Key points:
- Light & Wonder CLO James Sottile is set to retire at the end of the year
- He will be succeeded by current SVP and Deputy General Counsel Susan Dawson
- Sottile will provide an additional year of consulting services following his exit
Light & Wonder Executive VP and Chief Legal Officer (CLO) James Sottile is set to retire from the company, with his last day scheduled for 31 December 2025. SVP and Deputy General Counsel Susan Dawson is set to succeed him, becoming CLO and Corporate Secretary.
To aid the transition, Sottile will provide one year of consulting services to Light & Wonder following his exit from the company.
As part of her new role, Dawson will relocate from the UK to Las Vegas. She has been with the supplier since 2012, having taken her current position in 2018.
Sottile’s career in the legal sector has spanned over 35 years, having begun his career as a partner at Caplin & Drysdale; a role he held for 10 years. This was followed by a five-year role as a partner at Baach Robinson & Lewis, and a 12-year partner role with Zuckerman Spaeder, before joining Jones Day as a partner in 2016.
Sottile’s first role in the gaming industry came in 2018 when he joined Scientific Games as its Chief Legal Officer. He held this role for just over three and a half years before taking on the same role as Light & Wonder, having been with the supplier since April 2022.
Good to know: Light & Wonder recently expanded its partnership with BetMGM to release a new Wizard of Oz slot title, ‘Follow the Yellow Brick Road’
Dawson’s experience is also expansive. Alongside her five years with Scientific Games and seven years with Light & Wonder, she has also held roles including a three-year stint as Head of UK Legal Services at Inspired Gaming, Legal Director at DLA Piper and more.
The announcement comes soon after the supplier announced the finalisation of its $850m acquisition of Grover Gaming’s charitable gaming assets, which may also include a $200m four-year earn-out based on performance.
Light & Wonder President and CEO Matt Wilson said: “Grover Gaming has established itself as a leader in the fast-growing charitable gaming space. Bringing their assets and expertise into our ecosystem aligns perfectly with our strategy to expand into complementary regulated markets.”
