About
Education
Lewis & Clark Law School - J.D., cum laude; Cornelius Honor Society; Lewis & Clark Law Review; Keller Law & Entrepreneurship Scholar
University of Washington - B.A. (Philosophy), cum laude with Department and College Honors; Phi Beta Kappa
REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE
Implemented IP strategy including trade secrets, non-disclosure policies, confidentiality, web presence, copyrights, and federal and state trademark rights for state-licensed cannabis business.
Represented film production company in successful license negotiations with international film distribution agency.
Advised design firm regarding innovative uses for pre-existing intellectual property libraries and creative works.
Negotiated favorable recording agreement terms with international record label on behalf of musical artist.
Counseled individual through strategic responses to copyright and trademark allegations and demands.
Extinguished infringing and harmful internet content through state publicity and privacy laws, the Lanham Trademark Act, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and other means.
Prepared software terms & conditions of use and licenses for B2B software company.
Sean Clancy is an attorney at Emerge Law Group. Sean’s practice focuses on business and intellectual property ("IP").
As outside IP counsel for a variety of innovative industries including state-licensed cannabis, psychedelics, entertainment media, design, consumer products, food, beverages, hospitality, professional services, software, and new technology, Sean advises on state and federal trademark rights, copyrights, publicity, privacy, trade secrets, confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements, and licensing agreements.
As general business and corporate counsel, Sean negotiates, prepares legal documents, and advises on strategic relationships spanning from entity formation and ordinary business to complex transactions and disputes.
Sean was also part of the small team of Emerge Law Group attorneys that researched and drafted Oregon’s Psilocybin Services Act or “Measure 109.”
Before joining Emerge Law Group Sean ran his own law firm and contracted for other law firms, counseling on specialized business and IP issues. Before that, he worked at the business, entertainment, and IP boutique firm Day & Koch LLP. His earlier experience includes clerking for the Consul Group, the Small Business Legal Clinic, the Lewis & Clark Legal Clinic, and serving as judicial extern for Chief Judge Ann Aiken in the United States District Court of Oregon.
Sean is on the Executive Committee for the Oregon State Bar Intellectual Property Section and also serves as the Treasurer for Oregon Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
“The Oregon Model,” Hub at Oxford for Psychedelic Ethics (HOPE), University of Oxford, England (2023)
“Oregon’s Psilocybin Services Program Updates,” Oregon State Bar – Cannabis and Psychedelics Bar Section 2023 Conference, Cannon Beach, Oregon (2023)
“Intellectual Property, Data, and Privacy Issues Under the Oregon Psilocybin Services Act,” “Oregon Psilocybin Legal Crash Course,” PsyCon Psychedelic Convention, Portland (2023)
“Legal Affairs for Psilocybin Facilitators,” Lecturer, Changa Institute Psilocybin Facilitator Training Program (2023)
“Cannabis Law and Policy,” Guest Lecturer, Willamette Law School (2023)
“Psychedelic IP: Promoting innovation and ethically protecting IP in the psychedelics space,” Psychedelic Law Summit presented by Inside Practice and the Psychedelic Bar Association CLE (2022)
“Deep Dive Into the Oregon Psilocybin Services Act,” Emerge Law Group Webinars (2022)
“Marijuana Business Law in Oregon,” National Business Institute CLE (2022)
“Competitive Edges: Intellectual Property 101 for Cannabis Businesses and Brand Protection Basics,” Emerge Law Group Webinar (2022)
“Intellectual Property in Psychedelics & Oregon’s Psilocybin Services Act,” Oregon State Bar CLE (2021)
“Contract Basics,” Guest Lecturer, Portland State University (2021)
“Copyright 102 - Music Fair Use & Licensed Use,” Young Audiences of Oregon and Southwest Washington (2020)
“Psilocybin Legalization Overview CLE,” Co-Presenter, Oregon State Bar (2020)
“Copyright Simulation Lab - Practice Seminar,” Guest Lecturer, Lewis & Clark Law School (2018, 2019)
“Protecting Trademarks and Reviewing Advertising and Marketing Considerations,” Marijuana Business Operations CLE, National Business Institute (2019)
“Cannabis and Intellectual Property,” Oregon State Bar CLE (2019)
“Marijuana Industry Trademark and Branding Issues,” The Seminar Group CLE (2019)
“Competitive Edges: Intellectual Property Basics,” Oregon Entrepreneur’s Network (OEN) (2019)
“Social Cannabis Consumption: Overcoming the Mythology,” Cannabis Collaborative Conference (2019)
“Intellectual Property Basics,” Oregon Small Business Fair (2018)
“Federal Responses to Oregon Marijuana Law,” National Business Institute CLE (2018)
“The Civil Side of Cannabis Law,” Panelist, University of Oregon Law School (2018)
“Contract Basics,” Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) (2018)
“Cannabis Branding,” Panelist, Cannabis Collaborative Conference (2018)
“How are marijuana businesses regulated in Oregon?” OSB tv Legal Q&A, Oregon State Bar (2018)
“Ask a Pot Lawyer,” Featured Columnist, The Portland Mercury (2017)
“Intellectual Property in the Age of Cannabis,” Oregon Leaf (2017)
“Recreational Marijuana Business Law in Oregon,” National Business Institute CLE (2017)
“Legal Issues in Film,” Willamette Writers Conference (2017)
“The Business of Marijuana in Oregon,” The Seminar Group CLE (2017)
“The Legal Business of Pot,” Sterling Education Services CLE (October 2016)
The Visual Artists Rights Act (VARA) co-author (September 2016)
"The Business of Marijuana in Oregon,” The Seminar Group CLE (June 2016)
“Copyright & Fair Use: Old Factors, New Facts, and New Challenges,” Oregon State Bar Intellectual Property Section CLE (April 2016)
“Advising Cannabusinesses in Oregon's Newest Emerging Market,” Multnomah County Bar Association CLE (November 2015)
“The Federal Bar Association presents A Panel Discussion on Conflicts in Cannabis Law: Emerging and Future Challenges for State and Federal Practitioners,” Lewis & Clark Law School (October 2015)
Fine Art Consignments: What to know when selling your “fine art” in Oregon (September 2015)
“Legal Rights Clearances for Film: Fair Use, E&O, and Other Topics,” NW Documentary (April 2015)
“Trademarks in the Cannabis Industry,” Oregon State Bar Intellectual Property Section CLE (March 2015)
Branded Bud or Generic Ganja? Trademarks for Marijuana in Washington, 18 Lewis & Clark Law Review 4 (2014)