Creating change as a game industry lawyer: Part 2: how lawyers can foster DEI in the video game industry1

The video game industry has an uphill climb to greater diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and lawyers have a powerful role to play. Part 1 described the current state of DEI in the game industry and argued that lawyers, conceptualized as leaders capable of thinking creatively and working in interdisciplinary teams, have a vital role to play. This article describes concrete strategies that game industry lawyers can use in furthering DEI. As business partners, outside counsel can guide founders from underrepresented backgrounds through the difficult fundraising process and help them grow their networks. In-house lawyers are better positioned to influence the culture of DEI at their companies by implementing DEI-friendly hiring practices, looking for DEI commitments within business partners, modeling inclusive personal behavior, and creating an open-communication culture. Both in-house and outside counsel can bring DEI issues to company leadership’s attention and can become involved in mentorship and outreach to expand the game industry’s pipeline.