Tammy Brandt’s job is not what most people picture when they think of a lawyer. She wears a T-shirt and running shoes to work. There’s a basketball court and a skateboard ramp outside her office. And she spends a good chunk of her time talking to teen gamers. It’s all in a day’s work for the Chief Legal Officer of FaZe Clan, a lifestyle and culture brand with its roots in esports. In this Innovator’s Series event, Lawtrades’ Matt Margolis talked to Tammy about her career and what it’s like to be a lawyer in this niche. In case you missed it, here are our top 5 takeaways.
💥 Esports is blowing up (but it’s got some issues).
Esports is organized, competitive video gaming and it’s a huge industry. Much like traditional sports, esports has hundreds of millions of viewers, high-value endorsements, and professional players who earn multimillions every month. And it’s set to grow.
Kids are getting into gaming at a younger and younger age and they’re sticking with it. Gen Z is more into gaming than millennials and Gen Alpha will likely follow suit. Plus, because it is internet-based, the potential audience includes, well, most of the planet. At least it should …
Esports is currently not as inclusive as it should be. Women are regularly harassed on gaming and streaming platforms. These spaces need to be safe for everyone or the growth of the industry will be limited. Game creators have a role to play too (we’re pretty sure armor that looks like a bikini is not much use in battle).
😎 You can have a cool job too.
8:19 — 16:16 and 23:41 — 25:21
You don’t need to be an expert in esports to work in esports. Some of the biggest legal issues facing FaZFe Clan are things like privacy, data management, and IP which apply to every industry, so it doesn’t really matter what your background is. If you have a passion for the industry, that can only help you but what really matters is that you’re good at what you do.
The same applies to any cool, new industry. Cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and the metaverse are all coming for the mainstream in a messy hurricane of regulatory challenges. And where there’s a mess, there’s a need for lawyers.
🕙 It’s time to talk.
About the gender pay gap in legal. Yep, it’s still here, and nope we’re not ready to stop talking about it. But what can we actually do about it?
Join us next Thursday, Jul 28th, at 3 pm ET to hear from legal pros Karla Strotz Pinckes from Viavi Solutions and Maureen Frangopoulos from Uber as they discuss how we can challenge the status quo pay gap in legal, with practical tips and takeaways
👉 RSVP here.
🤝 How to network like you’re 5G.
Networking groups are a great way to make connections. The best group for you will likely depend on where you are in your career, and who you’re looking to connect with. Tammy’s favorites are Tech GC, The Association of Corporate Counsel and Chief, a private network that connects women in leadership roles and supports them as they smash the glass ceiling. Our favorite, of course, is the Lawtrades community.
Attending events, writing articles, and maintaining your social media presence are also all good ways to build your personal brand and make sure you’re moving and shaking with the right people.
🎮 Get into multiplayer mode.
As a GC you need to understand the risk tolerance of the company you’re working for. FaZe Clan has a high-risk tolerance. Startups in spaces like the metaverse, NFTs, and other emerging industries will also most probably have a big appetite for risk. A GC needs to be viewed as a business partner, as does any outside counsel. Don’t be a ‘no’ person, be a ‘let me think how we can do this most safely’ person. Otherwise, the business folks might just go ahead and do all sorts of stuff without telling you — and leave you to pick up the pieces.
🤳Get down with the kids.
Unless you’re under 24 yourself, you might find the up-and-coming generation a little baffling. It’s not always useful to generalize but it’s safe to say that boomers and zoomers do things a little differently. If you’re dealing with Gen Z at work for the first time, be open-minded. Just because someone does things differently from you doesn’t mean their way is worse. In fact, you might be able to learn a thing or two from your younger colleagues’ approach.
Enjoy these recaps? Share them with your network!
See you at the next one,
👋 The team at Lawtrades
