LAWYER PROFILE
Sonal N Mehta

Sonal N Mehta

Global 2026

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Ranked in 1 practice area

About

Provided by WilmerHale

Global

Practice Areas

Sonal N. Mehta is a trial lawyer representing many of the world’s leading technology and life sciences companies in high-stakes disputes. Ms. Mehta is regularly called upon by clients—ranging from Silicon Valley’s largest companies to cutting-edge startups—to serve as both lead counsel in the courtroom and trusted advisor in the boardroom. She has nearly 25 years of experience across all aspects of trial and appellate practice, including federal jury and bench trials, state court jury and bench trials, international arbitrations, and appeals before the federal and California appellate courts. Ms. Mehta litigates complex cases across substantive areas of the law, including antitrust, commercial, class action, false advertising, IP (patent, copyright, trade secret), privacy, and government-facing litigation, among others. While she is ready to take her cases to trial and win, she has a long track record of success at the dispositive motions stage.

Career

Outside of the courtroom, Ms. Mehta serves on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit’s Attorney Advisory Council, the Board of Directors for the Northern District of California’s Practice Program, on the Northern District of California’s Patent Local Rules Attorney Advisory Committee, and recently concluded a term as a lawyer representative to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Council.

Prior to joining WilmerHale, Ms. Mehta was a partner at another large international law firm, where she built her practice representing major technology sector companies in high-stakes patent litigation at the trial and appellate levels. She then joined a litigation boutique firm based in San Francisco, where she continued to serve as lead counsel for leading technology and life sciences clients in patent and commercial litigation matters.

Professional Memberships

Admissions:

California

US District Court for the Northern District of California

US District Court for the Southern District of California

US District Court for the Central District of California

US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas

US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

Publications

In Conversation with Anthropic’s Aparna Sridhar, Sonal N. Mehta Explores How AI Is Redefining the Role of In-House Lawyers - Corporate Counsel

Education

University of California, Berkeley School of Law

JD

2002

University of California, Berkeley

BA

1998

Awards

Top 10 Women in Litigation

Benchmark Litigation

2021

Top 10 Women in Litigation

Benchmark Litigation

2022

Top IP Lawyer in California

Daily Journal

2017

Top IP Lawyer in California

Daily Journal

2022

Top Woman Lawyer

Daily Journal

2020

Top 40 Under 40 list

Daily Journal

2016

San Jose Lawyer of the Year - Patent Litigation

Best Lawyers in America

2020

San Jose Lawyer of the Year - Patent Litigation

Best Lawyers in America

2022

San Jose Lawyer of the Year - Patent Litigation

Best Lawyers in America

2024

San Jose Lawyer of the Year - Patent Law

Best Lawyers in America

2020

San Jose Lawyer of the Year - Patent Law

Best Lawyers in America

2024

San Jose Lawyer of the Year - Intellectual Property Litigation

Best Lawyers in America

2023

San Jose Lawyer of the Year - Intellectual Property Litigation

Best Lawyers in America

2024

40 Under 40 list

San Francisco Business Times and Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal.

2012

Rising Star - Intellectual Property

Law360

2015

Women Leaders in Tech

2025 California Legal Awards

2025

Leading Commercial Litigators

Daily Journal

2023

Leading Commercial Litigators

Daily Journal

2024

Leading Commercial Litigators

Daily Journal

2025

California Intellectual Property Litigator of the Year

2021

San Francisco Attorney of the Year

2021

IP Star

Managing IP

2016

IP Star

Managing IP

2017

IP Star

Managing IP

2018

IP Star

Managing IP

2019

IP Star

Managing IP

2020

IP Star

Managing IP

2021

IP Star

Managing IP

2022

IP Star

Managing IP

2023

IP Star

Managing IP

2024

IP Star

Managing IP

2025

Women Leaders in Tech Law

The Recorder

2015

Women Leaders in Tech Law

The Recorder

2016

Women Leaders in Tech Law

The Recorder

2022

“Fast Track” Lawyer in California

The Recorder

2012

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Chambers Global Guide

Intellectual Property: Patent - USA

Band 3
Band 3

Individual Editorial
Sonal Mehta has an impressive track record in complex, bet-the-company patent disputes. She frequently advises major technology-sector clients.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Sonal is wonderful on her feet, an all-round powerhouse lawyer.

    Intellectual Property: PatentChambers Global Guide

Ranked Individuals at WilmerHale (29)

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Germany

UK

USA

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