Alumnus Bryce Blum on Launching the World's First and Only Esports Law Firm: 'This Is an Industry Built on Passion'


July 30, 2018

Bryce Blum

GW Law recently caught up with Bryce Blum, JD '13, about his career in the ever-evolving world of esports. He was named to the 2018 classes of the Forbes's "30 under 30" and Sports Business Journal/Daily "40 under 40." Mr. Blum spoke about his career, how he ventured into the world of esports, and his advice to students who have an interest in pursuing opportunities in this growing area.

At GW Law, Mr. Blum shared he was interested in classes focused on environmental and constitutional law. He had originally planned on pursuing government or non-profit work closely aligned with his interests. After graduating, he began building the practice he has today: ESG Law. "This certainly wasn't the path that I intended to go down, but I've tried to stay open minded throughout my life to make sure I don't miss an opportunity," Mr. Blum said. "My career is a little odd and extremely niche; there was no way for me to envision that it was even possible while I was in law school, but I genuinely love what I do and can't imagine doing anything else at this point."

Mr. Blum shared that he has been a "die-hard" sports fan and gamer his entire life. He became an avid esports fan while at GW Law and spent time thinking about the legal issues surrounding the emerging business side of the industry. Esports is a form of competition using video games; researchers recently found that the industry is set to cross the billion-dollar threshold in 2019, with revenues projected to hit $1.1 billion.

In 2017, Mr. Blum launched ESG Law, the first esports-only law firm. During his first week, he translated the "countless hours of random thoughts and discussions with friends into a white paper forecasting the legal future of esports vis a vis the legal history of traditional sports," he said. That paper was published, and according to Mr. Blum, it became viral within the community. Eventually, members of the esports community reached out to him about their legal work. "I turned that one white paper into a series, became active on social media, started attending events, and before I knew it, my work was focused in esports." His clients currently compete on the world stage in every major esports title, cast and host premiere esports events, stream to millions, and operate businesses that push the envelope of the esports industry in betting, content creation, and more.  The firm is comprised of general corporate attorneys that have a "peculiar" focus in this industry—Mr. Blum says this allows them to give legal advice against a backdrop of deep understanding in their clients' businesses.

Mr. Blum currently lives in Los Angeles, "the hub of esports in the United States." He said that living there helps establish more connectivity to major stakeholders throughout the space. When speaking about the current state of the esports industry and its future, he said that it's exploding. "Within 10 years, we'll have esports leagues that rival the NBA in size and scope, and I hope I can be part of the front office of one of those leagues, combining my legal skills with my understanding of the innerworkings of the industry to shape league strategy and development."

For law students who have an interest or are developing an interest in esports and wish to pursue a similar career path, Mr. Blum encourages them to go to events and network, write articles, and become active on social media. "This is an industry built on passion, which means you're competing against a broad pool of candidates that want this job more than anything," he said. "You have to find a way to separate yourself from the rest of the field."