Dear Friends,

As we enter into this Holiday season together, I would like to take a moment to express our profound gratitude to Mita Datta, J.D. '16 for her transformative gift to support our renowned and pathbreaking High Tech Law Institute. 

As we recently announced, Mita generously donated $5 million to the Institute, which will further advance the law school’s recognized role as a world leader in intellectual property and tech law. The donation, made in honor of Mita’s late parents, Madhuri Datta and Sunil Datta, will endow the Institute, which will soon be renamed the Datta Center for High Tech Law. In her characteristic spirit of gratitude and humility, Mita credits her parents, both professors of biology, for instilling in her the value of education, and she thanks Santa Clara Law for helping to jumpstart her career of prominence and purpose in tech law. 

Mita Datta, J.D. '16

Since its founding in 1998, our High Tech Law Institute has served its mission to educate and prepare students to lead at the intersection of law, technology, business, and society, offering educational programs and impactful research in areas such as privacy, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, business, intellectual property, and sports law, while connecting students to a powerhouse network of legal professionals. 

The Institute has also seen a rise in Santa Clara Law leaders who studied STEM and who, like Mita, appreciate the value of science and engineering in fostering and protecting innovation and creativity. Just under a decade ago, Mita pivoted to law after earning her Ph.D. in electrical engineering. She was drawn by the opportunity to learn about exciting, cutting-edge technology through a different lens and to help others, including under-resourced solo inventors, legally protect their ideas. 

Mita has exemplified Santa Clara Law’s ethos of inclusive excellence and applied our lessons of integrity, virtuosity, innovation, and service since her time as a student well into her legal career as an intellectual property lawyer, mentor, and advocate. In recognition of her efforts and impact, which includes participating in patent-focused pro bono initiatives, she received the 2025 Rising Star Award. 

The support from loyal, engaged, and generous alumni like Mita has long been a cornerstone of Santa Clara Law. Each contribution—whether of precious time, talent, or treasure—champions our students and furthers the intellectual rigor, vibrant culture, and mission-driven work for the common good that define our exceptional law school community. 

Together, we are investing in the future of tomorrow’s advocates and building the future of justice for all! 

With warm regards and tremendous gratitude,

 

Michael J. Kaufman
Dean and Professor of Law
Santa Clara University School of Law