Born an artist, I decided the best way to protect creative folks like myself was to go to law school. I then cannonballed into the position of Etsy's first attorney and 17th employee. For over nine years I helped Etsy scale from an inconspicuous startup to a publicly traded company. After that, I joined Vroom as its first General Counsel and the New York Law Journal awarded me with the GC Impact Award.
I’m currently a member of the Dramatists Guild and the creator / writer of the series - Dirty Legal Secrets. I'm also an artist, an investor, a board member, a public speaker, and an adjunct professor at NYU.
EXPERTISE
Creator
Dirty Legal Secrets brings together secrets, startups, and law. TineBirdNYC showcases my love for ceramics and city wildlife. Feingold Jewelry (video) was first sold out of my high school backpack. Tiny Tracks are made with my child. Appocado (RIP), Drone Duster (RIP), and UnSettled are my almost startups.
Speaker
I speak on starting a board career and growing an ideal board. I empower others on how to create opportunities and move a career forward. I also weigh in on various business and legal topics, like intellectual property and user generated content.
Board Member / Advisor
I am currently on the board of Chloe Capital, The International Human Rights Art Movement, and Powered by People. I have experience with high growth startups, ecommerce, company culture, user generated content, privacy, compliance, intellectual property, and IPOs.
Writer
I'm a columnist for Above the Law and have written or contributed to dozens of various articles. Copyright for Artists is a legal ebook tailored to artists, makers, crafters, and designers.
Winner
The New York Law Journal awarded me with the GC Impact Award. My team won Brooklyn Law's Incubator and Policy Hackathon. I created the Ugliest Necklace in America. In college, I received the metalsmithing award. And twice, I guessed the correct number of sugary sweets in a container. Contact me if I won something (especially if it is law, jewelry, or candy related).
PRESS
- Law360 - October 11, 2024 - Play Reveals 'Dirty Legal Secrets'
- The Abstract - October 10, 2024 - Sharing Legal Secrets on Stage
- Broadway World - September 29, 2024 - Cellunova Presents Dirty Legal Secrets
- Above the Law - September 26, 2024 - Dirty Legal Secrets: When Startup Drama Takes Center Stage In Law
- Legal IT Insider - February 19, 2024 - Dirty Legal Secrets
- Actsplore This - August 21, 2023 - From Suits to Stories
- Bridge Street TV - April 28, 2023 - New Play "Dirty Legal Secrets" Pemeires this Weekend
- Citrus TV News - April 22, 2023 - SU Alum Writes New Comedic Play
- Above the Law - February 16, 2023 - Do This if you Love (or Don't Love) Your Job
- On the Schmooze - October 2, 2022 - Inspiring the Aspiring
- Above the Law - June 16, 2022 - A Devil, An Angel, and a Women In The Law Panel
- Corporate Counsel - November 22, 2021 - GC Turned Playwright Shares True In-House Tales of 'Sex, Drugs and Rock 'N' Roll'
- The National Law Review - November 8, 2021 - On Her Shoulders Podcast
- On Her Shoulders Podcast - November 4, 2021 - Creating Opportunities
- The Long Game - Publication date, September 21, 2021 - Pages 61 - 62 in Dorie Clark's book
- Global Tech Loop - July 9, 2021 - Sarah Feingold
- BDO in the Boardroom - July 1, 2021 - Where to Aim Your Arrow - Identifying Your Fit with a Start Up Board
- Thomson Reuters - June 28, 2021 - Making the Case for GCs on Boards
- Vocal Media - June 10, 2021 - The Pandemic Jacket
- The Wall Street Journal - January 18, 2021 - Productivity Tips for Procrastinators
- Corporate Counsel Magazine - December 16, 2020 - Not Waiting for my Fairy-God Ally
- The Counter Chronicles - November 13, 2020 - Sarah Feingold, Lawyer for Startups, Jeweler, Co-Founder of The Fourth Floor
