Beusse Sanks, PLLC is excited to announce the launch of First In IP Law, a new podcast hosted by founding member Terry M. Sanks that pulls back the curtain on intellectual property law and the strategy behind protecting innovation.
Terry brings a rare dual perspective to the conversation: he’s both an engineer and an intellectual property attorney, and his career has taken him from hands-on technical work to the courtroom and boardroom. He works with a wide range of clients — from individual inventors and entrepreneurs to universities and Fortune 500 companies — helping them not just protect their intellectual property, but use it strategically to advance their broader business goals. That holistic approach, which looks beyond patents, trademarks, and copyrights as standalone protections and instead ties them to a client’s bigger picture, is at the heart of every episode.
Episode 1: From Engineering to Intellectual Property Law — Terry Sanks’ Story
The series kicks off with Terry’s own story. Before he became an attorney, Terry was an engineer in the United States Air Force, where he served as a program manager on an electric propulsion space experiment. In this first episode, he traces the path from that early engineering career and military service through law school and into intellectual property law specifically, and reflects on how his technical background continues to shape the way he evaluates new technologies — including artificial intelligence — for clients today. The episode also touches on his approach to IP as an integrated strategy rather than a set of separate protections, and looks back at some of the recognitions along the way, including multiple Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” honors in patent, trademark, and copyright law.
Episode 2: Building a Competitive Edge Through Intellectual Property
The second episode shifts from Terry’s personal journey to a practical look at how businesses can put intellectual property to work. Terry discusses the intangible assets companies often overlook when tallying up what they own, when IP should become part of a company’s overall business strategy, and what can go wrong when a business develops a product, technology, or brand without thinking about IP early enough. It’s a grounded, practical conversation for any business owner, founder, or in-house team wondering how to turn their ideas into a real competitive advantage.
Listen and Subscribe
New episodes of First In IP Law will explore the people, strategy, and stories behind intellectual property law — from the fundamentals to the frontiers of emerging technology. Learn more about Terry Sanks and Beusse Sanks, PLLC at firstiniplaw.com, and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode.