Legal insights for gaming operators, athletes, creators, startups, and growing businesses.
Practical guidance from Jacobs Counsel on gaming compliance, NIL, creator deals, AI/startups, brand protection, and outside counsel strategy.
Built for founders, operators, athletes, creators, and companies making real business decisions.
Start with the core guides
Skill-Based Gaming: U.S. Legal Guide
A practical, lawyer-authored guide to U.S. skill-based gaming law — covering why the "skill-based" label does not resolve the analysis, the prize/consideration/chance framework, state-specific tests, product and economic design factors, evidence, app store and payment processor review, geofencing, and when a 50-state legal opinion may be needed.
Read the guideWhat Is a 50-State Gaming Legal Opinion?
A 50-state gaming legal opinion is a structured legal analysis of how a specific product is treated under each state's gambling, contest, sweepstakes, and related laws — used to guide launch strategy, geofencing, app store and payment processor review, investor diligence, and commercial risk management.
How AI Startups Should Structure Their Legal Team at Seed and Series A
A practical guide for AI and technology founders on building a legal function that scales from formation through Series A — covering IP, data, model terms, commercial contracts, fundraising, and when outside counsel is enough.
Fractional General Counsel: Practical Legal Support for Growing Companies
What fractional general counsel actually is, what it is not, and when it makes sense — a practical guide for startups, AI companies, creators, sports and entertainment ventures, and growing brands.
How to Choose an NIL Attorney: Questions College Athletes Should Ask
How college athletes, families, collectives, and brands should evaluate NIL counsel — what to review, what to ask, and the red flags that matter before signing.
What Does an Entertainment Attorney Do for Creators?
A brand just slid into your DMs with a five-figure sponsorship offer. The contract is 14 pages long. This is the moment most creators get it wrong.
Explore by legal need
Compliance, structure, and ongoing counsel
AI Tools and Copyright: Legal Issues Startups Should Review
A practical guide to copyright, IP ownership, model-provider terms, customer data, and commercial-contract risk when startups use AI tools in product, code, content, and customer work.
Founder Agreements: Why You Need One Before Launch
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 ...
How to Run a Gaming Tournament Legally
Planning an esports tournament? Review Riot's 2026 changes, entry fees, prizes, sponsors, minors and streaming rights before registration opens.
Deals, rights, and brand protection
NIL Basics: A Guide for College Athletes
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...
Sponsorship Vs Partnership: Which Deal Type Actually Protects Your Brand?
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.
Personal Brand Legal Protection for Creators, Athletes, and Founders
**Quick answer:** A personal brand can become a valuable business asset, but protecting it requires more than posting consistently or owning a domain name.
Recently published
New York's AI Advertising Law: What Brands and Agencies Must Disclose
An agency can now create a spokesperson who looks human without hiring a human performer.
TAKE IT DOWN Act: A Compliance Checklist for Platforms
The TAKE IT DOWN Act is now an operational compliance issue for covered platforms.
What Changed for NIL Deals and Collectives in 2026?
A practical look at the 2026 NIL landscape: the House settlement, the Protect College Sports Act, associated-entity rules, high-school activity, and what athletes, collectives, and brands should watch.
Why I Started Jacobs Counsel
Every business starts with a "why." For me, the answer is rooted in experience—both on the court and in the courtroom.
Legal Tech in Modern Law Firms
The legal profession, long defined by tradition and precedent, is undergoing a profound transformation.
How to Choose the Right Attorney
Making the decision to hire an attorney is a critical step in the journey of any entrepreneur, creator, or professional.
Short-Term Sacrifice for Startup Success
Every startup journey begins with immense passion and a grand vision. Founders dream of rapid growth, market disruption, and building a world-changing company.
Meet Drew Jacobs: Founder of Jacobs Counsel
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…