- Forbes - November 8, 2020 - Founders Of The Fourth Floor Provide Women Resources For Securing A Board Seat
- Meeting of the Minds Podcast - September 25, 2020 - Sarah Feingold, Former General Counsel at Etsy and Vroom
- Her CEO Journey - September 3, 2020 - Grow your Skills and your Company with a Strong Advisory Board
- Corporate Counsel Magazine - September 1, 2020 - The Table in The Boardroom: Ways to Increase Diversity
- Above the Law - July 2, 2020 - 4 Steps to Growing an Advisory Board
- Planet Hoey - April 13, 2020 - Guest Sarah Feingold
- Above the Law - April 10, 2020 - Four Steps to Growing a Legal Career in Sweatpants
- Above the Law - March 13, 2020 - Fish on the Sidewalk
- Above the Law - February 28, 2020 - Feeding a Baby Unicorn - Land a Startup Client
- Above the Law - February 6, 2020 - Legal Madness, The Encore: Your In-House Horror Stories Performed On Stage
- Women in Law - On the Record Podcast - November 25, 2019 - Sarah Feingold and Breen Sullivan, The Fourth Floor
- Corporate Counsel - November 4, 2019 - Tech Company Lawyers to Get Real—and Funny—at Open Mic Night
- Enterprising Women Magazine - Fall, 2019 - The Fourth Floor: Providing Access to Board Seats, Opportunities, and Growth
- ExtraCrunch - October 23, 2019 - How Tech Companies Measure "Legal"
- Vox - September 4, 2019 - Was Etsy too Good to be True?
- Above the Law - August 19, 2019 - GCs and Entrepreneurs a Match made in Heaven
- The American Lawyer - May 14, 2019 - Women Legal Execs, Entrepreneurs Celebrate the New Networking Venture: 'The Fourth Floor'
- Corporate Counsel - May 7, 2019 - After Rapid Growth, Initiative Linking Female Legal Executives and Entrepreneurs Prepares for Takeoff
- Above the Law - May 3, 2019 - Legal Madness Your InHouse Horror Stories Performed on Stage
- Engelberg Center on Innovation Law & Policy, NYU School of Law - February, 2019 - Sarah Feingold
- Corporate Counsel - January 23, 2019 - Women GCs Face Sexism, Stereotypes from Firm Lawyers
- New York Law Journal - October 1, 2018 - GC Impact Award
- Build an A Team - Publication date, May 1, 2018 - Pages 33 - 34 in Whitney Johnson's book
- ReWORK - March 6, 2017 - Name Your Job: Why You Should Hire People Who Write their Own Job Descriptions
- LinkedIn - December 14, 2016 - You Want the Perfect Job? Here's How
- Disrupt Yourself Podcast - December 14, 2016 - Sarah Feingold: Disrupt at the Intersection of Your Creative Passion
- Above the Law - December 5, 2016 - Constructively Channeling Passion into Success
- Claim the Stage Podcast - September 21, 2016 - Fun Legal Basics for Speakers
- ACC DOCKET - July 28, 2016 - Hair-Raising Fun: Why Join a Startup
- DisCo - July 23, 2014 - Etsy's Sarah Feingold on Small Business and Copyright Compliance
- The Student Appeal - May 10, 2014 - Interview with the In-House Attorney for Etsy
- TechCrunch - January 4, 2014 - Why Startups Hire their own Lawyers
- GigaOM - November 27, 2013 - GoldieBlox removes Beastie Boys song from girl power video: smart or cynical?
- JD Supra - November 26, 2013 - GoldieBlox v. Beastie Boys: Something Here Doesn't Rhyme
- The New York Times - March 1, 2013 - That Most Important Dress, or at Least a Look-Alike
- General Assembly - 2013 - Landing a General Counsel Position at a Startup
- General Assembly - 2013 - Required Reading
- Corporate Counsel - April 4, 2012 - Etsy's General Counsel on Copyright and Creative Risk
- ABA - Fall 2011 - Changing Course Midstream
- Inside Counsel - July 29, 2011 - How to Lose a Client in One Minute
- Whole Living - May, 2011 - Second Acts
- World Trademark Review - November 16, 2010 - Use of Trademarks in Fan Art
- CNET News - October 27, 2010 - Etsy's Crafty Balance: Fans vs. Trademark Holders
- Inside Counsel Magazine - March, 2010 - Smarts and Crafts
- NYSBA Inside - Winter 2008 - Your Company Sucks Dot Com
- Croq Zine - August 27, 2008 - Attorney Sarah from Etsy!
