Her Story
About Madhumita
Madhumita Datta is a seasoned patent attorney specializing in intellectual property law for a diverse range of clients, from start-ups to multinational corporations. She brings a rare combination of technical and legal expertise, holding a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a Juris Doctor from Santa Clara University School of Law. Her academic rigor is complemented by a full-time judicial externship with the Honorable Beth Labson Freeman at the San Jose Federal Courthouse, where she gained hands-on experience in federal civil litigation and patent matters. With over two decades of experience in patent law, Madhumita has developed extensive expertise in patent procurement, portfolio management, litigation support, and IP due diligence. She has worked across a wide spectrum of technologies, including semiconductors, optics, cleantech, medical devices, and computer software. Her professional journey includes significant tenures at Lowenstein Sandler LLP, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, Nixon Peabody LLP, and Sterne Kessler Goldstein and Fox LLP, before becoming a partner at Buchalter. Her decades of experience allows her to provide strategic counsel to clients navigating complex technical and legal landscapes. In addition to her practice, she contributes to the legal community as a member of IEEE, TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs), SVIPLA, and the Women’s Intellectual Property Lawyers Association, and serves on the advisory board of the Santa Clara University High Tech Law Institute. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Madhumita is an avid tennis player, holding multiple National Championship titles in the USTA Adult League, and actively engages in mentorship and pro bono work, including volunteering for record expungement clinics. She balances her career with being a proud mother and continues to inspire through her dedication to innovation, inclusion, and legal excellence. In 2025, she has been recognized by the Santa Clara University School of Law as the Alumni Rising Star. In 2026, she got the Community Champion award from the South Asian Bar Association of Northern California. Her charitable contribution to the High Tech Law Institute in honor of her late parents has resulted in renaming the Institute as the Datta Center for High Tech Law, a center of excellence under at the Santa Clara University School of Law.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Madhumita
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a strong foundation of education, perseverance, and a passion for bridging technology and the law. Earning a PhD in Electrical Engineering provided me with deep technical expertise, while attending law school allowed me to channel that knowledge into the practice of patent law. This combination has enabled me to navigate complex technical and legal challenges effectively, advocate for innovation, and deliver meaningful solutions for clients and organizations.
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