Michael Ling

Michael Ling is an associate in the Interactive Entertainment Group. He is listed as a 2023-2024 "Rising Star" in Interactive Entertainment, Intellectual Property, and Technology Transactions by Super Lawyers magazine and was recognized in the 2025 edition of "Ones to Watch" by Best Lawyers in America. 

Michael represents and counsels many large technology, video game, and advertising businesses on a broad range of commercial and intellectual property matters. He has handled developer and publishing agreements, SaaS and other software licensing agreements, service agreements, music license agreements, and creator and brand deals in the interactive entertainment and advertising space. He also advises clients on novel issues involving emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, and on pre-litigation dispute resolution.

Prior to joining Frankfurt Kurnit, Michael worked as a technology transactions associate at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, focusing on IP-centered M&A and corporate transactions, including licensing, SaaS, and IaaS agreements, and as a litigator at Desmarais LLP, where he worked on patent infringement cases involving video streaming, computer architecture, and genetic testing technology.

Michael is passionate about providing pro bono representation and has represented clients in immigration and trademark matters.

Michael graduated magna cum laude from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, where he was an executive editor of the Washington University Law Review. He is admitted to practice in New York. His California bar application is pending.

awards & recognition

Best Lawyers in America "Ones to Watch" (2025)

Super Lawyers New York Metro-area "Rising Star" (2023-2024)

education

Washington University in St. Louis Law School (J.D., magna cum laude, 2018)

  - Washington University Law Review, Executive Editor

Case Western Reserve University (B.A. Double major in Biology and Economics, 2013)

Upcoming Speaking Engagements

Past Speaking Engagements

Loot Boxes, Gambling & Online Marketplaces

Sean F. Kane and Michael Ling are speakers for the session, "Loot Boxes, Gambling & Online Marketplaces" during a webinar hosted by NetEase Games.

September 17 2024

2024 Video Game Law Summit

Michael Ling is a panelist for the sessions, "Minor Protection" and "Challenge of Global Game Content Compliance" during the 2024 Video Game Law Summit hosted by the Video Game Bar Association and Multimedia Industry Association (Shanghai). Details here.

July 26 2024

Show Me The Money: The Commodification of Celebrity

Michael Ling, Jordyn Milewski, and Emma C. Smizer present "Show Me The Money: The Commodification of Celebrity" during the Brooklyn Entertainment & Sports Law Society's second annual Entertainment Law Symposium. Read more.

April 5 2024

Building, Investing In, and Selling Your Game Company

Michael Ling and Lee Silver moderate the "Building, Investing In, and Selling Your Game Company" panel at Frankfurt Kurnit's How to Play the Game CLE program during the 2024 Game Developer's Conference.

March 19 2024

Michael Ling at Cardozo School of Law

Michael Ling is a panelist during, “A Legal Discussion on Copyright Infringement in the Social Media Age" hosted by Cardozo’s Intellectual Property Law Society.

March 30 2023

Key Issues for Developers

Dorian Slater Thomas, Michael Ling, and Lee Silver are speakers during the “Key Issues for Developers” panel during Frankfurt Kurnit’s The Legal Side of Video Games event in San Francisco.

March 23 2023

news & press

Frankfurt Kurnit Attorneys Named to New York Metro Super Lawyers List for 2024

Super Lawyers magazine lists 42 attorneys in its 2024 edition. Read more.

The Best Lawyers in America 2025

Best Lawyers in America recognizes 48 Frankfurt Kurnit attorneys in the 2025 edition. Read more.

39 Frankfurt Kurnit Attorneys Named to Super Lawyers New York Metro List for 2023

Super Lawyers magazine lists 39 Frankfurt Kurnit attorneys in its 2023 NY-metro edition. Read more.

Video Game Disputes: California Court Refuses to Enforce Arbitration Provision

LexisNexis published Michael Ling's article, "Video Game Disputes: California Court Refuses to Enforce Arbitration Provision." Read more.

Do Amendments to Terms of Service Require Affirmative Consent?

Many websites and Internet-based services rely on standard click-through terms and conditions, often referred to as “browse-wrap agreements”. These agreements usually provide that the service provider may amend the browse-wrap agreement at any time, and a user’s continued use of the website or service is considered consent to the amendment. The general industry practice is to provide notice to users of an amendment via email without requiring affirmative acknowledgement or consent to the amendment. However, in Sifuentes v. Dropbox, Inc., a recent decision from the Northern District of California, the court found this standard practice to be insufficient to bind a user to the amendment. Read more.