Clients facing novel and high-stakes challenges turn to Christa Brown-Sanford. As legal matters become increasingly complex and emotionally-charged, she delivers leverage. Her innovative legal solutions and cool composure enable her to quarterback multi-disciplinary teams and advise in-house counsel, C-level executives, and boards through even the most challenging of circumstances. Moreover, with an electrical engineering background and keen business sense, Christa communicates in a clear and digestible manner across every segment of her client's business, and with anyone impacting their legal success, from client stakeholders and opposing counsel to investors and patent examiners.
In addition to leading client teams, Christa holds leadership roles within the firm where she serves as the Chair of the Intellectual Property Department and on the firm's Executive Committee and Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
As someone committed to being a true partner at every stage of the process. Christa provides guidance on patent procurement, patent portfolio development, patent litigation, and patent licensing - particularly involving telecommunications, blockchain, electronics, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, software, personal mobility, and other cutting-edge technologies. Clients appreciate that "Christa and the squad are responsive, thoughtful, knowledgeable and easy to work with. They dig into cases to achieve positive resolutions and cognisant of deadlines." - IAM 1000 2023.
A recognized speaker on Intellectual Property issues and leadership topics, Christa serves as an adjunct professor at SMU's Dedman School of Law where she teaches patent licensing and enforcement, in addition to patent prosecution courses. She has been featured in countless publications including Best Lawyers and Dallas CEO for the impact she has had in the legal industry and Dallas community. Christa also serves on the planning committees for the UT Advanced Patent Law Institute and the Center for American and International Law's Conference on Intellectual Property Law.
Actively involved in the community, Christa is a member of the Charter 100 and the Crystal Charity Ball Committee, serves on the advisory board for the State Fair of Texas, and serves on the boards of Southern Methodist University, SMU's Dedman School of Law, Rice University George R. Brown School of Engineering, the Baylor Scott & White Foundation, and New Friends New Life (an organization focused on empowering trafficked women and girls). She also served as the President for the Junior League of Dallas, during the League's Centennial year.