The Esports Insider Careers Series is back, with another interview around law. Last week we spoke to Isabel Davies of Purewal & Partners, a boutique law firm about her journey into the world of gaming and esports.
Although our second interviewee is similar to an extent, Max Nicolaides works for Mishcon de Reya, a practice that employs over 700 people with offices in London and New York.
We spoke to Max about how he got to where he is now, what he works on day-to-day and also for his advice for any people looking to follow a similar path.
ESI: Where did your passion for esports and gaming stem from?
Max: I’ve loved video games for as long as I can remember. Before I had my own video games, I would visit a friend’s house to play on their older sibling’s SNES and NES (Duck Hunter was a particular favourite). My first video game was Pokemon Red on the Gameboy Colour. Not long after getting it, a friend acquired a Sony Playstation. As soon as I saw him play Crash Bandicoot, I knew I had to have one.
I then played everything and anything I could get my hands on. It was only when I bought my PS3 (which I worked all summer to save up for) and started playing Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare and Killzone 2 that I actually started to take gaming seriously.
“Part of me still likes to dream about turning pro, but in all honesty, I’m more excited about how I can contribute to esports as an aspiring lawyer.”
Killzone 2 was the game that inspired me to get a mic, join a clan and actually dedicate myself to learning the game. It had a fantastic in-built system that I still wish other games would adopt today. It was easy to organise matches between clans, and there was a cool system for ranking clans against each other on a global leader board.
There was also an individual leaderboard and ranking system that measured and ranked you against everyone else each week. Every week I had to be in the top 0.1% of players. From that moment on, whatever FPS I was playing, I always wanted to be the best.
When I went to university I set up an amateur group of likeminded (and skillful) battlefield players, and we would compete in a variety of online community ladders and scrims. Around this time I started watching esports such as CS:GO rather than just YouTubers and Streamers.
Now I follow most of the major esports titles, primarily first person shooters but also the Rocket League Championship Series and the highlights for the DOTA 2 and League of Legends.
On top of that I love going to LAN events. We even held one at my skydiving club in Lincolnshire. There’s nothing quite like a 2v2 Halo Evolved knockout tournament, or an evening of Unreal Tournament after a great weekend of jumping.
Competing is still a passion but I don’t have the time to take it as seriously as I’d like to these days. Part of me still likes to dream about turning pro, but in all honesty, I’m more excited about how I can contribute to esports as an aspiring lawyer.
ESI: What’s your academic background and how did it lead you down this path?
Max: During my rebellious teenage years I managed to salvage half decent GCSEs and A-Levels, despite all the Runescape, Final Fantasy VII – X, Call of Duty Modern Warfare and Killzone 2 I was playing at the time.
I had no initial aspirations to go to university and immediately after finishing college, I began to work full time at my family’s restaurant in Somerset. I attribute a lot of my success today to the time I spent working there. The work ethic I adopted and the business acumen I developed were invaluable to my later studies at university, and my transition into a legal career.
I went on to study law at Bournemouth University and spent a year working at a law firm in Somerset. Working there allowed me to demonstrate that I had both the academic ability and the entrepreneurial spirit to be a successful lawyer.
“To my mind, not a lot of people understand video games, business and the law. Being able to speak those three different languages are essential to what I do today.”
When I went back to university for my final year, I decided to write my dissertation on Digital Rights Management in video games as an effective means of protecting copyright (heavy stuff, I know). I picked this topic because I genuinely found it interesting, (copyright law and video games being two of my favourite things).
Little did I know that this dissertation would help me on my career path today.
In it, I discussed the leading case on the subject, Nintendo v PC Box. When I joined the Intellectual Property team at Mishcon de Reya, I was introduced to the partner who represented Nintendo in that case. That partner, and other members of Mishcon de Reya’s wider esports group asked to read my dissertation, which was flattering and quite terrifying, because I had made some “brave” arguments thinking that no one would ever read it.
The dissertation helped establish that I was more than an aspiring lawyer who just happened to like video games. It was an opportunity to demonstrate that I had the academic capability to come to grips with a very complex and niche area of law, apply it to the equally complex and evolving video games industry, and appreciate the wider implications of such a decision from a legal, commercial and consumer point of view.
To my mind, not a lot of people understand video games, business and the law. Being able to speak those three different languages are essential to what I do today.
ESI: You’re working for a huge firm who probably knew little to nothing about esports. What challenges have you found around the role? Are established legal companies willing to learn and embrace esports?
Max: Definitely. Law firms and other professional services providers are all looking to learn about esports and what esports will mean for them. The fact that Mishcon de Reya decided to form a dedicated esports group shows its willingness to learn and engage with the sector.
I’m really lucky that when Mishcon de Reya says it is a meritocracy, it really means it. I think it would be easy for a law firm to simply have dismissed me, especially as I am “just a paralegal”, but the esports group has given me a tremendous amount of support and put a lot of trust in me.
“You have to recognise that what you are providing is a sector-focused approach and you have to be engaged and willing to learn at all times.”
In return I have been able to further the firm’s understanding and knowledge of video games and esports, as well as my own.
An increasing amount of our “non-endemic” clients are also keen to learn more about esports. I am always supportive of efforts to further educate and help those who really want to engage with esports in a meaningful way. Since joining the esports group, one of the services we now offer is a series of educational talks and workshops that I run (both internally and externally).
