Acetyltransferase required for the establishment of sister chromatid cohesion (PubMed:15958495, PubMed:18614053). Couples the processes of cohesion and DNA replication to ensure that only sister chromatids become paired together. In contrast to the structural cohesins, the deposition and establishment factors are required only during S phase. Acts by mediating the acetylation of cohesin component SMC3 (PubMed:18614053). {ECO:0000269|PubMed:14576321, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15958495, ECO:0000269|PubMed:18614053, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19907496, ECO:0000269|PubMed:27112597, ECO:0000269|PubMed:27803161}. This is the function of ESCO1 (establishment of sister chromatid cohesion N-acetyltransferase 1, ENSG00000141446).