Robert Chesnut

Robert Chesnut is an American author, attorney and entrepreneur best known for his work in digital media estate planning and his books, “The Law of Digital Media” and “Law of Online Game Operators.” He is also the founder of Chesnut Insights, a digital estate planning firm.

Born in 1971 in Los Angeles, California, Chesnut was raised in a family of lawyers. His mother was past president of the Los Angeles Bar Association and headed the Justice Department's Office of Legal Education, while his father was a partner at the law firm of Kane, Ballmer & Berkowitz. As a child, Chesnut was fascinated by the law, particularly the rapidly changing world of technology and digital media regulation. His interest in the law and technology led him to major in Criminology and Law at the University of Pennsylvania. After graduating in 1993, he moved to San Francisco, where he attended Hastings College of the Law, earning his JD in 1998.

Recognizing the need for guidance in the growing legal field of digital media, Chesnut wrote his first book, “The Law of Digital Media,” in 2002. This book took readers through the complex legal issues surrounding digital media, from copyright to trademark laws to infringement. His follow-on book, “Law of Online Game Operators,” was published in 2008 and offered readers an in-depth look at the legal issues that arise for operators of online video games.

Today, Chesnut serves as an expert in the legal aspects of digital media, including copyright, privacy and cyberlaw. He is a frequent speaker at conferences and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, NPR and other media. He is also the founder and CEO of Chesnut Insights and Wealth Evolution Solutions, both focusing on providing digital estate planning services and products.

In addition to his corporate work, Chesnut also enjoys writing fiction and co-writing the horror film, “Dead Maze.” His writing has been featured in various literary journals, such as The Sewanee Review and The MacGuffin, and he is the author of the novel “Death by Desert” and the children’s book, “The Adventures of Detective Moo.”

For all his accomplishments and contributions, Robert Chesnut has become established as a leader in the legal and corporate aspects of digital media. His books offer detailed exploration on the legal issues involving digital media and his work at Chesnut Insights and Wealth Evolution Solutions provides digital estate planning services for the 21st century.