Christa Brown-Sanford

Partner and Deputy Chair of the IP Department at Baker Botts, LLP

Christa Sanford, Partner and firmwide Deputy Chair of the IP Department, serves as a trusted counselor and partners with her clients on patent matters. Christa advises on patent portfolio development, patent litigation, and patent licensing, particularly involving telecommunications, blockchain, electronics, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, software, personal mobility, and other cutting-edge technologies. Christa regularly speaks on patent matters, and she is an adjunct professor at the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University where she teaches patent licensing and enforcement and patent prosecution courses.

Actively involved within Baker Botts, Christa serves on the Diversity, Technology Sector, Patent Practice, and Technology Editorial Committees. Christa also serves in the community on the Boards of the Dallas Children’s Theater and First Baptist Academy and is an active member of the Junior League of Dallas having served as Membership Vice President and Development Vice President.

Christa is regularly recognized for her legal and community work—“Next Generation Lawyer” by The Legal 500 U.S., the Dallas Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” list, the “Young Leader Award” presented by the Dallas Women’s Foundation, the Dallas Business Journal’s “Minority Business Leader Award,” and one of Savoy’s Most Influential Black Lawyers for 2018.
Christa holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Rice University and a J.D. from SMU Dedman School of Law.