Kenneth Anand
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 |
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. 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.[1]
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.[2] In 2018, he earned an Executive MBA from Quantic School of Business and Technology.[3]
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.[1]
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.[4][5] 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,[6] Bloomberg News,[7] NBC News,[8] and The Today Show.[9]
Sneaker Law
In 2017, Anand co-founded Sneaker Law with Jared Goldstein.[10][11][12] 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.[13][14] The book's design incorporates visual elements intended to make legal topics accessible to non-lawyers.[15][16] In 2023, Sneaker Law was listed as one of the 21 Best Fashion Books of All Time, According to Professors by Fashionista,[17] and one of the 50 Must-Watch Films & Books if You Want to Break into the Fashion Industry by Harper's Bazaar India.[18] In 2024, a second edition titled Sneaker Law V2 was published, featuring expanded content on the footwear industry.[19][20][21]
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,[22] Future Leaders in Law Program[23]
- Yale Law School, Launchpad Scholars Program[24]
- University of Miami School of Law,[25] where he is an Adjunct Professor.[26]
- Parsons School of Design, where he is a Part-Time Faculty Member.[27]
- Fashion Institute of Technology in partnership with Complex Networks Sneaker Essentials Program[28]
- Georgia State University College of Law,[29] where he is an Adjunct Professor.[30]
- Lewis & Clark Law School[31][32]
- The University of Texas School of Law[33]
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
References
- ^ a b "STREET SIGNS: A Chat With Yeezy Apparel's General Counsel". WWD.
- ^ "In Conversation with Kenneth Anand '02". Brooklyn Law School.
- ^ "Kenneth Anand: Sneaker Law Pioneer and Business Strategist". Quantic.
- ^ "Kenneth Anand". Jayaram Law.
- ^ "John Geiger Hires Kanye West's Former YEEZY Lawyer to Lead His Defense Team in Nike Lawsuit". Hypebeast.
- ^ Stevens, Matt; Friedman, Vanessa (May 10, 2023). "Nike and Tom Sachs Pause Partnership After Allegations of Workplace Misconduct". The New York Times. Retrieved January 5, 2026.
- ^ Bhasin, Kim (November 19, 2024). "Jalen Brown is Taking on Nike with $200 Sneakers". Bloomberg Businessweek. Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ^ Wile, Rob (October 26, 2022). "Why Adidas may have waited before cutting ties with Kanye West". NBC News Corporations. NBC News. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ^ Gosk, Stephanie (October 25, 2022). "Adidas cuts ties with Kanye West over antisemitic remarks". Today Show. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ^ "Sneaker Law: Not Just For Sneakerheads Anymore". Copyright Society.
- ^ "Q&A: Kenneth Anand and Jared Goldstein speak about their book 'Sneaker Law'". Westlaw Today.
- ^ "'Sneakerlaw' takes a fresh perspective on the big business of athletic shoes". NPR in Kansas City.
- ^ Ciment, Shoshy (February 24, 2021). "2 sneakerhead lawyers just published a 'Sneaker Law' book that covers everything from reselling to endorsement deals. Here's a first look at the book, which was the basis for a Harvard Law lecture". Business Insider Retail. Business Insider. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ^ "Sneaker Law V2 - The Greatest Sneaker Book of All Time". Sneaker Law.
- ^ "From Marketing to Manufacturing and Copyright to Court Cases, 'Sneaker Law V2' Is the Ultimate Footwear Industry Guide". Hypbeast.
- ^ "From Jordans to Juris Doctor: The Birth of Sneaker Law". American Bar Association.
- ^ "The 21 Best Fashion Books of All Time, According to Professors". Fashionista.
- ^ "50 must-watch films & books if you want to break into the fashion industry". Harper's Bazaar India.
- ^ "The Authors of 'Sneaker Law V2' Break Down Why It's the 'Greatest Sneaker Book of All Time". Footwear News.
- ^ "Sneaker Law V2 Launch". Forbes.
- ^ "Kenneth Anand and Jared Goldstein are equipping creators with the tools they need to win". Revolt.
- ^ "Experiential course brings big fashion to Harvard Law". Harvard Law School.
- ^ "Future Leaders in Law Program". Harvard Law.
- ^ "Launchpad Scholars". Yale Law School.
- ^ "Miami Law Continues Fast Stride into Innovation - First Law School to Teach Sneaker Law as Full Course". Miami Law School.
- ^ "Kenneth Anand". Miami Law.
- ^ "Kenneth Anand". Parsons.
- ^ "Sneaker Law Course Now Offered in Sneaker Essentials Program". Complex.
- ^ "Sneaker Law course expands unique curriculum at Georgia State Law Sneaker Law course expands unique curriculum at Georgia State Law". Georgia State University.
- ^ "Kenneth Anand". Georgia State University College of Law.
- ^ "Lewis & Clark offers contract drafting course for the sneaker industry". National Jurist.
- ^ "Stepping Into a New Era of Legal Education". Lewis & Clark Law School.
- ^ "Sneaker Law: Legal Issues in Apparel & Trademark". The University of Texas at Austin School of Law. Retrieved 5 January 2026.