Sasha Rao

Sasha S. Rao is Counsel in the Trial & Appellate Practice Group at Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox, where her practice focuses on complex patent disputes before federal district courts, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Her experience spans a range of technologies, including pharmaceuticals and biologics (including Hatch-Waxman and BPCIA matters), consumer electronics, software-enabled medical devices, and chemical arts. She also advises clients on intellectual property strategy, encompassing licensing, infringement, validity, and freedom-to-operate opinions.

While the tracked case data shows one appearance on the defendant side for Roku, Inc. in VideoLabs, Inc. v. Roku, Inc., Ms. Rao's profile indicates extensive experience representing both innovator and generic clients, suggesting a practice that works for both patentees and accused infringers. Her work includes all phases of a dispute, from initial fact investigation through trial and appeal.

Ms. Rao regularly represents clients in PTAB proceedings, including inter partes reviews (IPRs). She is also recognized for her insights into emerging areas of law, frequently writing on legal issues in artificial intelligence and serving as co-chair of the DC Bar's AI Subcommittee. Prior to joining Sterne Kessler, she was a patent litigation associate at another large intellectual property firm and served as a judicial law clerk for the Massachusetts Superior Court.

Sasha S. Rao earned her J.D. from Boston University and holds a B.S.E. in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University. She is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and before the United States Patent & Trademark Office.