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    1. Home
    2. People
    3. Sasha G. Rao

      People
    1. Home
    2. People
    3. Sasha G. Rao

      People

    Sasha G. Rao

    Partner


    • San Francisco
    • Office+1 415.984.8345
    • srao@nixonpeabody.com
    • Download vCard

    Introduction

    Widely recognized as one of Silicon Valley’s leading intellectual property lawyers, Sasha has an established record of success for some of the world’s leading companies.

    Practice Areas

    Intellectual PropertyPatent Portfolio ManagementArtificial Intelligence IPPost-Grant ProceedingsIntellectual Property TransactionsCopyright, Trademark & Media Litigation Patent LitigationFintech & Financial Services IP

    /My focus

    I regularly lead intellectual property and commercial litigation for various clients, including cases involving patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, unfair competition, and complex commercial disputes. I advise clients, ranging from tech startups to the largest multinational companies, on a wide range of legal issues, including corporate, transactional, policy, regulatory, IP strategy, patent and trademark prosecution, and IP aspects of mergers and acquisitions.

    I have tried cases in district courts throughout the US. My strong background in science has enabled me to develop effective courtroom strategies for cases involving technologies ranging from pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and biotechnology to computers, the Internet, Web 3.0, and software. In the technology realm, I have defended some of Silicon Valley’s most prominent companies in cases brought by competitors and non-practicing entities. In the life sciences space, I have extensive experience in Hatch-Waxman/ANDA litigation and have represented generic and branded pharmaceutical companies in numerous patent cases.

    My enthusiasm for cutting-edge technologies has positioned me as one of the leading practitioners in the emerging fields of blockchain and crypto, artificial intelligence, and autonomy and robotics, including autonomous vehicles, uncrewed aerial vehicles (drones), advanced air mobility, and connected and artificially intelligent systems. My legal concentration includes regulatory, policy, intellectual property, data rights, and legal strategy.

    I am registered to practice in the United States Patent and Trademark Office. I also represent clients in Patent Office trials, including inter partes review (IPR) and other post-grant invalidity challenges available under the America Invents Act.

    Prior to joining Nixon Peabody, I served as the nationwide IP chair for a full-service law firm with 24 offices in the US.

    /Insights

    • “Section 102 Conditions for Obtaining a Patent; Novelty: Inside and Outside the PTO – Cases and Decisions,” San Francisco, June 23, 2025
    • “Recent Court Decisions That Are Shaping Up Patent Law,” Patent Law Institute 2025: Critical Issues & Best Practices San Francisco, April 10, 2025
    • “Key trends in patent law: A view from the bench,” 25th Annual Berkeley-Stanford Advanced Patent Law Institute, December 5, 2024
    • “The Next Generation of Connected Vehicles,” IAM Live: Auto IP Europe 2024, October 8, 2024

    /In the news

    • Law360

      IP trio joins Nixon Peabody in California

      The following article features the NP arrivals of San Francisco partners Sasha Rao and Brandon Stroy, and Los Angeles partner Ashe Puri, all of the Intellectual Property practice. Sasha is quoted in the coverage, discussing what attracted the team to NP. Los Angeles partner Seth Levy, leader of the firm’s Intellectual Property practice, is also quoted, discussing factors and market conditions that are helping to drive the continued expansion of NP’s IP practice.

      July 10, 2024
    • Bloomberg Law

      Nixon Peabody expands IP practice with three California partners

      The following article features the NP arrivals of San Francisco partners Sasha Rao and Brandon Stroy, and Los Angeles partner Ashe Puri, all of the Intellectual Property practice. Sasha is quoted in the coverage, discussing what attracted the team to NP. Los Angeles partner Seth Levy, leader of the firm’s Intellectual Property practice, is also quoted, discussing factors and market conditions that are helping to drive the continued expansion of NP’s IP practice.

      July 10, 2024

    /Admitted to practice

    California
    New York
    U.S. District Court, Central District of California
    U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
    U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
    U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
    U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
    U.S. District Court, Western District of New York
    U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
    U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
    U.S. Supreme Court
    U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

    /Education

    New York University School of Law, J.D.
    Randolph Macon Woman’s College, B.A.

    /Professional activities

    • Stanford Program of Law, Science & Technology, Advisory Board member
    • South Asian Bar Association – Northern California, Life member
    • Equal Rights Advocates Board of Directors, member
    • Saguaro Capital Management, Advisory Board member 

    /Recognition

    • Chambers USA: Intellectual Property: Patent Litigation (2020–present) 
    • Chambers USA: Intellectual Property (2018–2019)
    • The Recorder, “Women Leaders in Tech Law” (2013–2014, 2017–2018, 2023)
    • Daily Journal, “California’s Top Intellectual Property Lawyers” (2013, 2019–2023)
    • Daily Journal, “Top Artificial Intelligence Lawyers” (2019)
    • Daily Journal, “Top Women Lawyers’’ (2019)
    • National Law Journal, “Intellectual Property Trailblazers” (2019)
    • Top 50 California Attorneys | Super Lawyers® (2019)
    • Acquisition International, “Most Influential Woman in Intellectual Property Law – USA”  (2019)
    • The Best Lawyers in America©, Litigation: Intellectual Property (2017–present)
    • Managing Intellectual Property—Recognized as an “IP Star” (2013–2024)
    • Who's Who Legal, Patents (2013–present)
    • IP Stars, “Top 250 Women in IP” (2013–present)
    • South Asian Bar Association, Northern California, “Trailblazer” (2016)
    • California Super Lawyers®,  Intellectual Property Litigation (2014– present)
    • Silicon Valley Business Journal, ‘’Woman of Influence’’ (2013)
    • MCCA’s Diversity & The Bar, “Rainmaker” (2012)

    Insights And Happenings

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    • Press Release

      Nixon Peabody adds West Coast team to growing Intellectual Property practice

      July 9, 2024
    View All

    Professionals in the Practice Area

    View All
    • Seth D. Levy

      Partner / Leader, Intellectual Property Practice
      • Los Angeles
      • Office:+1 213.629.6161
      • slevy@nixonpeabody.com
      Seth D. Levy
    • Daniel J. Schwartz

      Partner / Deputy Leader, Intellectual Property Practice
      • Chicago
      • Office:+1 312.977.4432
      • djschwartz@nixonpeabody.com
      Daniel J. Schwartz
    • Erica J. Van Loon

      Partner / Team Leader, Copyright, Trademark, & Media Litigation
      • Los Angeles
      • Office:+1 213.629.6031
      • evanloon@nixonpeabody.com
      Erica J. Van Loon
    • Janet M. Garetto

      Partner / Co-Lead, Food, Beverage, & Agribusiness IP Team
      • Chicago
      • Office:+1 312.425.8514
      • jgaretto@nixonpeabody.com
      Janet M. Garetto
    • Andrew Y. Choung

      Partner / Co-Lead, Patent Mining & Monetization Team
      • Los Angeles
      • Office:+1 213.629.6166
      • achoung@nixonpeabody.com
      Andrew  Y. Choung
    View All

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