Legal Resources

If you have income, assets, or people who depend on you, you need an estate plan regardless of your age or net worth. Without a plan, your state decides who gets your assets, who makes your medical decisions, and who handles your finances.

A 50-state gaming legal opinion is a formal legal analysis of whether your game qualifies as legal skill-based gaming, illegal gambling, or regulated sweepstakes in each U.S. state. Learn why investors, payment processors, and app stores require one.

Endorsement deals can be career-defining opportunities or career-ending mistakes. The difference often lies in the details most athletes overlook until it's too...

Your social media presence is one of your most valuable assets as an athlete. It's where you connect with fans, build your personal brand, and create opportunit...

Every time you upload content to YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, or any other platform, you're entering into a legal agreement. Most creators never read the Terms o...

The college athletics landscape has been fundamentally transformed by two major developments: the NCAA Transfer Portal and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) right...

The difference between sponsorship and partnership isn't just semantics. It's the difference between a clean transaction and a complicated relationship. This guide breaks down exactly what separates these deal types and the red flags that should make you walk away.

Your athletic career is a high-leverage, limited-time asset. The clock is always running. Social media is the tool you use to convert that temporary leverage in...

A copyright strike can devastate a creator's channel. Three strikes and you're banned from the platform, losing years of work and your entire audience. Understa...

Launching an online gaming platform is an exhilarating venture, but success hinges on more than just a great game. The online gaming world is one of the most he...

The landscape of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) is evolving at a breakneck pace. While individual brand deals were the initial focus, a new and powerful player...

The world of college sports has changed. For decades, student-athletes were barred from earning money from their athletic fame. Now, the rules have shifted, ope...

Streaming has turned gaming from a hobby into a career for thousands of content creators. But with that income comes tax responsibility that many streamers aren...

As a startup founder, you wear many hats: CEO, product manager, salesperson, and head of HR. In the early stages, you do what it takes to build momentum and fin...

Generative AI tools are changing how startups operate, from creating marketing copy to writing code and designing logos. This technology offers incredible speed...

Winning a gaming tournament can be life-changing—until you realize how much of that prize money goes to taxes, fees, and contractual obligations. Understanding ...

The esports industry has exploded from a niche hobby into a global entertainment powerhouse, complete with massive prize pools, sold-out arenas, and celebrity p...

The creator economy is often framed as a zero-sum game of individual competition. This is a flawed model. The sharpest operators understand that true scale and ...

The desire to build something of your own, even while holding a full-time job, is a powerful driver of innovation. Starting a side business or "side hustle" can...

Starting a business with co-founders is exciting. You're aligned on vision, passionate about the idea, and ready to build something great together. But without ...

Your content is an asset you built. The goal of monetization is not just to generate revenue, but to do so while retaining control of that asset. Every monetiza...

Your creative work is an asset. Whether it's a photograph, a line of code, a song, or a manuscript, it has value. In the digital age, that work can be copied an...

Estate planning has always been about passing on your most valuable possessions to the people you care about. For generations, that meant physical assets like r...

Joining an early-stage startup often means choosing between higher salary and more equity. It's one of the most consequential financial decisions you'll make, a...

The introduction of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights was not an update to college sports; it was a regime change. The era of amateurism is over. Athletes ...

In the creator economy, your personal brand is your most valuable asset. It's your name, your reputation, and the unique identity you present to the world. Whet...

Your professional athletic career gives you a rare window of high-earning potential. This period is short. The money you make must last a lifetime. Financial in...

An athletic career is a high-stakes, high-reward enterprise. Your body is your primary asset, and your ability to perform is your primary source of income. A si...

An overview of the major privacy law developments in 2025, including new state consumer privacy laws taking effect, expanded data protection requirements, and what individuals and businesses need to know to stay compliant.

Every business starts with a "why." It's the driving force, the core belief that turns an idea into a reality. For me, the "why" behind Jacobs Counsel came from...

The legal profession, long defined by tradition and precedent, is undergoing a profound transformation. This change is not driven by a landmark court case or ne...

How startups can use proactive legal strategy as a competitive advantage, from trademark protection and IP positioning to contract structuring and regulatory compliance.

Making the decision to hire an attorney is a critical step in the journey of any entrepreneur, creator, or professional. The right lawyer does more than just dr...

Raising capital is one of the most critical—and legally complex—aspects of building a startup. Understanding the legal landscape before you start fundraising ca...

For any online gaming operator, the internet offers a world of opportunity, connecting you with millions of potential players. But this borderless digital world...

Gaming tournaments have evolved from basement gatherings to multi-million dollar events, but with this growth comes significant legal complexity. Whether you're...

In today's creator economy, content licensing represents one of the most powerful ways to monetize your creative work. However, licensing agreements can be comp...

The introduction of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights has transformed college athletics, creating unprecedented opportunities for student-athletes to monet...

A comprehensive guide to prediction markets, exploring their origins, mechanics, current trends, and challenges. Learn how these markets are shaping finance, technology, and culture.

A quick overview of the fragmented U.S. legal landscape for skill-based gaming operators—state classifications, the skill-vs-chance test, and key compliance steps. For the full deep-dive, see our Comprehensive Guide (15 min).

Every startup journey begins with immense passion and a grand vision. Founders dream of rapid growth, market disruption, and building a world-changing company. ...

As a creator, your brand is everything. It's your name, your logo, your unique style, and the trust you've built with your audience. It's the result of countles...

The gaming industry is built on data. From user profiles and payment information to in-game behavior and chat logs, modern games collect a vast amount of player...

For professional athletes and creators, a contract is more than just a piece of paper; it's the architectural blueprint of your career. Whether it's a team agre...

For an esports player, signing your first professional contract is a monumental achievement. It's the moment your passion transitions into a career, validating ...

As a creator, your content is your currency. Your unique voice, your captivating videos, your stunning designs—these are not just creative expressions; they are...

The opportunity to profit from your Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) has transformed what it means to be a college athlete. It's a chance to build your brand, ea...

Your brand is more than just a cool name or a clever logo. It's the story you tell, the reputation you build, and the connection you forge with your customers. ...

For any startup founder, equity is the currency of creation. It's the fuel that attracts co-founders, incentivizes early employees, and secures investment when ...

A contract is the foundation of your professional career as an athlete. Whether it's a team agreement, an endorsement deal, or a NIL contract, the document you ...

In the creator economy, your brand is your most valuable asset. It's what distinguishes you from thousands of other talented individuals and creates lasting val...

As an athlete, you dedicate your life to excellence, sacrifice, and achievement. You've worked tirelessly to build a name, a reputation, and a platform that ext...

The world of competitive gaming is exploding. From small mobile games to massive esports tournaments, skill-based gaming platforms are attracting millions of…

I started Jacobs Counsel the same way I earned a spot on a Division I basketball team: by showing up when nobody expected me to, and refusing to leave until…