Sanjeet “Sanj” Dutta advises technology‑driven companies on intellectual property strategy, patent portfolio development, and complex IP matters involving emerging and advanced technologies. His technical experience spans artificial intelligence, machine learning, semiconductors, robotics, and software security. He helps clients protect innovations in industries spanning consumer electronics, supercomputers, advanced AI networking systems, and DNA diagnostics, and navigates rapidly evolving technical and competitive landscapes.
Sanj represents companies in high‑stakes patent litigation and trade secret disputes in state and federal courts, before the International Trade Commission, and in proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. He has led teams that successfully challenged and defended highly litigated patents through inter partes and ex parte reexaminations before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Sanj also helps companies navigate complex issues when responding to cease-and-desist letters, as well as initiating IP litigation. He works with litigation funding entities to enforce patent rights.
In addition to his litigation and prosecution practice, Sanj advises clients on intellectual property issues in strategic transactions, including venture financings involving investor and company representations, and strategic acquisitions for both buyers and sellers.
With a background in electrical engineering, Sanj combines technical fluency with legal strategy to support clients working at the intersection of law, science, and emerging innovation. He is also an active leader in the legal and broader community. A lifetime member and past president of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Silicon Valley, he has maintained a long‑standing pro bono commitment, including work on housing discrimination matters, domestic violence representation, and disaster‑response support efforts.
Before joining Foley, Sanj was a partner at an international law firm.
Representative Experience
Patent Portfolios
- Developed patent portfolios for AI/ML applications, ASICs, processors, networking infrastructure for AI/ML workloads, memory modules, wireless communications, exercise recovery devices, industrial beverage labeling and packaging, robotic manufacturing and supply chain optimization, robotic deep-sea nodule capture, carbon capture, financial services technology, military technology, satellite design, DNA diagnostics, AI/ML network security, and computing virtualization.*
Intellectual Property Litigation
- Counsel of record in over 40 patent litigation matters in district courts throughout the country and at the ITC.
- Defended Breeze in patent infringement litigation in the ITC relating to vaping devices.*
- Defended Microchip Technology, Inc. in patent infringement litigation in E.D. Texas.*
- Defended Google in patent litigation concerning 13 patents related to location‑based services.*
- Defended E. & J. Gallo Winery in patent litigation relating to variable rate irrigation technology.*
- Defended defendants in trade secret, breach of contract, and unfair competition litigation relating to aluminum alloy technology.*
- Represented E. & J. Gallo Winery in trade secret, breach of contract, and unfair competition litigation relating to refractance window drying technology.*
- Represented Raytheon in patent litigation related to supercomputer architecture and management software.*
- Defended Diablo Technologies in patent and trade secret litigation related to memory modules.*
- Represented Nokia in patent litigation before the ITC under Section 337 concerning four patents asserted against Nokia’s Lumia handsets by Digitude, LLC.*
Patent Reexaminations & PTAB Proceedings
- Handled over 75 inter partes reviews, inter partes reexaminations, ex parte reexaminations, and interferences.*
- Technology areas include processor design, memory design, semiconductor chip packaging, DNA diagnostics, optical transceivers, microfluidic devices, medical imaging devices, biometric security, and networking.*
Acquisitions and IP Counseling
- Advised Zoox on patent issues relating to its acquisition by Amazon.*
- Advised Acer on IP issues relating to its US$900m acquisition of Gateway.*
- Advised on Apple’s acquisition of SIRI voice‑controlled personal assistant technology.*
- Advised on Twitter’s acquisition of Afterlive.tv.*
- Advised on a major technology company’s acquisition of 1Mainstream.*
- Advised on Volterra’s acquisition of Element Energy.*
- Advised on E. & J. Gallo Winery’s US$1.7bn acquisition of 30 brands from Constellation Brands.*
*Matters handled prior to joining Foley.
Awards and Recognition
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Litigation – Intellectual Property (2022–2023)
- IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Practitioners
Affiliations
- Lifetime Member and Past President, Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Silicon Valley
- Former Pro Tem Judge, Santa Clara County Superior Court
Pro Bono
- Tried two cases defending the City of San Jose
- Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA) / University of Michigan Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse Project
- Represented elderly individuals in housing discrimination matters
- Provided support to post‑Hurricane Katrina victim‑services initiatives
- Represented victims of domestic violence
Presentations
- Presenter, “Advanced Patent Prosecution Workshop 2017: Claim Drafting & Amendment Writing,” Practicing Law Institute (August 2017)
- Presenter, “Fundamentals of Patent Litigation 2016,” Practicing Law Institute (May 2016)
- Presenter, “Fundamentals of Patent Litigation 2015,” Practicing Law Institute (May 2015)