IP Counsel

The Riot Legal team has the responsibility to consistently deliver the highest quality legal services that fully align with our mission of putting players first. Figuring out what’s “best for the company” always begins with thinking about what’s “best for players.” Every policy or contract that we draft; every lawsuit that we file or defend against; every letter we send; and all the legal advice that we give to our business partners, must always be done with our players’ interests in mind.

We are looking for a Counsel who thrives in a dynamic, collaborative environment to support our growing intellectual property needs. Reporting to the Head of IP and Partnerships Legal, you will play a major role in advising our game teams, supporting our business by managing transactions and negotiating contracts, and also working on all areas of intellectual property law, including with respect to content clearance, enforcement efforts, and prosecution of copyrights, trademarks, and patents.

You’ll help facilitate Riot’s business while navigating the intersection of technology, game development, and the law, and do your part in protecting our creative assets. You’ll work closely with internal business owners, product teams, outside counsel, and the Riot Legal Team to provide practical, solution-oriented legal advice that helps us deliver great experiences for our players for decades to come. This is an exciting generalist role for an attorney with experience in transactions and a strong IP foundation - you will handle everything from product counseling and commercial deal-making to trademark prosecution and brand enforcement. You will have a meaningful role on the legal team and the opportunity to grow professionally in a collaborative environment.

Responsibilities:

• Commercial Transactions:
• Draft, review, and negotiate a variety of commercial agreements, such as licensing deals, development and publishing agreements, releases, and vendor service agreements.
• Partner with business teams to structure commercial deals, advising on key commercial terms as well as ownership, licensing, and usage rights.
• Advising Game Teams:
• Provide legal guidance to game, publishing, and other product or enterprise teams on all legal and regulatory matters, including game mechanics, monetization, in-game features, and marketing campaigns.
• IP Prosecution & Counseling:
• Support Riot’s global trademark, copyright, and patent portfolios and protection strategies.
• Counsel product teams on IP issues, clearance matters, and legal risks associated with game content and features.
• Prepare and deliver IP trainings to product teams.
• IP Enforcement:
• Support IP enforcement efforts, including managing takedown requests, monitoring for infringement, and assisting with dispute resolution or litigation as needed.
• Stay current on evolving IP laws, platform policies, and enforcement trends to guide Riot’s enforcement strategies.

Required Qualifications:

• 3+ years of experience working in corporate transactions, and/or IP litigation, counseling, enforcement, and/or prosecution matters at a reputable law firm and/or in-house company.
• J.D. from a top tier law school and membership in at least one state bar (preferably CA)
• Understanding of sophisticated transactions
• Understanding of the lifecycle of IP assets, from creation and registration to enforcement.
• Ability to work effectively with outside counsel and creative business partners.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to translate complex legal concepts into actionable business advice.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience representing video game companies, software developers, or entertainment studios.
• Significant transactional and/or IP prosecution or enforcement experience.
• Familiarity with the game development lifecycle and legal challenges associated with live service games.

For this role, you'll find success through craft expertise, a collaborative spirit, and decision-making that prioritizes your fellow Rioters, who are the customers of your work. Being a dedicated fan of games is not necessary for this position!

Our Perks:

Riot has a focus on work/life balance, shown by our open paid time off policy, in addition to other perks such as flexible work schedules. We offer medical, dental, and life insurance, parental leave for you, your spouse/domestic partner and children, and a 401k with company match. Check out our benefits pages for more information.

At Riot Games, we put players first. That mission drives every decision in our quest to create games and experiences that make it better to be a player. Whether you’re working directly on a new player-facing experience or you’re supporting the company as a whole, everyone at Riot is part of our mission. And just like in our games, we’re better when we work together. Our goal is to create collaborative teams where you are empowered to bring your unique perspective everyday. If that sounds like the kind of place you want to work, we’re looking forward to your application.

It’s our policy to provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and members of Riot Games, Inc. Riot Games makes reasonable accommodations for handicapped and disabled Rioters and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, handicap, veteran status, marital status, criminal history, or any other category protected by applicable federal and state law. We consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state and local law, including the California Fair Chance Act, the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the Washington Fair Chance Act.

Per the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the following core duties may create a basis for disqualifying candidates with relevant criminal histories:

• Safeguarding confidential and sensitive Company data
• Communication with others, including Rioters and third parties such as vendors, and/or players, including minors
• Accessing Company assets, secure digital systems, and networks
• Ensuring a safe interactive environment for players and other Rioters

These duties are directly related to essential operations, safety, trust, and compliance obligations within our organization. Please note that job duties may evolve based on business needs and additional responsibilities may be assigned as necessary to maintain operational efficiency and security.

(Los Angeles Only) Base salary range between $185,200.00 - $258,000.00 USD + incentive compensation + equity + 401K with company match + medical, dental, vision, and life insurance + short and long-term disability + open PTO.