Kenneth Anand
American attorney, author, and adjunct law professor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kenneth John Anand (born 1976, Montclair, New Jersey) is an American attorney, author, and adjunct law professor specializing in the intersection of intellectual property, fashion, and sports law. [1] He is best known as the co-founder of Sneaker Law, an educational platform for the athletic footwear industry, and as the former General Counsel and Head of Business Development for Yeezy and Kanye West.[2]
Brooklyn Law School (JD)
Quantic School of Business and Technology (EMBA)
Kenneth John Anand | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1976 (age 49–50) Montclair, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Education | Virginia Tech (BA) Brooklyn Law School (JD) Quantic School of Business and Technology (EMBA) |
| Occupations | Attorney, Author |
| Known for | Sneaker Law |
Early life and education
Anand was born and raised in Montclair, New Jersey, and is of South Asian Indian and Eastern European descent. He attended Virginia Tech, earning a Bachelor of Arts in 1998, followed by a Juris Doctor (JD) from Brooklyn Law School in 2002.[3] In 2018, he earned an Executive MBA from Quantic School of Business and Technology.[4]
Career
Anand began his legal career in private practice, focusing on corporate employment, intellectual property and transactional law. After 15 years of private practice in NYC law firms, in 2017, he transitioned in-house to serve as General Counsel and Head of Business Development for Yeezy and Kanye West, where he oversaw legal and business operations during the brand's expansion and high-profile collaborations.[2]
Anand is currently Of Counsel and Director of Client Relations at Jayaram Law, where he advises clients in the "creative economy," including designers and brands involved in trademark litigation and intellectual property protection.[5][6] Anand is frequently cited as a commentator on legal and business trends within the footwear industry. He has provided expert analysis for outlets including The New York Times,[7] Bloomberg News,[8] NBC News,[9] and The Today Show.[10]
Sneaker Law
In 2017, Anand co-founded Sneaker Law with Jared Goldstein.[11][12][13] In 2020, the platform produced the textbook Sneaker Law: All You Need to Know About the Sneaker Business, which has been adopted by various law and design programs.[14][15] The book's design incorporates visual elements intended to make legal topics accessible to non-lawyers.[16][17] In 2023, Sneaker Law was listed as one of the 21 Best Fashion Books of All Time, According to Professors by Fashionista,[18] and one of the 50 Must-Watch Films & Books if You Want to Break into the Fashion Industry by Harper's Bazaar India.[19] In 2024, a second edition titled Sneaker Law V2 was published, featuring expanded content on the footwear industry.[20][21][22]
Academic work
Anand is a frequent lecturer on sports and fashion law. He has taught and guest lectured at numerous educational institutions, including:
- Harvard Law School, Fashion Law Lab,[23] Future Leaders in Law Program[24]
- Yale Law School, Launchpad Scholars Program[25]
- University of Miami School of Law,[26] where he is an Adjunct Professor.[27]
- Parsons School of Design, where he is a Part-Time Faculty Member.[28]
- Fashion Institute of Technology in partnership with Complex Networks Sneaker Essentials Program[29]
- Georgia State University College of Law,[30] where he is an Adjunct Professor.[31]
- Lewis & Clark Law School[32][33]
- The University of Texas School of Law[34]
Bibliography
- Sneaker Law: All You Need to Know About the Sneaker Business (2020) ISBN 978-1735782003
- Sneaker Law V2: All You Need to Know About the Sneaker Business (2024) ISBN 978-1735782010