Kristen A. Corpion, Esq., Founder of CORPlaw
In Career Spotlight, we profile women who work in the gaming industry. It is our goal to show the vastness and variety of jobs within the world of gaming and to share professional advice and perspective with our readers.
This week we profile Kristen A. Corpion, Esq., Founder of CORPlaw. She discusses her firm, how legal help can benefit those involved in the gaming industry, and what the future of gaming looks like.
Kristen Corpion, Esq., photo courtesy of the subject
Can you tell us a little bit about your law practice, CORPlaw, and the kind of work you do?
Our legal team at CORPlaw represents really cool companies (think crypto millionaires, esports start-ups, game developers, influencers, etc.) as their full-service, litigation, and transactional Outside General Counsel (GC). We offer a wide range of services to holistically advise clients as their fractional GCs (think employment, IP, contracts, raising capital, management of business disputes, and all areas where business and law collide).
Our tech-forward firm has a physical office space in the heart of Miami that operates a hybrid in-person and remote team environment. Some of our staff are fully remote, while others take advantage of or otherwise simply prefer working from an in-person space. We accommodate both options much to the appreciation of our modern team and clients. We embraced a modern tech-forward law firm model well before a pandemic required it.
What was your background prior to the kind of legal work you do now?
My dream job before starting law school was to be an in-house counsel at a video game company. After graduating from the University of California, Berkley School of Law, I began my career at the elite international law firm Greenberg Traurig representing Fortune500 companies. A few years into BigLaw, I realized my vision for the legal profession defied the status quo of a traditionalist industry. So, I left to launch my innovative law firm, CORPlaw, to pursue my passion for helping small business owners, modern entrepreneurs, entertainers, and creatives navigate the law as they worked to build their reality.
How did you get started in the gaming industry?
I’ve always self-identified as a casual gamer with an interest in eSports that I’ve nurtured over the years. As a strong believer that passion and business should always collide, I’ve enjoyed the freedom to pursue this nexus upon kickstarting CORPlaw. I have made inspiring connections in the field, lectured industry enthusiasts, attorneys, and entrepreneurs on the subject, and tailored my legal practice to help unique esports start-ups, influencers, and developers.
How does your law practice work within the world of gaming? When might gamers or streamers consider retaining legal counsel?
Gamers, streamers, and influencers are more than just entertainers. They are athletes, modern entrepreneurs, and living businesses, all of which have legal needs as much as any other enterprise. They have brands to nurture, nicknames and logos to protect, intellectual property to safeguard, and contracts, sponsorships agreements, and deals that may prey on those without legal support. At CORPlaw, we provide creators—our clients—with trusted support as they navigate the rough waters of entrepreneurship and building their unique empire. We ensure that they have legal help when they need it so they don’t have to face decisions alone that could make or break their dreams.
Often, we ask our Career Spotlight guests about what they think needs to change in the gaming industry to make the world a better place for women gamers. I would love to hear your thoughts on this, but I’m also curious what changes you’d like to see within the legal Industry.
In terms of viewership, ratings, and exposure, I think the gaming industry has been traditionally dominated by a male presence. However, I see female gamers and creators striving to defy that. The likes of Pokimane, Valkyrae, Sasha Hostyn, Katherin Gunn, and so many others are a great source of representation for the young females who watch them. Young women can then be inspired to jump in and make each new generation of women gamers better than the previous one.
Regarding the legal industry, while gaming has been around for a long time, the entrepreneurial aspect and marketability of gamers as athletes has only begun being refined in the last ten years or so. That may seem like a lot, but in legal years, with pending court cases, nuances regarding employment laws and minors, intellectual property disputes between platforms and creators, and the overall transition into a digital era, this is a very niche practice that many traditionalists still refuse to embrace. Moreover, I’d love to see more female lawyers who game in the spotlight, and I’d love for the importance of diversity and inclusion to extend to those professional service providers on the fringes of the industry (not just those amazing creators and gamers in the spotlight).
Based on what you’ve encountered in your work, what do you think the future of gaming and eSports will look like in the years to come?
Promising! It is no longer a matter of if, but when we will reach peak establishment. Before 2020, the industry was experiencing exponential growth, but recent world events have accelerated that even more. I anticipate the inflection point to come a few years after the next generational change (2025 and beyond) when Alpha Gens secure a more established position to influence the entertainment market. I expect that by the start of the next decade, the industry’s market share will substantially rival that of traditional sports. I am also delighted to see focus and thought going into ensuring the space remains inclusive and diverse.
As consumers and fans of games and eSports, is there anything you believe we as an audience can do to best support women in the industry?
In the end, it all comes down to finances, viewership, and ratings. Modern entrepreneurs, and especially women in the gaming industry, struggle to market themselves in a world of perpetual noise. The best course to follow for fans is to provide support and commitment in that area so long as the gamer reciprocates. Platforms like Patreon and Twitch allow the audience to contribute to the betterment of their cause. If that is not possible, my advice is to go out there and use your media to amplify the reach of your favorite gamers, break social tabus, openly speak, and cheer on women gamers for their efforts and successes in the industry.
In terms of supporting women specifically, a question I always ask is who have you hired or otherwise lifted through financial support? Don’t just say that you support women. True support means paying more than just lip service to lift others.
Kristen Corpion, Esq. photo courtesy of the subject
Want to connect with a member of the legal team at CORPlaw?
Email info@corplaw.us, check out their website www.corplaw.us, or call them directly at 1 (833) 545-7526.
Follow CORPlaw online for updates and useful content at their LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/corplaw-us
or Instagram: @corplawfirm
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