Karen Sandler
Encyclopedia
Karen Sandler is the executive director
of the GNOME Foundation
, an attorney, and former general counsel
of the Software Freedom Law Center
.
.
Between October 31, 2005 and June 21, 2011 Karen worked at the Software Freedom Law Center
(SFLC), first as counsel, and then as the organization's General Counsel
after January 6, 2010.
While at the SFLC, Karen advised a wide range of free and open source software organizations such as the Free Software Foundation
, the Apache Software Foundation
, the X.Org Foundation
, Software in the Public Interest
and the Software Freedom Conservancy
. With SFLC, she became a public speaker about issues of Free and Open Source software at conferences such as OSCON, SCaLE, and LinuxCon. In 2010, Karen led an initiative advocating for free software on implantable medical devices after exploring the issues surrounding the software on her own implanted medical device, which regulates an inherited heart condition
Before working with the SFLC, Karen worked as an associate in the corporate departments of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher
LLP in New York and Clifford Chance
in New York and London. Sandler received her law degree from Columbia Law School
in 2000, where she was a James Kent Scholar and co-founder of the Columbia Science and Technology Law Review. She received her bachelor's degree in engineering from The Cooper Union.
In addition to her work with the GNOME Foundation, Karen also serves as general counsel of Question Copyright and as an officer of the Software Freedom Conservancy
. She is also co-host of the "Free as in Freedom" podcast
Executive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
of the GNOME Foundation
GNOME Foundation
The GNOME Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, coordinating the efforts in the GNOME project.-Purpose:...
, an attorney, and former general counsel
General Counsel
A general counsel is the chief lawyer of a legal department, usually in a corporation or government department. The term is most used in the United States...
of the Software Freedom Law Center
Software Freedom Law Center
The Software Freedom Law Center is an organization that provides pro bono legal representation and related services to not-for-profit developers of free software/open source software. It was launched in February 2005 with Eben Moglen as Chairman. Initial funding of US$4 million was pledged by...
.
Work in Free Software
As of June 2011, Karen Sandler is executive director of the GNOME FoundationGNOME Foundation
The GNOME Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, coordinating the efforts in the GNOME project.-Purpose:...
.
Between October 31, 2005 and June 21, 2011 Karen worked at the Software Freedom Law Center
Software Freedom Law Center
The Software Freedom Law Center is an organization that provides pro bono legal representation and related services to not-for-profit developers of free software/open source software. It was launched in February 2005 with Eben Moglen as Chairman. Initial funding of US$4 million was pledged by...
(SFLC), first as counsel, and then as the organization's General Counsel
General Counsel
A general counsel is the chief lawyer of a legal department, usually in a corporation or government department. The term is most used in the United States...
after January 6, 2010.
While at the SFLC, Karen advised a wide range of free and open source software organizations such as the Free Software Foundation
Free Software Foundation
The Free Software Foundation is a non-profit corporation founded by Richard Stallman on 4 October 1985 to support the free software movement, a copyleft-based movement which aims to promote the universal freedom to create, distribute and modify computer software...
, the Apache Software Foundation
Apache Software Foundation
The Apache Software Foundation is a non-profit corporation to support Apache software projects, including the Apache HTTP Server. The ASF was formed from the Apache Group and incorporated in Delaware, U.S., in June 1999.The Apache Software Foundation is a decentralized community of developers...
, the X.Org Foundation
X.Org Foundation
The X.Org Foundation is the organization holding the stewardship for the development of the X Window System. It was founded on 22 January 2004....
, Software in the Public Interest
Software in the Public Interest
Software in the Public Interest, Inc. is a non-profit organization formed to help other organizations create and distribute free/open-source software and open-source hardware...
and the Software Freedom Conservancy
Software Freedom Conservancy
The Software Freedom Conservancy is an organization that provides a non-profit home and infrastructure for free/open source software projects. The conservancy was established in 2006. As of June 2011, the conservancy had 26 member projects, including Boost, BusyBox, Git, Inkscape, jQuery, Samba,...
. With SFLC, she became a public speaker about issues of Free and Open Source software at conferences such as OSCON, SCaLE, and LinuxCon. In 2010, Karen led an initiative advocating for free software on implantable medical devices after exploring the issues surrounding the software on her own implanted medical device, which regulates an inherited heart condition
Before working with the SFLC, Karen worked as an associate in the corporate departments of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher is a global law firm, founded in Los Angeles in 1890. The firm is one of the most prestigious and selective in the nation, and ranks among the most successful firms globally. Gibson Dunn has nearly 1,000 attorneys and over 2,000 staff located in 17 offices around the world,...
LLP in New York and Clifford Chance
Clifford Chance
Clifford Chance LLP is a global law firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom and a member of the 'Magic Circle' of leading UK law firms. It is one of the ten largest law firms in the world measured by both number of lawyers and revenue...
in New York and London. Sandler received her law degree from Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
in 2000, where she was a James Kent Scholar and co-founder of the Columbia Science and Technology Law Review. She received her bachelor's degree in engineering from The Cooper Union.
In addition to her work with the GNOME Foundation, Karen also serves as general counsel of Question Copyright and as an officer of the Software Freedom Conservancy
Software Freedom Conservancy
The Software Freedom Conservancy is an organization that provides a non-profit home and infrastructure for free/open source software projects. The conservancy was established in 2006. As of June 2011, the conservancy had 26 member projects, including Boost, BusyBox, Git, Inkscape, jQuery, Samba,...
. She is also co-host of the "Free as in Freedom" podcast