Practice areas: Intellectual Property, International, Mergers & Acquisitions; view more
Licensed in California since: 1993
Education: Georgetown University Law Center
Languages spoken: English, Japanese
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2020 - 2026 The founder & managing partner of Gamma Law, based in San Francisco, California, David B. Hoppe, provides legal counsel to clients across a broad range of business, technology and intellectual property matters. His practice encompasses intellectual property, international business transactions, media and technology licensing, venture capital financing, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, shareholder matters, and legal issues involving NFTs and blockchain technology. He also advises clients in the business/corporate, entertainment and sports sectors.
Mr. Hoppe works with entrepreneurs, emerging companies, investors and established businesses, offering guidance on matters that arise throughout the business life cycle. His practice includes assisting early-stage companies with formation, financing and strategic growth initiatives, as well as advising investors and companies in venture capital transactions. He also represents clients in mergers and acquisitions, helping them face difficult negotiations and transactional matters while addressing legal and business objectives.
With experience in technology-driven industries, Mr. Hoppe counsels clients on intellectual property protection, licensing arrangements and commercial agreements. He also advises businesses operating in evolving areas of innovation, including blockchain technology and digital assets. Through his work with companies in the media, entertainment and sports industries, he helps clients address legal issues related to content, technology and business operations.
A dedicated legal professional, Mr. Hoppe collaborates closely with clients to develop practical strategies tailored to their unique goals and circumstances. His international perspective and experience in cross-border matters enable him to assist clients engaged in global business activities. In addition, he is proficient in spoken and written Japanese, allowing him to effectively communicate with Japanese-speaking clients and business partners.
Mr. Hoppe completed his undergraduate studies at Loma Linda University before obtaining his Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center in 1993. He was admitted to practice law in California in 1993 and in New York in 2000. He is a member of several professional organizations, including the Blockchain Game Alliance, Esports Trade Association, Inter-Pacific Bar Association, Japan Society of Northern California, Video Game Bar Association and VR/AR Association.
Practice areas
Intellectual Property, International, Mergers & Acquisitions, Business/Corporate, Entertainment & SportsFocus areas
Business Formation and Planning, Business Organizations, Contracts, Copyrights, Entertainment, Sports & Leisure Law, Intellectual Property Law, Limited Liability Companies, Partnership, Sub-chapter S Corporations
- 40% Intellectual Property
- 20% International
- 20% Mergers & Acquisitions
- 10% Business/Corporate
- 10% Entertainment & Sports
First Admitted: 1993, California
Professional Webpage: https://gammalaw.com/david-hoppe/
Bar / Professional Activity
- International Association of Gaming Attorneys - Founded in 1980, IAGA provides a forum for discussing key issues that affect global gaming today., 2026
- Blockchain Games Alliance - BGA is a leading voice for blockchain gaming, shaping the industry's narrative through innovation and collaboration., 2026
- Video Game Bar Association VGBA members are the industry’s leading practitioners in the interactive entertainment industry and other related fields., 2026
- Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California - JCCNC continues to promote goodwill and friendship between Japan and the United States. It provides networking opportunities as well as informational seminars that educate Japanese corporations about doing business in California., 2026
- Beverly Hills Bar Association - The association advocates for legislation and legal decisions, supports equal rights, and champions the independence of the judiciary. The BHBA also advocates for justice by offering continuing legal education, networking events, marketing services, publications, leadership and professional growth opportunities, and pro bono programs., 2026
- Japan Online Game Association - JOGA promotes information sharing between member companies and supports companies and compliance activities to develop the online game industry and new businesses derived from online games., 2026
- Japan Society of Northern California - The Japan Society of Northern California works to advance U.S. – Japan collaboration and understanding in a global context. The Society offers an array of programs and networking opportunities for people and organizations in the Bay Area with a strong interest in Japan. It is the place to go for U.S. – Japan insights, opportunities, collaboration, and networking., 2026
- State Bar of California - Admitted 1993, 2026
- New York State Bar Association - Admitted 2000, 2026
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- Advised a major international hospitality company on a tokenization program relating to high-profile physical assets tradeable within and outside of a virtual world.
- Worked with local counsel in representing Japanese trading company offering of mobile games in European countries.
- Developed international trademark strategy and managed trademark registration program for major video game publisher.
- Represented VR tech startup in $2 million of convertible note investments from Google Ventures, Accel Partners and, Rothenberg Ventures.
