Justin M. Jacobson, Esq. is an entertainment and esports attorney located in New York City. For the last decade, he has worked with professional athletes, musicians, producers, DJs, record labels, fashion designers, as well as professional gamers, streamers, coaches, on-air talent, and esports organizations. He assists these creative individuals with their contract, copyright, trademark, immigration, tax, and related business, marketing, and legal issues. He is a frequent contributor to many industry publications and has been featured on a variety of entertainment, music, and esports publications and podcasts, including Business Insider, The Esports Observer, Esports Insider, Tunecore, and Sport Techie.
Justin has positioned himself as a top esports business professional working with talent in a variety of franchise leagues including the Overwatch League, Overwatch Contenders, and Call of Duty Pro League as well as in many popular competitive titles such as Fortnite, CS:GO, Gears of War, Halo, Super Smash Brothers, Rainbow 6, PUBG, Madden, and FIFA and mobile games such as Brawlhalla, Clash of Clans, and Call of Duty mobile. Previously, he worked with various esports talent agencies as well as in an official capacity on behalf of several esports teams and brands. He currently is an Adjunct Professor of Esports at University of North Carolina Wilmington, a member of the industry board for the International Journal of Esports and has authored “The Essential Guide to the Business & Law of Esports & Professional Video Gaming.”
The Law Office of Justin M. Jacobson, Esq. provides legal services for agents, managers, content creators, and talent in all entertainment industries including assisting professional athletes, musicians, producers, songwriters, DJs, record labels, entertainment companies, fashion designers, as well as professional gamers, streamers, content creators, coaches, on-air talent, esports organizations and teams, event and tournament organizers, video game publishers and developers and other business and talent, celebrities, and influencers involved in the entertainment, sports, music, motion picture, television, fashion, art, comic, and the professional video game and esports spaces. These services include handling intellectual property law and licensing matters, including trademark and copyright law, contract review, drafting and negotiation, business and non-profit formation (LLCs/corp), wills, trust and estates law, internet, privacy and blockchain law as well as immigration law, including assisting in the securing work authorization visas for professional esports players, content creators, influencers,, esports coaches, and casters as well as for professional athletes, musicians, DJs, and any other musical act or artist intending to perform services in the United States.
- Working on behalf of talent and businesses in the esports, gaming, content creator, influencer, music, sports, fashion, and art industries handling legal matters.
- Negotiated player and sponsorship deals for professional gamers, streamers, content creators, coaches, and casters with dozens of professional esports teams, event organizers, and brand sponsors
- Representing esports organizations, teams, event operators, non-profits, and other businesses involved in the esports and video game business for various legal matters including alternative dispute resolution (ADR).
- Assist in intellectual property and brand protection for esports players, streamers, content creators, teams, and other businesses including esports teams and event organizers focused on international and U.S. trademark and copyright protection.
- Assist in securing visas and proper work authorization for professional esports players, coaches, and casters to compete in the U.S.
- Author of the first esports business law textbook, "The Essential Guide to the Business and Law of Esports and Professional Video Gaming" (CRC Press/Routledge)
- Co-author of the "Esports Law" chapter in "Esports Business Management" (2nd Edition, Human Kinetics).
- Acted as talent manager for 3 years creating Ford Models Esports talent division under Ford Models Digital including negotiating esports teams deals, talent sponsorship and appearance deals in addition to merchandise and licensing agreements.
Hands-on work and educational materials