Emily Tabak Epstein Leads with Purpose and Agility at Vivid Seats

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

For Emily Tabak Epstein, general counsel at Vivid Seats, legal leadership is more than compliance. It’s about strategic foresight, risk-balanced innovation, and supporting business momentum. As a member of the executive team and trusted advisor, Epstein plays a pivotal role in a fast-evolving online marketplace.  

In her current role she oversees a broad portfolio that includes legal, government affairs, corporate communications, and corporate social responsibility. “I ensure our business operates with integrity while enabling innovation and long-term growth,” Epstein explains. “It’s a constant balancing act to help empower the business while protecting it.” 

Epstein believes that the success of this balancing act is made possible because of her focus on “embracing change” which she says is both a personal and professional philosophy. “It also happens to be one of Vivid Seats’ values,” she shares, “and it’s something I encourage my team and fellow colleagues to run toward.” In today’s dynamic regulatory and business environment, embracing change and staying nimble is not just a tactic for legal professionals, it’s a strategic imperative. 

Epstein joined Vivid Seats shortly after its IPO, bringing with her a track record of helping global companies scale successfully in the public markets. Her experience includes steering global legal teams through complex IPOs, as well as corporate governance transformations at companies like Datto and Coupang, the latter of which she helped bring public while building its legal function in South Korea during the height of the pandemic. 

In January 2021, Epstein took a calculated career risk and moved her family to South Korea to work specifically on Coupang’s IPO. “Coupang is a total unicorn. A combination of Amazon and Uber Eats,” Epstein says. At Coupang, Epstein led a cross-border legal team that successfully executed a $70 billion IPO—one of the largest US public offerings by a foreign company in recent years. Her decision to relocate internationally during a time of global uncertainty underscores the calculated risk-taking and adaptability that defines her leadership style.  

This was a bold move, she admits, and one slightly outside her comfort zone. But it’s important to face change, because according to Epstein, that’s where personal and professional growth occurs.

“Investing in yourself means being open to new experiences, continuously learning, and seeking challenges that push your boundaries,” she says. That same mindset guides her work today at Vivid Seats, where she focuses on navigating regulatory complexity, building a high-performing legal function, and positioning the company for long-term success. “Whether it’s entering new markets, consumer protection, or emerging technologies, my job is to anticipate risk, see around corners, and collaborate with leadership on solutions that both protect and propel the business.” 

Before joining Vivid Seats, Epstein served in senior legal roles at Nielsen and American Express. At Nielsen, she was deputy chief legal officer and president of the Nielsen Foundation, aligning legal, governance, and philanthropic strategy. Early in her career, she practiced at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, where she developed a foundation in securities law and corporate governance through the firm’s robust transactional practice. 

“Take smart risks and invest in your own development. The legal profession is evolving rapidly, and those who are adaptable, curious, and willing to stretch to take on new opportunities will be best positioned for long-term success.”

Emily Tabak Epstein

For her entire legal career, Epstein has sought out companies and firms that drive meaningful change both from within and outside. Growing up in New York City, Epstein witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by those experiencing homelessness and hunger, solidifying her passion for community service at a young age. In high school she volunteered with organizations like the Coalition for the Homeless, and while earning a BA in government at Harvard, she served as a director of the student-run University Lutheran Church Shelter. “These experiences helped shape my career path,” says Epstein. 

Vivid Seats also allows Epstein to bring her sense of purpose to her work with oversight of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) program. She champions efforts that make meaningful differences in communities through Vivid Seats’ foundation, Vivid Cheers. This charitable arm of the organization partners with Make-A-Wish, MusiCares, and local Chicago organizations like the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital.  

Today, Epstein leads a team of ten and works side-by-side with business leaders across product, technology, operations, and finance. Her cross-functional influence is critical in a business environment where legal and strategic issues are increasingly intertwined.

While purpose and service remain part of her ethos, Epstein emphasizes that her most important contributions happen inside the boardroom, where she helps drive decision-making with clarity and agility. “Ultimately, I see my role as advancing the organization’s mission by helping to fashion creative solutions to enable growth and safeguard the company’s future.” 

She encourages lawyers to follow her lead and pursue opportunities outside their usual practice area, taking on challenging assignments and roles that stretch their skills and perspective. “Take smart risks and invest in your own development. The legal profession is evolving rapidly, and those who are adaptable, curious, and willing to stretch to take on new opportunities will be best positioned for long-term success,” Epstein says. She adds that the unknown is intimidating, but she believes that’s where people discover their capabilities.

---