Odette J. Wilkens, Esq.

Appointed as a volunteer working group member of the FCC's Communications Equity and Diversity Council whose mission is to make recommendations to the FCC on advancing equity in digital communications "without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, or disability."

A coalition of organizations and individuals promoting the safe deployment of telecommunications infrastructure in NYC, in opposition to the 5G Towers which are unwanted by at least 25% of NYC residents; also unneeded under the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and therefore without federal preemptive jurisdiction for deployment in NYC. Advocating for meaningful community input and wired broadband, preferred by 2/3 of Americans, to bridge the digital divide.

The National Call for Safe Technology is a coalition of over 100 organizations and individuals advocating for safety in wired broadband solutions for the public, broadband equity accommodation for the disabled, and equitable access to broadband for the unserved and underserved, including rural and Tribal communities.

Non-profit (501(c)(3)) educating the public, business decision makers and government officials regarding the benefits of wired broadband solutions for the public at large, and for unserved, underserved and disabled communities. Formulate policies and public advocacy efforts in NYC and nationwide to educate the public and civic leaders of their rights under public policy, local ordinances and federal telecommunications law, and to inform local and federal agencies of community efforts and the… Show more

Non-profit (501(c)(3)) educating the public, business decision makers and government officials regarding the benefits of wired broadband solutions for the public at large, and for unserved, underserved and disabled communities. Formulate policies and public advocacy efforts in NYC and nationwide to educate the public and civic leaders of their rights under public policy, local ordinances and federal telecommunications law, and to inform local and federal agencies of community efforts and the need for minority and disability accommodation through wired broadband infrastructure. Working with individuals with disabilities and advocating for their interests in accommodation in comment filings to state and federal agencies. Working with minority communities in NYC in advancing their interests for access to wired broadband. Show less

Provided executive-level oversight and approvals, with primary responsibility for drafting and leading negotiations on complex client-oriented, multi-million dollar technology deals involving, e.g., software licensing, SaaS, consulting services, hardware installation, data migration, integration and deployment, data storage, data privacy and security, service levels (SLAs) and maintenance support.

Short-term assignment with primary responsibility for drafting and negotiating complex vendor-oriented agreements to license to major corporations financial analytics software for SaaS or on-site services, and addressing major issues such as license grants, liability, open source software, maintenance, information security and data privacy. Consulting with SMEs internally for licensed software.

For this multimedia company, a joint venture between the Hearst Corp. and Disney-ABC TV Group, closed over 250 technology deals. Advised clients and other attorneys on data security, privacy and cross-border issues. Balanced business needs with ensuring compliance with privacy and data security requirements. Supervised outside counsel. Served as one of two primary counsel responsible for the company’s largest segment: production, operations, engineering and technology. Advised clients on… Show more

For this multimedia company, a joint venture between the Hearst Corp. and Disney-ABC TV Group, closed over 250 technology deals. Advised clients and other attorneys on data security, privacy and cross-border issues. Balanced business needs with ensuring compliance with privacy and data security requirements. Supervised outside counsel. Served as one of two primary counsel responsible for the company’s largest segment: production, operations, engineering and technology. Advised clients on, and drafted and negotiated agreements for:
• Master professional services
• Statements of work
• Software licensing (EULAs)
• Reseller arrangements
• Consulting services
• Non-disclosure
• Co-location facilities
• Proof of concept
• Custom development, integration and deployment
• Technology Infrastructure
• Circuits
• SaaS
• Outsourcing
• Hardware purchases (with embedded software)
• Service levels (SLAs)
• Maintenance support and
• Data analytics.
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Pro bono policy work in protecting Americans' civil liberties. Work with bar associations, civil liberties and social justice groups around the country. Conduct lecture tours at law schools around the country. Initiated, and assisting in drafting, the moot court problem on the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act through Lewis & Clark Law School for the National Animal Law Competition held at Harvard Law School, and presided as a judge.

For this multinational bank, closed deals totaling $45 million while holding primary responsibility for drafting and negotiating client-oriented procurement agreements involving:
• Financial subscription services
• Hardware purchases with embedded software
• Maintenance support
• Online data provider services
• Software licensing
• Open source software
• Proof of concept and
• Telecom services.

Balanced business needs with ensuring compliance… Show more

For this multinational bank, closed deals totaling $45 million while holding primary responsibility for drafting and negotiating client-oriented procurement agreements involving:
• Financial subscription services
• Hardware purchases with embedded software
• Maintenance support
• Online data provider services
• Software licensing
• Open source software
• Proof of concept and
• Telecom services.

Balanced business needs with ensuring compliance with business policy and regulatory requirements relating to privacy and data security. Show less

Drafted software licensing and development agreements, general business and employment agreements, and advise on copyright infringement and takedown notices under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Real estate closings. Represented animal guardians.

