Justin M. Jacobson, Esq. is an esports, entertainment, and video game attorney at Justin Jacobson Law, P.C. A lifelong gamer turned legal advocate, he has spent nearly a decade representing the full spectrum of esports talent and businesses — from pro players and streamers to teams, publishers, and event organizers.
Tell us about your background and how you came to specialize in esports law.
I’ve been involved in esports for nearly a decade, and it started with something simple: I’m a lifelong gamer who saw that the people and businesses in this industry needed better legal representation. I now handle intellectual property, business, contract, licensing, immigration, and other legal matters for esports talent and businesses across the board — professional gamers, streamers, content creators, coaches, casters, teams, event organizers, and game publishers and developers. It’s a wide net, and that breadth is intentional.
What’s your core mission for clients in the esports space?
To provide cost-efficient and highly effective legal services for talent and businesses operating in esports and professional gaming. This industry moves fast, deals get done quickly, and the people in it deserve legal counsel that understands that pace — and understands the industry itself. Being a gamer isn’t incidental to what I do. It’s part of why I’m effective at it.
You’re also a professor and author. How does that work alongside your legal practice?
It creates a natural opportunity to engage with the next generation of esports professionals — students, aspiring competitors, future industry leaders. The classroom and the law practice reinforce each other. What I see happening in the industry informs what I teach, and what students ask me challenges how I think about the work. It keeps everything current.
What’s the philosophy that drives your work in this space?
Two things, really. First, gaming is for everyone — which means the legal protections and professional representation that come with building a career in this industry should be accessible to everyone too. And second, doing the right thing, the right way. That’s not complicated, but it’s the standard I hold myself to for every client and every matter.
What drew you to ESTA, and what are you hoping to get out of membership?
Being part of ESTA is an extension of that same philosophy — connecting with the right people, in the right environment, for the right reasons. The goal is straightforward: to keep growing, find new opportunities, and explore business ventures that benefit the clients and communities I serve. The esports industry is still building itself, and being at the table with others who are shaping it matters.
