Samar Shah, J.D.

Managing Partner, Shah IP Law, PLLC

Samar is a patent attorney and was, in a prior career, a biomedical engineer. As a patent attorney, he helps high-tech and med-tech companies develop strategic patent portfolios. Samar, a Silicon Valley transplant, began his career by writing patents for Palm Pilot’s electronic PDA. He was written patents for technology companies such as Google and Facebook as well as several other medical devices and medtech companies. In addition to writing patents, Samar has also litigated patent lawsuits in Federal District Courts for clients such as Blackberry, AT&T, KCI/Acelity, and Thermogenesis. He blends his patent prosecution and patent litigation experience to help clients develop strategic patent portfolios that are closely aligned with their business objectives.

Samar, who is barred in California and Texas, was named a Rising Star by Northern California’s Super Lawyers Magazine, a Top 40 Under 40 Professional by the San Antonio Business Journal, and a Top Patent Attorney by San Antonio Scene Magazine. Prior to his legal career, Samar worked as a biomedical engineer at NASA.

Read more about Samar's background and experience

How did you get to this point in your career?

I am fortunate to have had quite a few mentors and advisors who helped me find this career path, and thrive in it. I was initially introduced to the patent career pathway by two other patent attorneys who served as advisors to Vanderbilt University graduates. They helped me figure out that I have an aptitude for the law, and helped me identify the best law schools for pursuing an education in intellectual property law. At law school, I was exposed to numerous patent practitioners who taught evening classes. I ended up working for a law firm that was led by one of my instructors. Under their tutelage, I learned quite a bit about how to practice. But, more importantly, I learned quite a bit about how to foster professional relationships, how to treat colleagues, and work with legal adversaries. They helped me learn that the practice of law is made more fulfilling by the relationships that you develop along the way.

Education

• B.E., Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, 2006
• J.D., Santa Clara University School of Law, 2009