International Summit
on the Law and Business
of Video Games

Speakers > PJ Putnam, Vice President and General Counsel, Gearbox Software, LLC

PJ Putnam has been the Vice President and General Counsel for Gearbox Software, LLC since 2006. As the solo attorney at Gearbox, he is responsible for all aspects of agreements, contracts, and negotiations for the Company. 

PJ Putnam received his commission from the United States Air Force Academy. During his twelve years in the US Air Force, PJ, first, served as a judo/unarmed combat instructor at the US Air Force Academy and, then, as a Special Operations’ Helicopter Instructor/Evaluator Pilot – having flown over 3,000 hours while stationed at both overseas and CONUS bases.

After PJ broke his neck in an unfortunate car accident, he completed his MBA from the University of New Mexico, graduated cum laude with a law degree from Southern Methodist University, and studied international law in Oxford, England.   Between schools, PJ worked as a transactional lawyer in an international law firm; the Editor-in-Chief of the American Bar Association’s The International Lawyer journal; an executive in an Internet security company; a volunteer surgery technician in Ecuador; a business consultant; a motivational speaker; and, as an entrepreneur.  Mr. Putnam is the author of numerous magazine articles and he is awaiting the publication of his first book, Fiery Vigil, which details his flying in and around the erupting Mt. Pinatubo, Republic of the Philippines.

PJ serves in leadership roles in professional and civic organizations.   Recently, he served on the Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Dallas where he championed alternative means of fund-raising.  PJ has written several articles for various legal publications regarding issues including negotiating with the IRS and corporate fund-raising without requiring a registration.   Additionally, PJ has received numerous legal awards, including: being named the recipient of the John E. Kennedy Post-Graduation Scholarship; Dallas Business Journal’s Rookie General Counsel of the Year of 2007; and, the Finalist for Dallas Business Journal’s Best Solo General Counsel of 2008. 

Gearbox Software, LLC recently celebrated its 10th Anniversary in February.  PJ has been associated with Gearbox for the past six years – both as an outside attorney and as its first General Counsel.  Gearbox is a multi-media company that specializes in developing story-driven videogames.  Examples of popular Gearbox titles include – ports for the Half-Life franchise, PC port of Halo 1, Tony Hawke, James Bond – Nightfire, Samba de Amigo, the Brothers in Arms franchise, Borderlands, and its upcoming AAA-title, Aliens – Colonial Marines.  In addition to videogames, while at Gearbox, PJ has negotiated deals to publish one novel and one history, both books are based on its Brothers in Arms franchise; record and publish three soundtracks; create numerous toys and action-figures, based on in-game characters; produce a three-hour special TV-documentary for the History Channel; developed and produce an award-winning animated movie. Currently, Gearbox employs roughly 145 people and is headquartered in Plano, Texas.