Jimmy Baratta Goes From Lawyer to Successful Esports Entrepreneur

Pursuing one’s passion is easier said than done. There can be numerous reasons that make it challenging to change careers or start in a new field. Jimmy Baratta was a successful lawyer who decided to follow his dreams and work in an area he has been passionate about since he was a child — gaming.

Jimmy Baratta had a promising career in civil litigation. After six years of working as an attorney for his father in Orange County, California, he transitioned out of law and started fresh in esports business development, at ground level. “I am incredibly passionate about esports. It was time for a change in my life, so I followed what made me happy, and started back at square one in a new industry,” he shares.

In 2017/2018 Jimmy Baratta founded ICEBRKRSCLAN, a social gaming network with his best friends from high school. To date, its downstream social media footprint boasts two million followers across its network and serves as a bridge to Millenials and Gen Z. The ICE Clan maintains a roster of content creators and competitive players and serves as a marketing vehicle for various events, games, and esports tournaments. 2018 was also the year Jimmy began consulting for his big sister Jamie Slade, a partner with entertainment law firm Granderson des Rochers.

Earlier this year, Jimmy Baratta worked as director of talent for EDGE, an event hosted by known agency VY Esports. At EDGE, Jimmy was able to feature guests from FaZe Clan and Team Liquid along with other guests like Derwin James from the Chargers, Cam Akers from the Rams, GamerDoc, and host Jess Brohard. EDGE was featured in partnership with GameStop and American Eagle.

Currently, Jimmy Baratta holds court as an advisor for various companies. He regularly consults for XSET, the most popular brand in the industry today, and The Esportz Network — the dominant media news outlet for esports entrepreneurs and enthusiasts. At software developer Wizard Labs, Jimmy is the head of user acquisition and growth strategy. He is also the VP of Special Events for XR Sports. To add to this lawyer turned esports business developer’s list of occupations and accomplishments, he recently accepted a position at the University of California Irvine as a professor of esports.

Jimmy Baratta has proven that esports can be a profitable industry. He says his legal background has been helpful to him at the beginning of his esports consulting career. “Esports entrepreneurship is multifaceted. My law school training combined with my interest in gaming helped me find my niche,” Jimmy says.

Aside from the work he is doing, Jimmy stays committed to his community. In 2019, Jimmy Baratta and FaZe Clan investor David Chen founded the North American Collegiate League (NACL), a non-profit esports league. The NACL provides scholarships to students who are skilled in esports, encouraging them to excel in gaming and in their pursuit of higher education, bridging the gap left by traditional sports or academic scholarships. The NACL also streams tournaments and events in over a dozen countries worldwide through their partnership with Huomao and iSunTV. Jimmy also has a mentorship program through ICE Clan for young people interested in the gaming industry and pursuing higher education in the field.

“Gaming has always been a part of me, It’s amazing to see how far the industry has come,” Jimmy Baratta says. “I am also proud to help young gaming enthusiasts through college scholarships at NACL and provide a supportive community for them and for everyone who has an interest in the space.”

For more information on Jimmy Baratta, you may visit his LinkedIn profile.