eSports & Gaming

Akin’s multidisciplinary esports and gaming lawyers routinely handle corporate transactions, venture capital financings and investment management matters. We also advise on intellectual property (IP), cybersecurity, privacy and data protection, litigation and regulatory challenges in esports and gaming.

Spanning multiple sectors, our clients include esports and gaming companies, video game developers, financial institutions, private investment funds, institutional investors, technology companies and media groups. Our lawyers provide advice on the legal and business issues surrounding virtual reality, augmented reality and other technology innovations.

Representative Matters

Mergers, Acquisitions and Joint Ventures

Represented Kingston Technology Company, a multinational computer technology corporation, in the sale of its HyperX gaming peripherals business to HP Inc. for $425 million.
Represented a holding company on a convertible equity investment in an esports corporation.
Represented Atari Inc., a developer, publisher and distributor of video games and software, as a debtor in a financial restructuring.
Representing a global video game developer with respect to negotiations and various issues related to the derivative rights and potential production of film and television projects based on the underlying IP for the client’s video games.
Represented investors and the parent entities of the target group in the structuring, financing and operation of, and investments in a Britain-based international video game retail group, as well as the turnaround of the group, which culminated in an initial public offering (IPO) and full exit by the investors Akin represented.

Investment Management

Represented Artist Capital Management LLC on all of its esports and gaming investments. Such investments included acquiring a substantial majority interest in the Washington Justice franchise in The Overwatch League and leading the Series B financing round of 100 Thieves (and participating in the Series C round), among other direct and secondary investments.
Represented an institutional investor on its anchor investment in a fund sponsored by a leading venture capital firm focused on investing in the global gaming market.

Intellectual Property

Advised a portfolio company of a global alternative investment management firm, and its subsidiary, in negotiating a licensing agreement with a major video game and software developer. Akin’s client creates flight simulation training products and experiences using advanced artificial intelligence (AI), flight and sensor modeling to augment reality.
Represented a global technology company in a dispute against a computer peripherals manufacturer and an esports company over sponsorship rights and alleged unauthorized use of trademarks.

Representative Matters

Mergers, Acquisitions and Joint Ventures

Represented Kingston Technology Company, a multinational computer technology corporation, in the sale of its HyperX gaming peripherals business to HP Inc. for $425 million.
Represented a holding company on a convertible equity investment in an esports corporation.
Represented Atari Inc., a developer, publisher and distributor of video games and software, as a debtor in a financial restructuring.
Representing a global video game developer with respect to negotiations and various issues related to the derivative rights and potential production of film and television projects based on the underlying IP for the client’s video games.
Represented investors and the parent entities of the target group in the structuring, financing and operation of, and investments in a Britain-based international video game retail group, as well as the turnaround of the group, which culminated in an initial public offering (IPO) and full exit by the investors Akin represented.

Investment Management

Represented Artist Capital Management LLC on all of its esports and gaming investments. Such investments included acquiring a substantial majority interest in the Washington Justice franchise in The Overwatch League and leading the Series B financing round of 100 Thieves (and participating in the Series C round), among other direct and secondary investments.
Represented an institutional investor on its anchor investment in a fund sponsored by a leading venture capital firm focused on investing in the global gaming market.

Intellectual Property

Advised a portfolio company of a global alternative investment management firm, and its subsidiary, in negotiating a licensing agreement with a major video game and software developer. Akin’s client creates flight simulation training products and experiences using advanced artificial intelligence (AI), flight and sensor modeling to augment reality.
Represented a global technology company in a dispute against a computer peripherals manufacturer and an esports company over sponsorship rights and alleged unauthorized use of trademarks.