Volunteer counsel for the people who draw the reels.
Mevla is an all-volunteer legal aid network built for freelance artists, animators, and sound designers working in the slot and casino game industry — most of whom have never had a lawyer read a studio contract before they signed it.
Primary functions
What Mevla actually does
Three things, done consistently, rather than many things done occasionally.
Consultation & referral
Free or reduced-fee legal consultation and attorney referrals for qualifying artists and small studios based anywhere our volunteer network can reach.
learn more →Education
Workshops and clinics on royalty structures, work-for-hire language, and IP ownership in reel-based game art — run alongside studio events and industry meetups.
Network building
Regular gatherings that put artists, volunteer attorneys, and studio producers in the same room, before a dispute is the reason they're talking.
Office location & hours
Where to find us
We work out of a studio space at Nine Reels Coworking in Valletta's design quarter, generously donated by resident illustrator and board member Marija Zammit.
Hours vary given our all-volunteer workforce. Check the blog for current office hours before dropping by — clinics run most reliably on the schedule posted there.
Mission
To provide access to effective legal counsel for iGaming artists with limited resources, to educate broadly on contract and IP issues specific to reel-based game art, to offer mediation as an alternative to litigation, and to build lasting cooperation between the artistic and legal communities working in this industry.
Governance
Board of directors
An unpaid board drawn from gaming law, illustration, compliance, and finance.
| President | Isla Farrugia, JD — Founder, Farrugia Gaming Law |
| Vice President | — vacant until annual meeting — |
| Secretary | Deniz Aksoy, Esq. — Associate, Camilleri & Vella LLP |
| Treasurer | Rosalind Okafor, CPA, CITP — Principal, Okafor Studio Finance |
| Marija Zammit — Lead Symbol Artist, freelance; donates studio space | |
| Chelsea Bonnici, Esq. — Associate, Muscat Attard | |
| Nate Ellul-Vella — Associate, Debattista & Debattista LLP | |
| Anne Hardcastle — Compliance Counsel, mid-tier iGaming publisher | |
| Parke Meli — Partnerships Manager, Valletta Payments Bank |
Donations are 100% tax-deductible
Valletta Arts & Cultural Alliance has generously agreed to act as Mevla' fiscal sponsor. Every donation is fully tax-deductible as a result.