Introduction
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
July 10, 2024The 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.
- Bloomberg Law
Nixon Peabody expands IP practice with three California partners
July 10, 2024The 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.
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
View AllProfessionals in the Practice Area
View AllSeth D. Levy
Partner / Leader, Intellectual Property Practice- Los Angeles
- Office:+1 213.629.6161
- slevy@nixonpeabody.com
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Daniel J. Schwartz
Partner / Deputy Leader, Intellectual Property Practice- Chicago
- Office:+1 312.977.4432
- djschwartz@nixonpeabody.com
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Erica J. Van Loon
Partner / Team Leader, Copyright, Trademark, and Media Litigation- Los Angeles
- Office:+1 213.629.6031
- evanloon@nixonpeabody.com
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Janet M. Garetto
Partner / Co-Lead, Food, Beverage, & Agribusiness IP Team- Chicago
- Office:+1 312.425.8514
- jgaretto@nixonpeabody.com
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Andrew Y. Choung
Partner / Co-Lead, Patent Mining & Monetization Team- Los Angeles
- Office:+1 213.629.6166
- achoung@nixonpeabody.com
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