- Prepared and negotiated tournament operator agreements used for dozens of high-profile fighting game tournaments in the United States and internationally.
- Negotiated terms for inclusion of high-profile mobile game in the leading real-money gaming platform.
- Represented major US streaming site in numerous license agreements with Japanese TV studios and other rights holders.
- Supported a blockchain game developer in connection with an offshore token offering
Videos
- Gamma Law represents select digital media, gaming, and tech companies in US and international transactions, with specific expertise in the Japanese market., Gamma Law Video Channel, 2026
Representative Clients
- Sanrio - Starting with Hello Kitty, born in 1974, Sanrio has introduced over 450 unique characters to the world in order to achieve “Minna Nakayoku (Getting Along Together)., 2026
- Kaleidoscope Fund - Kaleidoscope gives independent VR creators and studios the resources they need to do great work. An invite-only community, Kaleidoscope helps secure financing, distribution and exposure for premium VR content., 2026
- Aviagames - Using a sophisticated algorithm to create engaging, challenging, fair competition gaming apps, Avia's flagship offering, Pocket7Games, unites various gaming categories under one membership and wallet system for seamless entertainment. , 2026
- Capcom Media Ventures - Capcom has built a reputation for introducing cutting-edge technology and software to the video game market., 2026
- Upland - Upland is the only real-world city-builder where players collect properties, build neighborhoods, run businesses, and compete for digital residents on a shared map that never resets., 2026
- Kodansha - Kodansha has nurtured a dynamic roster of artists and collaborators across genres, building a legacy of inspired voices, narratives and platforms. It publishes manga and Japan-based fiction and non-fiction., 2026
Special Licenses / Certifications
- Japanese Language Proficiency Test N2, 2011
Pro bono / Community Service
- Board Member, Japan Society of Northern California, 2012
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- A journey through the digital media environment that led to the meteoric rise and subsequent turmoil of the NFT market, the development of blockchain/crypto use cases, and the emergence of Web3 - all from the perspective of a legal insider. Attorney David Hoppe delivers his nuanced interpretation of the court cases, business models, risks, and opportunities that created and continue to define the metaverse, extended reality, video gaming, NFTs, DAOs, and the entire digital revolution. With chapters such as “Sell the Sizzle, Not the Stake” and “Hold My Beer – NFTs, Alcohol, and Intellectual Property,” many of Hoppe’s hot takes are both insightful and irreverent., Author, Chapter and Metaverse: Legal Trends and Developments in Web3 and NFTs, 2023, Digital Media, Blockchain, Gaming, AR/VR, 2024
- The proliferation of platforms and technologies and the widespread use of game monetization make robust age verification strategies vital to ensure compliance and protect minors., Author, Age verification in real-money games: hardly child’s play, International Masters of Gaming Law, Real-Money Gaming, Video Games, 2024
- Despite a market slowdown, NFTs retain fundamental value by validating digital asset ownership, generating billions in trading volume. However, purchasers often misunderstand that buying an NFT grants ownership of a blockchain ledger entry, not the underlying intellectual property. Instead, rights depend on the platform's Terms of Use. Because standard laws like the first-sale doctrine don't clearly apply to digital assets, precise licensing remains essential to managing and protecting intellectual property., Lead Author, Licensing in the Brave New World of NFTs, Licensing Journal, 2023
- What happens if a mugger accosts your avatar in the metaverse or someone jacks your vintage space cruiser from your virtual garage? What if an AI steals your poetry and resells it in a different world? What’s your recourse in the metaverse? David B. Hoppe, a leading Web3 attorney, provides a practical guide to rights and responsibilities in the metaverse., Presenter, A Lawyer’s Guide to the Metaverse, Coindesk Consensus, 2023
- Author David B. Hoppe is a San Francisco-based lawyer and managing partner of Gamma Law, a premier specialty law firm supporting clients in select high-growth and emerging business sectors. In 'Esports in Court, Crimes in VR, and the 51% Attack', David reviews and provides insights into major events in some of the most dynamic and rapidly evolving industries of our time: video games and esports, digital media, virtual and augmented reality, blockchain, and cryptocurrencies, Author, Esports in Court, Crimes in VR, and the 51% Attack: Key Trends and Developments in Esports, VR and AR, Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies, Published by Vision 2020 ress, 2020
Honors
- Northern California Super Lawyer, 2020
Industry Groups
- Blockchain
- Digital Media
- Entertainment
- Esports
- Real-Money Games
- Video Games
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2020 - 2026
