Canadian woman builds Metaverse law firm to profit from renting out Metaverse properties

Lot 651 of Somnium Space belongs to the law firm of Zannes Law in Toronto, Canada. From this seven-story Metaverse office, lead attorney Madaline Zannes conducts private consultations with clients, meets with people with legal issues, hosts meetings, and gives lectures. Zanes said her Metaverse office could provide a more immersive and imaginative client experience. **She hired a builder who specializes in custom Metaverse buildings to create the space from scratch, including a lounge, lecture podium, offices for rent, art gallery and rooftop bar.

Figure | Madaline Zannes (Source: COURTESY OF MADALINE ZANNES)

The Somnium Space office was Zanes’ first in the metaverse, but the company now has multiple properties on other platforms, including Spatial’s version of a penthouse in New Caledonia.

Figure | Madaline Zannes in her metaverse office (Source: COURTESY OF MADALINE ZANNES)

The required qualifications to practice here technically do not exist. Metaverse isn’t really a legal term, there’s no metaverse law, and lawyers don’t get much license in this area, at least not yet. But those with a law degree can use the technology to stand out. The most important thing is to have an open mind, Zanes said.

The challenge is that law is not evolving as fast as technology and lawyers can only practice in jurisdictions where they are licensed to practice. At the same time, there are bad actors trying to provide legal services in the virtual space without any accreditation, some even hiding their identities from clients, Zanes said.

To help with this, Zanes and her team launched the International Metaverse Lawyers Association in 2023 with the aim of registering verified licensed lawyers working on Web3.

There are some perks to this job, too. It’s a fun and more engaging way to meet clients remotely than a flat 2D Zoom interaction. Zanes said: We can have meetings while walking through the building. We can chat in an NFT gallery, a rooftop bar, or a virtual office. There are more ways to find common ground (with clients) and spend quality time together.

The main office has an area called Quantum Leap, where clients can view and explore Zanes’ metaverse portfolio of properties. She even gives her clients a private link so they can hang out in the metaverse and use the space as they please.

As for business prospects, Zanes said her satellite office in the Metaverse is a huge traction tool for her brick-and-mortar companies. She also earns income from owning properties in the Metaverse by renting out her space, much like a real-life landlord.