Gaming and entertainment law
For many, the lead in-house legal role at The Pokémon Company International is a dream come true. For chief legal officer Don McGowan, it has meant the cementing of his reputation as a gaming and entertainment law expert and the opportunity to serve as a Hollywood producer.
As a billion-dollar franchise and one of the most recognisable entertainment brands in the world, the chief legal officer of The Pokémon Company International may be one of the more coveted in-house roles on the market. For the past 11 years, Don McGowan has occupied that position and has taken the brand through a plethora of groundbreaking international deals across a broad range of industries. From spearheading the legal negotiations surrounding the launch of the hugely successful Pokémon GO mobile gaming app to playing an integral part in the licensing agreements of the upcoming live-action Pokémon film, McGowan has enjoyed a diverse portfolio not always typical of the general counsel.
But these feats are only the beginning for McGowan, who, unlike most GCs, can add ‘Hollywood movie producer’ to his already impressive résumé. Between juggling his legal duties as GC for The Pokémon Company International, he is also a producer for the highly anticipated Pokémon: Detective Pikachu movie set be released in May. A modern-day renaissance man, McGowan is redefining the traditional role of GCs, showing legal expertise can be just as useful in an office as on a Hollywood movie set.
