On Thursday, April 30, at 1:00 p.m., the CLE program Esports Law: Emerging Regulatory Considerations and the Evolving Role of Counsel will examine the key legal issues shaping today’s esports industry. The session will explore the intersection of IP rights, publisher control, data privacy, gambling regulation, and league enforcement—and what these developments mean for attorneys advising esports clients.

WilmerHale Counsel Reade Jacob and Senior Associate Blake Sweat will be speaking on the evolving role of counsel in the esports industry, drawing on their combined experience advising gaming companies and other commercial clients on regulatory, enforcement, licensing, and compliance matters. Reade brings nearly a decade of experience guiding clients across the gaming industry—from daily fantasy sports and social casinos to sports wagering, sweepstakes, and emerging freemium models—while Blake regularly advises companies and individuals navigating high stakes government investigations, securities enforcement, and regulatory scrutiny, including before the SEC, CFTC, FTC, and state attorneys general. Together, their portion of the program will examine the legal and regulatory issues already confronting esports clients and prepare attorneys to advise effectively in a rapidly evolving and increasingly regulated environment.

Topics of discussion will include:

• Gambling and wagering issues, including loot boxes, skin betting, esports wagering, and state licensing requirements
• Data privacy and COPPA obligations for platforms with large underage user bases
• Match integrity, including enforcement of match fixing rules and due process protections for players