Career series: Sanjana Sharma, UL (Underwriters Laboratories)
Why and how did you become an associate general counsel?
I’ve known since college that I wanted to be a brand attorney. It might seem odd to have a specific career plan at such a young age but in college I took a public relations management class and during the chapter on trademark, copyright and advertising law I was hooked on IP and brand management.
During law school, I interned at the Rutgers University Trademark & Copyright Licensing Office and worked during the summer of my second year of law for Lucent Technologies’ trademark and copyright law group. From these experiences, I knew in-house life was for me.
After graduation I clerked for two years, then spent six years in private practice, first at Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom, then at Winston & Strawn. While in private practice, I gained experience in all aspects of trademark, advertising and copyright law, including litigation, transaction, and prosecution.
