Pictured above: Mita Datta and Joanna Justus, HTLI Managing Director
Madhumita “Mita” Datta J.D. ‘16, a generous benefactor of SCU Law’s esteemed High Tech Law Institute (HTLI), is spearheading the establishment of the Dr. Madhuri Datta and Dr. Sunil Datta Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund. This fund is dedicated to providing scholarship assistance to promising law students who exhibit a strong dedication to advancing gender equity and empowerment, particularly within the technology sector.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mita for her generous support and commitment to advancing gender equity and empowerment within the technology industry,” says HTLI Managing Director Joanna Justus. “Mita’s joyful presence and dedication to Santa Clara Law through the High Tech Advisory Board and consistent participation in multiple SCU Law events underscore her remarkable passion for fostering academic excellence, industry collaboration, and student success.”
Mita is a proud alumna of Santa Clara University School of Law and a member of the High Tech Advisory Board since 2023. Renowned for her expertise in providing comprehensive patent advice and counsel, Mita excels in U.S. and international patent prosecution, patent portfolio management, and IP transactional and litigation support. Leveraging her background in electrical and computer engineering, she offers strategic guidance on a wide range of technological products and services, including microelectronics, AI, autonomous vehicles, renewable energy solutions, blockchain technology, and more. Mita’s contributions extend beyond her legal practice as she actively engages in DEI initiatives, mentors aspiring professionals, and participates in patent-focused pro bono initiatives.
Mita is currently a Counsel at the Palo Alto office of Lowenstein Sandler LLP, an AmLaw 100 firm. She started her career at an Intellectual Property boutique after a stint as a post-doctoral research associate at the University of Maryland, and since then worked at other AmLaw100 firms, Nixon Peabody and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, before joining Lowenstein Sandler in 2018. During her final year of Law School, she externed at the chambers of Hon. Beth Labson Freeman at the Federal District Court at San Jose, California.
The creation of the Dr. Madhuri Datta and Dr. Sunil Datta Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund is in memory of Mita’s parents who dedicated their lives to education and equity. As professors at a renowned Agricultural University in India, they inspired countless students with their vision and commitment to excellence. Their legacy of lifelong learning and giving back continues through this endowed scholarship, as Mita and her siblings aim to support higher education in their honor.
As we commemorate the establishment of the Dr. Madhuri Datta and Dr. Sunil Datta Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mita for her unwavering generosity and visionary support of our mission. Together, we stand poised to honor the remarkable legacy of Dr. Madhuri Datta and Dr. Sunil Datta by investing in the education and future success of our students who are dedicated to driving forward gender equity and empowerment within the technology industry.