Internally, it has helped educate more people in the firm, ranging from partners to the business development team, about esports and where Mishcon de Reya fits into the sector.
Externally, it is an attractive offering for our clients and intermediaries to learn more about esports from an organisation they already know and trust. Sometimes this is just a general overview on what esports are – my “esports 101” talk. On other occasions, clients might ask for bespoke advice on specific esports opportunities.
One of the challenges is that there is no such thing as “esports law” or “video game law”. Equally, there are no textbooks on “how to be a successful video game and esports lawyer”. You have to recognise that what you are providing is a sector-focused approach and you have to be engaged and willing to learn at all times.
ESI: How did you get into the role and what would you say to someone aspiring to join the legal profession with an esports focus?
Max: I’d begin by reminding people it’s not about where you start your legal career. My first legal job was as an office clerk in a firm in Somerset. My role would involve anything from photocopying (lots of it) and making tea, all the way to conducting client meetings and going to court. For me this was my first foray into what life would be like as a lawyer, and I learned lots of valuable skills, such as how to conduct yourself professionally, and to prove that you can be a hardworking and valued member of any team.
“I was surprised by how much the group wanted to learn about esports and they all asked if I could provide copies of my dissertation.”
The first job I got at Mishcon de Reya was for a two-month contract to do some filing (actually, lots of filing) for the Family department. Again, I grabbed this opportunity with both hands (even though filing and family law were not my ultimate ambitions). Eventually I was promoted to a paralegal position, and began to assist on some very high profile, complex and demanding matters.
It was during this time I learned that Mishcon de Reya was advising on certain esports specific matters. An email went around the firm asking those who were interested to join the esports working group. The firm has a variety of different sector groups, ranging from automotive to fashion. These groups bring together lawyers and individuals within the firm with different specialist skills to provide a sector focused service.
I quickly emailed back, explaining that I was very interested in being a part of the esports group. At the first meeting I was surprised by how much the group wanted to learn about esports and they all asked if I could provide copies of my dissertation.
From there I started attending all of the esports group meetings. This was an unprecedented opportunity. I was surrounded by extremely experienced lawyers, but was able to contribute my own expertise.
You have to have more than just an understanding of the law and an enjoyment of esports/ video games. You’ve got to have a solid appreciation for the esports ecosystem and the competing interests of the different parties. It’s also important to keep up to date with this rapidly evolving sector.
A lot of people are rather cynical about lawyers entering esports, but I’m excited to help steer esports into a positive direction. I believe that for esports to succeed and develop a sustainable ecosystem, there is a genuine need for lawyers that want the best for esports and video games.
ESI: What’s the day-to-day in the life of Mighty Max?
Max: The day–to-day life can vary quite a lot. I currently assist the intellectual property team and sports team at Mishcon de Reya.
This means I can be involved in anything from reviewing commercial contracts, assisting with anti-counterfeiting operations, brand protection, to preparing for or defending against urgent injunctions, assisting on trade mark disputes…The list goes on. I love the breadth and variety of work I’m involved in.
Like any other paralegal, trainee or lawyer, I have certain targets and hours to complete, in addition to the work that comes in from the esports group.
There is also a constant stream of training sessions and events to attend. The law and the sectors in which I advise are constantly growing, changing and evolving, and it is imperative to stay up to date.
When it comes to esports matters specifically, in addition to the legal work that needs to be done, I find myself making a lot of introductions for clients and intermediaries. Esports is still very much about who you know, and breaking into it can be difficult. I find the matters I work on really exciting, so I’m always keen to see them succeed, and happy to help in any way I can, even when that goes beyond just providing legal services.
While I believe providing that kind of assistance is part and parcel of being a trusted advisor in any sector, it is invaluable in esports.
I’m also immensely lucky that the firm has sent me to events such as Gamescom and the Future Games Summit. It sounds great (and it is), but there’s also a lot of hard work that goes into making this possible. A business case has to be made, and certain deliverables need to be achieved. After attending events I typically write a short summary of the event to go onto the website, provide an internal debrief for the esports group and then follow up on a list of action points.
“I thought to myself, if they have done it, why can’t I?”
At the end of the week I put together a brief summary of the latest developments and news in esports for the group. As you can imagine, this leaves very little free time for myself, so if by the end of the day I have any time to play some video games, I’m pretty happy.
ESI: What advice would you give to those aspiring to follow your path?
Max: There’s no beaten path on how to become an esports or video game lawyer, but part of the challenge and the attraction is being able to lay the foundations to your own practice.
When I was writing my dissertation, I googled “video game lawyers in the UK” for inspiration. That’s how I discovered lawyers who have made their career in advising on video game. I thought to myself, if they have done it, why can’t I?
If you’re really serious about following a legal path involving esports, on top of possessing the required academic grades, you need to ask yourself what is it that you can bring to the sector? Unfortunately it isn’t enough just to love video games. You should also attend as many esports events, conferences and talks as possible. Learn as much as you can from as many different people as you can.
It’s no secret that jobs in law are highly competitive, I’ve already been through several (unsuccessful) rounds of training contract applications. Added to this, while there are increasing numbers of jobs being advertised in esports, these are even more competitive, and there are very few talented individuals that actually have the necessary skills and requirements.
Finally, I don’t think you’re going to start seeing esports specific legal roles being advertised anytime soon, so you’re going to have to be persistent, determined and inventive if you want a legal career in esports.