New York Counsel for Operators, Founders & Athletes
A Midtown office at the center of the country's densest concentration of betting money, venture capital, and media deals. We handle the gaming, tech, and sports-business work that comes with it.
By Drew Jacobs, Esq. — Founder, Jacobs Counsel LLC
Last reviewed:
Where to Find Us in Manhattan
Address
135 Madison Ave., Floor 4
New York, NY 10016
What New York Clients Bring Us
- →NIL Contracts: Endorsement deals for NYC athletes and college players
- →Entertainment Law: Contracts for creators, influencers, and media talent
- →Trademark Protection: Federal trademark filing for NY-based brands
- →Business Formation: LLC and corporate structures for NY startups
- →Gaming Compliance: NY gaming law and regulatory strategy
- →Outside Counsel: Hourly, retainer, or hybrid counsel for NY companies
Counsel Serving All of New York Metro
Clients across the five boroughs and the surrounding metro—most meetings happen over video, some happen on Madison Avenue:
How We Serve New York Clients by Practice Area
Gaming Law & Compliance
Advising operators and platforms on New York's evolving gaming and sports betting regulatory landscape. We provide licensing support, compliance programs, and regulatory strategy for companies entering or expanding in the NY market.
Startup Counsel
Outside general counsel for NYC-based startups from formation through fundraising. We handle entity structuring, SAFE notes, founder agreements, and ongoing legal support. Recurring work may be hourly, on a monthly retainer, or hybrid; defined projects may use a fixed fee when scope and assumptions are clear.
NIL & Sports Law
Representing athletes navigating NIL deals in one of the country's largest collegiate and professional sports markets. From Columbia and St. John's to NYU and Fordham, we negotiate endorsement contracts and protect athletes' personal brands.
Entertainment & Creator Rights
New York is the media capital of the world. We represent creators, influencers, and talent across music, film, digital media, and publishing with contract negotiation, licensing, and IP protection.
Brand & Trademark Protection
Federal trademark registration, brand monitoring, and IP enforcement for New York businesses and personal brands. We protect your brand from formation through scale across all markets.
Estate Planning (via Legacy Counsel)
Wealth protection and generational planning for high-net-worth New Yorkers, athletes with short career windows, and professionals building long-term legacies—handled by our sister practice, Legacy Counsel by Jacobs Counsel, with wills, trusts, and powers of attorney tailored to New York's estate and tax landscape.
Business Transactions
Contract drafting, negotiation, and deal structuring for NYC businesses. From vendor agreements to joint ventures, we handle the transactional legal work that keeps your business moving.
Hospitality & Licensing
Liquor licensing, regulatory compliance, and operational legal support for New York's hospitality industry. We guide restaurants, bars, and venues through NYC's complex licensing process.
AI-Native Advantage
Jacobs Counsel is an AI-native firm. We use modern, attorney-supervised workflows to work efficiently while matching the fee structure to the engagement. Recurring work may be hourly, retainer-based, or hybrid; defined projects may use a fixed fee.
Learn how we workYour New York Legal Partner for Startups, Athletes, Creators, and Gaming
New York City is the epicenter of media, entertainment, professional sports, and venture capital. For founders raising their first round, athletes negotiating NIL endorsements, creators building licensing businesses, and gaming operators entering one of the most active markets in the country, the legal landscape here moves fast and demands counsel that keeps pace. Jacobs Counsel operates from Midtown Manhattan, positioned at the intersection of these industries to deliver responsive legal services with scope and fee structure agreed in writing.
Gaming Counsel in NYC
New York's gaming and sports betting market continues to expand rapidly. Gaming operators, daily fantasy platforms, and skill-based gaming companies launching or operating in New York need counsel that understands both state regulatory requirements and the broader national compliance picture. As a gaming lawyer serving NYC, Jacobs Counsel provides regulatory analysis, licensing support, and operational compliance guidance to help gaming businesses navigate New York's evolving legal framework with confidence.
Startup Counsel in Manhattan
Manhattan is home to one of the largest startup ecosystems in the world. From SaaS companies in Flatiron to fintech ventures in the Financial District, New York founders need attorneys who understand cap tables, SAFE notes, and the nuances of Delaware incorporation for a New York-based company. As a startup attorney serving Manhattan, Jacobs Counsel handles entity formation, founder agreements, seed and Series A documentation, employment contracts, and ongoing outside counsel relationships. Recurring work may be hourly, on a monthly retainer, or hybrid; defined projects may use a fixed fee when scope and assumptions are clear.
NIL and Entertainment Counsel in New York
New York's college athletic programs, from Columbia and St. John's to Fordham and NYU, produce student-athletes who attract significant NIL endorsement opportunities. As an NIL attorney in New York, Jacobs Counsel negotiates endorsement contracts, reviews brand partnership agreements, and structures NIL collectives to ensure athletes capture fair value while staying compliant with NCAA and state-level regulations. For entertainers and content creators, our entertainment law practice covers talent agreements, licensing deals, music and media contracts, and intellectual property protection for creators building audiences across platforms based in New York.
Estate Planning in Midtown Manhattan (via Legacy Counsel)
For high-net-worth professionals, athletes with short career windows, and families building generational wealth, estate planning is handled through our sister practice, Legacy Counsel by Jacobs Counsel—same founder, same fixed-fee model, dedicated legacy focus. They handle wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives tailored to New York's specific estate and tax considerations, and coordinate directly with the business, brand, and contracts work on the Jacobs Counsel side.
Book a 15-Minute Case Assessment
Whether you're closing a deal, protecting your brand, or planning your legacy, let's talk about how we can help.
Book a 15-Minute Case Assessment →