The full-stack expertise behind Jacobs Counsel.
Drew Jacobs, Esq. is the founder of Jacobs Counsel and the Director of Sports, Entertainment & Gaming Initiatives at Seton Hall University School of Law. He represents athletes, creators, gaming operators, and AI-age founders across New York, New Jersey, and Ohio.
- Super Lawyers Rising Star — NY Metro & NJ (Entertainment & Sports Law)
- Director, Sports/Entertainment/Gaming — Seton Hall Law
- Licensed in New York, New Jersey & Ohio
Topic expertise
The five practice clusters where Drew operates as full-stack counsel for the AI age.
NIL & College Athlete Counsel
House settlement implementation, NIL Go fair-market-value review, collective deal structuring, transfer portal advisory, and post-eligibility business platforms (LLCs, IP, brand deals).
Gaming Law & Compliance
Skill-vs-chance legal analysis across 50 states, app-store and payment-processor compliance, sweepstakes promotional models, fantasy and iGaming licensing, and platform agreements for operators.
AI Startup & SaaS Counsel
Fractional general counsel for Seed–Series B AI/SaaS startups, MSA/DPA/Order Form contract stacks, AI training-data and IP ownership clauses, fundraising docs, and 83(b) timing.
Creator & Entertainment Law
Brand deal contracts, FTC endorsement compliance, content licensing, creator IP and trademark portfolios, agency and management agreements, and platform/talent disputes.
Hospitality & Licensing
Liquor licensing across NY, NJ, and OH; multi-unit expansion; vendor and lease agreements; entity structuring for restaurant and hospitality groups.
Speaking & teaching
Academic roles, CLE programs, and industry panels.
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Seton Hall University School of Law
Director, Sports, Entertainment & Gaming Initiatives
Built and directs Seton Hall Law's sports, entertainment, and gaming program — curriculum, externships, industry advisory, and student career pathways.
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Seton Hall University School of Law
Creator & Director, Annual Gaming Law Bootcamp
Founded and directs one of the largest gaming-law CLE programs in the country, convening operators, regulators, in-house counsel, and academics on skill, iGaming, fantasy, sweepstakes, and emerging tech.
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Various bar associations and industry conferences
CLE Speaker & Panelist
Recurring speaker on NIL post-House settlement, AI legal practice, skill-gaming compliance, and fractional general counsel as a service model.
Publications & resources
Long-form writing, newsletters, and reference libraries authored or directed by Drew.
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Court Vision Weekly
Weekly newsletter for athletes, creators, founders, and gaming operators.
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Jacobs Counsel Blog
Long-form analysis on NIL, gaming, AI law, and business legal strategy.
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Cornerstone Guides
Library of pillar references — NIL revenue share, 50-state gaming, fractional GC, SaaS contracts, and more.
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Answers Library
Direct answers to the questions athletes, creators, founders, and gaming operators actually ask.
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Deal Anatomy
Clause-by-clause walkthroughs of the deals the firm negotiates every week.
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Legal Glossary
Plain-English definitions across NIL, creator, gaming, AI startup, and outside-counsel terms.
Representative engagements
The kinds of matters Drew handles — described in general terms to protect client confidentiality. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
- ▸Counsel to NCAA Division I athletes on NIL collective and direct brand deals post-House settlement, including NIL Go submissions.
- ▸Outside general counsel to AI/SaaS startups from formation through Series A — MSAs, DPAs, BAAs, AI addenda, and fundraising rounds.
- ▸Compliance counsel to skill-gaming operators on 50-state legal opinions, app store readiness, and payment-processor onboarding.
- ▸Brand deal and content licensing counsel to creators across YouTube, TikTok, and Twitch, including FTC compliance review.
- ▸Hospitality counsel to restaurant and bar groups on liquor licensing, multi-unit expansion, and vendor agreements across NY, NJ, and OH.
- ▸Executive compensation and equity counsel to founders and senior operators on RSUs, ISOs, 83(b) elections, and separation agreements.
Media & video
Video explainers, panels, and recorded sessions.
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