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.
Clients describe Christa as having " tremendous legal and technical expertise. She is a very calm and deliberate thinker, as well as highly responsive and efficient."
Chambers USA 2023
Recognized in Chambers USA for Intellectual Property, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Recognized by IAM 1000 for Patent Prosecution and Transactions, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Recognized by Forbes in its inaugural list of America’s Top 200 Lawyers, 2024
Recognized by Legal 500 US as a Leading Lawyer in Patent Licensing and Patent Prosecution, 2024
Named one of the "Best Lawyers" in Dallas by D Magazine, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Recognized in the "Dallas 500" by D CEO as one of Dallas’ top business leaders, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America for Litigation-Intellectual Property, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Recognized as one of the "50 Most Powerful Women in Technology" by the National Diversity Council, 2020
Recognized by Texas Minority Counsel Program as a finalist for Trailblazer of the Year, 2020, 2022
Recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer (Thomson Reuters), 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Recognized as a "Next Generation Lawyer" by The Legal 500 U.S., 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2020
Recognized by IAM 1000 for Patent Transactions, 2019
Recognized by Texas Lawyer as a Texas Trailblazer, 2019
Recognized by SMU Dedman School of Law as a Distinguished Alumni-Emerging Leader Award, 2019
Recognized as a "Most Influential Black Lawyer" by Savoy Magazine, 2018
Recognized as a "Top Woman Lawyer" by the Texas Diversity Council, 2018
Recognized as a "Minority Business Leader" by the Dallas Business Journal, 2018
Recognized in the Dallas Business Journal's list of "40 under 40," 2016
"Young Leader Award" presented by the Dallas Women's Foundation, 2015
Recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer-Rising Star (Thomson Reuters), 2010, 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2018
Recognized as an "Up-And-Coming 100" and "Up-And-Coming 50 Women" by Texas Super Lawyer-Rising Star (Thomson Reuters), 2018
Serves on the Boards for Southern Methodist University, SMU's Dedman School of Law, Baylor Scott & White Foundation, Rice University's School of Engineering, and New Friends New Life
Member of the Junior League of Dallas, having served as President 2021-2022, Development Vice President 2016-2017, and Membership Vice President 2013-2014
Counseled pro bono clients on trademark registration, copyright registration, and copyright infringement matters