Drafted and negotiated general vendor agreements including financial market data online subscription services, software licensing, and consulting services and outsourced technology support services.

For this global recruiting company, advised senior management on legal and business risks. Drafted and negotiated vendor and client oriented procurement agreements including:
• Software licensing
• Development and integration
• Confidentiality
• Online subscription
• Cloud services
• Hardware purchases
• Maintenance and support
• Telecom and mobile services
• General commercial agreements for executive recruiting and temp staffing tailored for… Show more

For this global recruiting company, advised senior management on legal and business risks. Drafted and negotiated vendor and client oriented procurement agreements including:
• Software licensing
• Development and integration
• Confidentiality
• Online subscription
• Cloud services
• Hardware purchases
• Maintenance and support
• Telecom and mobile services
• General commercial agreements for executive recruiting and temp staffing tailored for financial, engineering, information technology and legal clients.

Designed company-wide records retention program. Worked with outside counsel. Speaker on Email Discovery and Retention Policies chaired by Fulbright & Jaworski. Show less

• Royal Bank of Canada. For the seventh largest bank in North America, amended software license and hardware agreements to conform to federal privacy rules under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act.

• UBS Warburg. Analyzed software licensing, hardware and support services technology agreements to conform to reporting requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

• RAI Corporation. For one of the largest Italian television companies, advised executives on agreements relating to… Show more

• Royal Bank of Canada. For the seventh largest bank in North America, amended software license and hardware agreements to conform to federal privacy rules under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act.

• UBS Warburg. Analyzed software licensing, hardware and support services technology agreements to conform to reporting requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

• RAI Corporation. For one of the largest Italian television companies, advised executives on agreements relating to satellite transponders, broadcast transmission and circuit switching.

• Served as General Counsel for Evolution Media Group, Inc., an Internet startup. Drafted and negotiated agreements for streaming content, outsourcing Internet access services and software licensing. Advised on copyrights, trademarks, copyright assignments and legal issues related to website development. Show less

Worked on one of the first and largest B2B exchanges in the U.S., with transactions valued at $50 billion, and drafted web-hosting agreements and service offerings for its online e-commerce auctions, catalogs and customer-branded environments.

Drafted agreements for:
• Content licensing
• Software development and licensing
• Disaster recovery
• Subscription services
• Web-hosting and
• Consulting services.

Substantially wrote articles for the NY… Show more

Worked on one of the first and largest B2B exchanges in the U.S., with transactions valued at $50 billion, and drafted web-hosting agreements and service offerings for its online e-commerce auctions, catalogs and customer-branded environments.

Drafted agreements for:
• Content licensing
• Software development and licensing
• Disaster recovery
• Subscription services
• Web-hosting and
• Consulting services.

Substantially wrote articles for the NY Law Journal and PLI on wireless e-commerce, Y2K, the Communications Decency Act and ISP immunity issues for trademark infringement. Show less

• Film Contracts (1986-2000). Negotiated and drafted over 800 content licenses with mini-major studios and independent distributors, for HBO’s domestic and international pay TV services. Constructed contract templates for HBO’s comedy network and films with multiple pay TV windows. Drafted lab access letters for theatrical films, and assumption agreements for residual payments to the guilds. Critically analyzed for approval over 1,500 insurance and copyright chain-of-title submissions by… Show more

• Film Contracts (1986-2000). Negotiated and drafted over 800 content licenses with mini-major studios and independent distributors, for HBO’s domestic and international pay TV services. Constructed contract templates for HBO’s comedy network and films with multiple pay TV windows. Drafted lab access letters for theatrical films, and assumption agreements for residual payments to the guilds. Critically analyzed for approval over 1,500 insurance and copyright chain-of-title submissions by distributors. Drafted and filed copyright assignments with the U.S. Copyright Office.
• Corporate Assistant Secretary (1986-2000). Managed 20 subsidiaries, drafted board and stockholder consents, revised by-laws, prepared and filed incorporation papers and state qualifications, and issued stock certificates. Worked closely with Time Warner on the merger of over 40 HBO subsidiaries, drafting merger and assignment and assumption agreements.
• Office Manager (1984-1986). As the first Office Manager of HBO’s Law Dept., orchestrated the move of 70 employees to HBO’s current headquarters. Pioneered staff meetings that inspired 25 secretaries to take on greater responsibilities and reduce outsourced secretarial costs by $100,000.
• Litigation (1980-1984). As HBO's first Litigation Administrator, managed nationwide document productions on anti-trust, copyright and international trademark cases.
• Records Retention (1980-1986). As HBO’s first Records Manager, built and implemented the first records retention program for HBO, and as an inter-company consultant for Time Warner Cable.
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Conducted and supervised document review for major antitrust and real estate cases.