- Pacific Center for the Books Arts - Spring 2008 - Getting Permission
- Syracuse Magazine - 2008 - Class Notes
- Bead & Button - August, 2007 - Know Your Rights to Jewelry
- Jewelry Stringing Magazine - 2007 - Copyright Law for Artists
- Etsy - 2007 - 2012 - SarahSays Articles
- Democrat and Chronicle - August 19, 2006 - Ugliest Necklace in America
PAST TALKS INCLUDE
Videos / Podcasts
- UJA
Tech Groups
- General Assembly
- Full Stack GC Conference
- Legal Hackers Congress
- Indiana Conference for Women
- The Riveter Summit
- SXSW
Government
- Department of Commerce
- United States Patent & Trademark Office
Colleges / Universities
- Brooklyn Law
- Cardozo Law
- Columbia Law
- Cornell Tech
- Fashion Institute of Tech
- Fordham Law
- New York University Law
- Rochester Institute of Tech
- Skidmore College
- Syracuse University
- University of Hong Kong
Legal Associations
- American Bar Assn
- American IP Assn
- American Lawyer Media
- Federal Bar Assn
- The Hildebrandt Institute
- International Trademark Assn
- New York Bar Assn
- New York City Bar Assn
- New York County Lawyers Assn.
- New York IP Law Assn
- Women in Law Empowerment Forum
Law Firms
- BakerHostetler
- Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney
- Cravath, Swaine & Moore
- Davis Wright Tremaine
- Foley & Lardner
- Gunderson Dettmer
- Labaton Sucharow
TESTIMONIALS
Francesca M. Montalvo, Esq
"Words cannot express how powerful your presentation was last night. I am already looking into creating opportunities to write articles on trademarks for startup companies or fashion designers. You are a very positive person and incredibly inspirational. Thanks again for a great talk."
Professor James Grimmelmann
Cornell Tech
“Sarah Feingold is an inspiration and a phenomenon. She talked to my students about her career arc with wit, passion, and honesty. They couldn't stop talking about wanting to emulate her example of fearless, compassionate dedication”Anne-Marie C. Yvon, Ph.D.
“I wanted to tell you that I really enjoyed your talk. Women at all stages of their careers can use encouragement and inspiration to think big and take risks. Your career path has certainly embodied those elements. Thanks for sharing your story."
Julia Martin
President, WNYWBA
“We were thrilled to have Sarah launch the Karen DeCrow Lecture Series. Sarah's lecture was humorous, relatable, deeply personal, and extremely engaging. She connected with all of the attendees, regardless of their age or experience, and offered some universal lessons from her experience. We have received nothing but positive feedback!"
David Collado
Cardozo School of Law Cyberlaw Society
"You made me look very good yesterday. The feedback on the event has been remarkably positive. And as my first event as the Cyblerlaw Society's Program Director, you helped me get off to a great start."
Dorothy Hubbard
"Your unique, self-deprecating, humorous approach inspires me."
Amanda Garfinkle
UJA-Federation of New York, Westchester
"Sarah Feingold is such a dynamic, engaging speaker that we felt very lucky to have her on the virtual "stage" to open our 2021 UJA-Federation of NY Westchester Women's Symposium. She was everything we asked for and more. Sarah delivered a lively and witty keynote address with a powerful message and she did an excellent job of setting the stage for the following panels. Not only did she engage and energize the audience; she connected with them on their level. She was so relatable to the audience and left everyone feeling empowered, like they too could make a difference."
COLLABORATE
board seats - growing a business (not legal advice) - writing & speaking opportunities
Copyright Sarah Feingold 2024