Negotiation and review of sponsorship agreements, apparel contracts, and brand partnerships.
Business & Career Structure
Formation of athlete businesses (LLCs), partnership agreements, international/cross-border deals, and long-term career planning.
Licensing & Media Rights
Protection and monetization of image rights, content creation deals, licensing agreements, and media partnerships.
Intellectual Property & Rights Management
Trademark protection, content rights, and licensing strategies tailored to the action sports industry.
Tour & Event Contracts
Review of professional tour agreements, event participation contracts, and prize money structures for surfing, skating, snowboarding, skiing, golf, and other action sports.
SUPPORT FOR COACHES & PROGRAMS
Compliance & Advisory Services
Subscription-based or flat-fee support including eligibility training, NIL/revenue sharing workshops, template agreements, and ongoing counsel for coaches and athletic organizations.
Webinars & Group Training
Custom sessions on rules changes, contract best practices, and risk management.