ESI Events is proud to announce the launch of “Play By The Rules,” a pioneering legal forum dedicated to the esports sector, taking place as part of ESI Lisbon from September 23rd to 25th, 2024.

In cooperation with international lawyers Leonid Shmatenko (Eversheds Sutherland) and Rodolphe Ruffié-Farrugia (Clifford Chance) as well as Esports Legal News, this inaugural event aims to set the standard for esports-focused legal conferences worldwide.

Event Overview

ESI Events and the co-organizers intend for “Play By The Rules” to provide an unparalleled platform for legal professionals (attorneys, inhouse-lawyers, academics, and students), industry stakeholders, and esports enthusiasts to delve into the complex legal landscape of the esports sector. With a focus on player contracts, intellectual property, governance and regulation, streaming rights, and more, the forum promises a rich agenda filled with topical, fresh, and insightful discussions.

Key Dates

• September 24, 2024: Play By The Rules Conference (Concurrent with ESI Lisbon Day 1 and taking place at the same venue)
• September 25, 2024: Exclusive access for PBTR speakers, sponsors, and VIP guests to ESI Lisbon Day 2 and the SBC Summit

Themes and Focus Areas

“Play By The Rules” will cover a broad spectrum of legal questions affecting the global esports industry, through stage talks, roundtable discussions and focussed group networking, with an emphasis on creating actionable takeaways for attendees. Key areas of discussion will include:

• Player contracts and rights
• Intellectual property challenges
• Governance and regulatory frameworks
• Streaming and broadcasting rights
• Dispute resolution mechanisms

Attendees will also have the opportunity to attend our evening social event, the ESI Film Festival at the MEO Arena with top quality food and beverage, gaining detailed insights into esports, gaming and intersecting industries as we shine a light on stories behind the screens.

ESI Lisbon 2024 Highlights

Running alongside the SBC Summit, which anticipates over 25,000 attendees, ESI Lisbon will feature:

• Esports Leaders Summit
• ESI Film Festival
• ESI Hall of Fame
• Checkpoint
• The Clutch

Already confirmed attendees at ESI Lisbon include;

• Formula One
• Savvy Games
• UNICEF
• Samsung Ads
• OverActive Media
• Deutsche Telekom
• Radisson Hotel Group
• Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One
• Twitch
• BLAST
• ESL FACEIT Group
• Chess.com
• Electronic Arts
• Ubisoft
• City Football Group
• Visit Raleigh
• Team Liquid
• Moonton
• Visit Qatar
• OG Esports
• Wasserman
• & many, many more

Sam Cooke, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Esports Insider said: “We are thrilled to launch ‘Play By The Rules’ in partnership with Leonid Shmatenko of Eversheds Sutherland and Rodolphe Ruffié-Farrugia of Clifford Chance as part of ESI Lisbon 2024. Our new esports legal forum represents a first and important step in addressing the complex legal challenges within the esports industry, providing a dedicated forum for discussion, innovation, and actionable solutions. By bringing together the brightest minds in esports law, we aim to set a new standard for legal excellence in this rapidly evolving sector.”

Leonid Shmatenko, Senior Associate at Eversheds Sutherland and Founder of Esports Legal News: “After an extensive search for a comparable event in the market, I found numerous conferences that addressed video games law but none that focused specifically on the unique legal challenges in esports. Esports is a rapidly growing field with its own set of legal considerations, and it is high time we had a dedicated platform to address these issues. I approached ESI with this concept and their enthusiasm and commitment to excellence made them the perfect partner. Together, we aim to set new standards in the esports law conference world, providing invaluable insights and fostering a deeper understanding of the legal landscape in esports.”

Rodolphe Ruffié-Farrugia, Counsel at Clifford Chance and co-founder of Esports Legal News: “For years now, esports has been a booming industry and we have witnessed the emergence of a wide variety of professional stakeholders, including the players themselves, their teams, the leagues, tournament organisers… Yet, the legal industry has not been as quick in adapting to the unique needs and high stakes at play in esports, no doubt because lawyers and gamers tend to evolve in different worlds. Knowing well these communities from within both personally and professionally, I have made it a mission years ago to build bridges between them. I feel very lucky to have found like-minded peers in Leonid and ESI to create this first-of-its-kind summit, a turning point in bringing esports and the law together.”

Do not miss the opportunity to be part of the unmissable B2B esports, games and creator economy event and industry festival at ESI Lisbon. Secure your spot now with early bird tickets (Secure 33% off until August 23rd!)