A passionate practitioner, Sarah Odion Esene helps entertainers and businesses protect their intellectual property rights and establish their business structure through virtually all means of entertainment and corporate transactions.
Sarah counsels and analyzes legal issues in copyright infringement and corporate matters. She advises and assists in drafting and negotiating on a range of music and television contract agreements, including production, producer, songwriter, side artist and featured artist, licensing, and recording deals. Additionally, Sarah guides student athletes through defining and negotiating various intellectual property matters including their name, image, and likeness (NIL) contract terms.
My summer at Barnes & Thornburg was filled with practical experience and substantive work that prepared me for my transition to a first-year associate. I was allowed to work with different practice groups within the Minneapolis office and across the firm’s multiple offices. This experience strengthened my legal interest and created meaningful relationships within the firm. The partners and associates take their time to train you and provide mentorship advice in furtherance of a successful career. My most memorable moment was helping an IP partner assist a small business with its trademark against opposition from a big business. I left the summer associate program excited to start my legal career with a firm that is dedicated to the professional development of its young attorneys.
Credentials
Education
- The University of Texas at Austin, B.A., history, minor in African-American studies, 2014, Longhorn Scholar
- Northeastern University School of Law, J.D., 2020, symposium editor of Northeastern University Law Review, NUSL Trademark Moot Court Team
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota